A MAORI WARS QUARTET 3

Gate Pa, 29th April 1864 by Nick Stock (NZ)

Background - After Orakau, the focus of fighting shifted to the Bay of Plenty. Cameron moved his army by sea, and invested the small but well constructed entrenchment at Gate Pa. After an intensive bombardment, Cameron sent in an elite force of stormtroopers to seize the pa. The assault force consisted of an RN landing party, and the 43rd, Light infantry.

Note - this action is a small part of a larger action. I've included it as typical of a Pa assault.

The Battlefield - This battle is best fought on a 2' x 2' board. The board represents a small part of the interior of the pa, around two of the breaches in the pekerangi made the British guns. Along one edge of the board, show the main pekerangi, with a ditch outside it. Inside the wooden barricade is a trench network. A few smaller fences also can be placed inside the pa, along with tents, huts, cooking fires etc away from the main pekerangi. Inside the pa, the Maori player may place 12 'flax mats' (use brownish card if no miniature flax mats in your collection!) These conceal gun pits (but the British player will not know which ones are occupied until he reaches them or the Maori open fire). After the flax mats are place, the British player may create two demolished gaps in the pekerangi of about 2" in width where the breach has been created. These are the only routes through the pekerangi.

The Forces
Maori - Hidden Party Rawiri Puhirake - Mighty Warrior - shotgun, hatchet, knife Heni ti Kