2. LEVELS
OF DIFFICULT
Y 6. FORCES
There are 3 levels of play. The difference being the
nu
mber of Zulus attacking. Level 3 (the easiest) simulates
an attack of 15,000. In the second level there are
28,000
Zulus and in the first level, 40,000. This is the
total nu
mber of warriors that the
Zulus could have
assembled prior to the battle of Ulundi.
3.
SCREEN DISPLAY
Once the level of difficulty has been selected, the ga
me
starts. The screen is divided into three
windo
ws. The
one on the left sho
ws a scrolling area of the
map. The
one on the top right hand corner displays various
pictures depending on
which phase the ga
me is in.
General Chelmsford is sho
wn during the British movement,
the
Zulu King
Cetshwayo during the
Zulu movement
and a nu
mber of attacking
Zulus are sho
wn
during close combat. The third window underneath
has three bar-charts which represent the strengths of
each British unit. The blue chart sho
ws the exact
nu
mber of men. The yellow chart is the unit's morale.
The green chart is the unit's efficiency.
4.
G
A
ME
TURN
S
Each turn consists of several sections. First, all the
British units can
move and/or fire. If a unit ends its
movement next to ene
my characters, then there is close
combat. Once the player has moved all his forces and
has pressed E, then the
Zulu army moves. When all the
Zulu movement has finished then the computer scrolls
round the
map over each unit and checks to see if there
is any close combat. Once this is done the next ga
me
turn begins.
6.1 Fighting
Capacity.
There are three types of British units including
infantry, mounted infantry and lancers. All units
fight in rectangular formations as they did throughout
the
Zulu war. The size of each square is an
indication of the strength of the unit. As the units
suffer casualties, so their size decreases. The larger
units start in a 5 x 5 formation. Their size might
drop eventually to 4 x 4, 3 x 3, 2 x 2, 1 x 1 and
after that they are wiped out. The effectiveness
of a unit in close combat as well as in long range
combat, depends on its size. Its exact size can be
seen from the bar-charts. Other factors which
determine the unit's effectiveness are morale and
efficiency. The units with high efficiency do
well
at long range combat and also have more movement
points. Morale is especially important in close
combat and can change throughout the ga
me.
All Zulu units consist of infantry and they can
only fight in close combat. They move faster than
the British infantry.
6.2 The British Army.
Infantry Units.
These units are relatively slow as they move in large
formations. They are very effective in long range
fire and provide the
majority of the soldiers. In
close combat they can not hold out for long against
a large nu
mber of Zulus.
1.
ULUNDI S
CEN
A
RIO
Mounted Infantry.
'Zulu War' is a simulation of the conflict in Zululand in
1879. The British army under General Chelmsford
defeated the
Zulus outside
Ulundi, the capital of Zululand,
on 4th July 1879.
The British army consisted of 5,300 infantry and 900
cavalry. All units marched towards the capital in a
huge rectangular formation
which gave them the
maximum possible protection against an army of
20,000
Zulus. When the
Zulu army attacked, as
expected, the concentrated fire blasted a
way the
leading
waves of charging
warriors thereby breaking up
their mass. Finally, the
Zulu army retreated after
suffering
more than 1,000 casualties.
As the outcome of the battle was predictable, this ga
me
has been balanced by assuming that the
Zulu army
attacked
when the British were unprepared and split
into their regiments. All the
major regiments that took
part in the battle, are represented in the ga
me.
This is a one player ga
me with the computer controlling
the
Zulus and the player controlling the British. The
ga
me can be played
with a
Kempston joystick or with
the keyboard. See
Control Keys section for details.
Each infantry man on the
map represents approximately
30 soldiers and each rider represents 20
men and horses.
The
Zulu army was divided into regiments with most of
them having between 1,000 and 2,000
men. The British
army consisted of the
Second
Division and the Flying
column, including 1,000 irregular troops.
The British army starts the ga
me on the left hand side
of the
map
marching towards Ulundi which is situated
on the right hand side of the
map. The
Zulu army
attacks in regiments which appear on the north, south
and east sides of the
map.
5.
It is possible to save the present ga
me at the beginning
of each turn before any movement or shooting takes
place. The
word 'tape' is sho
wn on the screen
when this
option is available and stands for 'tape
menu'. Old
ga
mes which have previously been saved on tape can
also be loaded from the tape
menu.
C
O
N
T
R
OL KEY
S
5.1 Direction
Keys.
Q
O P
A
5.2
Command
Keys.
M = Fire.
V = View
Map. (Map scrolls automatically).
E = End
Turn.
S = Stand Fast and/or abandon shooting.
To postpone a
move order in the
move mode, key M.
To postpone a shoot order use keys Q or A.
O and P keys can also be used to rotate the direction
of the fire indicator displayed on the top right
hand of the screen.
N
O
TE that the turn does not end automatically
even
when all units have been given orders and E
must be keyed to end turn.
A new ga
me can be started only during the British
movement by pressing
Caps S
HIFT and F at the same
time. To access the tape
menu
Caps S
HIFT and T have
to be pressed simultaneously. (Remember this is only
possible at the beginning of each new turn).
These are soldiers on horses and as such can
move
a lot faster. Apart from their rifle they also carry
a sword. In long range fire they are as effective as
the foot infantry but in close combat they are a lot
better. Fighting on horse-back
with a sword, gives
them a distinct advantage.
Lancers.
Lancers were on horses and were therefore fast
moving units. They were armed
with the standard
rifle but also had a sword and lance. In fighting
they are as effective as the
mounted infantry but
they can also charge the ene
my using their lances.
They can try and break one ene
my line at a time.
Because the
Zulus had no armour, they were easy
to break through. However, progressive attempts
can get less effective.
6.3 The Zulu Army.
During battle the
Zulu army was divided into four
major units. The
warriors were deployed into two
huge enveloping horns from the 'chest' or headquarters
of the body in the centre and
were
supported by the reserve in the rear of the 'chest'.
In the ga
me it is assumed that the 'chest' of the
Zulu army is situated on the right hand side of the
map. The two horns attack form the north and
south.
7. TERRAIN 11. THE UMLALAZI SCENARIO ZULU WAR
7.1 Movement.
Terrain has an important effect on movement.
Normally each unit uses one movement point for
each move. Once its movement points drop to
zero, the unit cannot move any more until the next
turn. Houses, walls, trees, etc. are impassable and
land features such as bushes and small plants cost
two movement points to pass.
7.2 Shooting.
Bullets cannot pass through walls, trees or houses
and there is only a 50% chance that a bullet will
pass through light cover features. e. g. bushes and small
plants.
7.3 Charging.
Charging by the Lancers on the enemy takes three
movement points whether it is successful or not.
This is the second scenario which has to be loaded from
the other side of the tape as a completely different
program. The scenario is based on the Coastal Column
which was commanded by Major-General Crealock.
This force was part of the second invasion into Zululand
and it moved in parallel with the Second Division and
the Flying Column. This scenario is less demanding
than that of the Ulundi scenario.
The Coastal Column never actually took part in the war
but it is assumed in this scenario that the Zulu army
attacked them instead of the Second Division and the
Flying Column. The battle takes place immediately
after the Column has crossed the Umlalazi River.
Victory for the Zulus is achieved when Major-General
Crealock and his officers are killed. The British player
wins by completely halting the Zulus advance.
The following units take part in this scenario:-
12.
8. VICTORY CONDITIONS
For the British army to win the game all the attacking
Zulu regiments have to be defeated to the point where
they do not represent any danger whatsoever. For the
Zulu army victory can be achieved by killing the British
Commander, General Chelmsford.
THE TAPE MENU
There are three options once you are in the tape menu.
The first is to save the game that you are currently
playing. The second is to load a game that has been
previously saved. The third is to go back to the game.
During saving there are two parts of data that have to
be saved. Follow the on-screen instructions and use a
blank tape.
Do not press the BREAK key when a game is loading
or saving.
ULUNDI SCENARIO DATA
UNIT NAME
General Chelmsford
1st King's
Dragoon Guards
17th Lancers
Imperial Mounted
Infantry
80th Regiment
90th Light Infantry
1/13 Light Infantry
94th Regiment
1/24 Regiment
58th Regiment
2/21st Fusiliers
Natal Native
Contingent
Colonial Mounted
Volunteers
PRESENT
DESIGNATION
1st Queen's
Dragoon Guards
Same
Disbanded
Staffordshire
Disbanded
Same
Disbanded
Royal Regiment
of Wales
Royal Anglian
Royal Highland
Fusiliers
-
-
STRENGTH
(MEN)
66
198
550
198
300
900
900
540
600
540
540
960
88
MORALE
Excellent
Excellent
High
Excellent
High
Average
Average
Average
High
High
Excellent
Low
Excellent
EFFICIENCY
Excellent
Excellent
High
Excellent
High
Average
Average
High
Average
High
Excellent
Low
High
UNIT NAME
MajorGeneral Crealock
Colonial Mounted
Volunteers
Lonsdales's
Mounted Rifles
2/3rd Regiment
88th Regiment
99th Regiment
3/60th Rifles
91st Highlanders
57th Regiment
John Dunn's Scouts
PRESENT
DESIGNATION
Queen's
Disbanded
Duke of
Edinburgh's Royal
Royal Green
Jackets
Sutherland
Highlanders
Queens
-
STRENGTH
(MEN)
66
550
220
900
900
900
900
900
900
30
MORALE
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Average
Average
Average
Excellent
High
Average
High
EFFICIEN
CY
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
High
Average
Average
Excellent
High
Average
High
9.
10.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The origin of the Zulu Wars in 1879 dates back to the
early part of the nineteenth century when the Boers
trekked north east in search of new lands and came into
conflict with the Bantus of which one tribe, the Zulus,
were particularly ruthless. They had a well trained army
which was capable of defending its lands. The British
authorities both in London and the Cape, were opposed
to the Boers trekking because of the native unrest
that it was likely to cause. The disputes continued
until 1840 when the half brother of the King of
Zululand, Mpande, defected to the Boers with 17,000
men and struck a bargain with them to overthrow his
brother. This they did and proclaimed Mpande king
of the Zulus, with the proviso that Mpande kept the
peace.
During the next twenty years the Boers moved out of
Natal and established themselves in the north west in
the Transvaal and British settlers established themselves
in Natal. King Mpande's first born son Cetshwayo
confirmed his position as 'heir apparent' when his
followers overthrew his step-brother Mbulazi. He at
once established relations with both the British in Natal
and the Boers in the Trahsvaal. The British recognised
him as the heir-apparent in the name of the Queen and
in 1872 he succeeded his father.
In 1877 Sir Bartle Frere was appointed Governor of
the Cape Colony. Frere believed that the only way to
maintain peace in the area was to annex the territories
of both Transvaal and Zululand so that disputes could
be arbitrated by the British administration. The
Governor of Natal considered this unrealistic. The
current dispute between the Boers and the Zulus was
over a section of land east of Blood River on which the
Boers had settled. This land had originally been
recognised by the British as belonging to the Zulus
but Frere hoped that the Boundary Commission would
recommend that it be ceded to the Boers. However, the
Commission found no justification for the Boer's claim
and recommended that it be returned to the Zulus. This
was conveyed to Cetshwayo together with conditions
which Frere imposed which negated the sovereignty
of Zululand and provoked them into battle. Cetshwayo
tried to comply with some of the conditions and handed
over the men and cattle demanded. However, Frere
refused to accept Cetshwayo's plea to negotiate. British
forces therefore crossed into Zululand on the 11th
January 1879. By the 21st January the British had
suffered their first and largest defeat at Isandhlwana
with the annihilation of the 24th Regiment. This defeat
however was avenged in the battles of Kambula and
Gingindhlovu. By mid April General Chelmsford had
withdrawn his forces from Zululand to regroup them
for a second invasion which he planned in June. This
second invasion started on 3rd June and ended with
the conclusive battle of Ulundi on 4th July 1879.
ULUNDI MAP UMLALAZI MAP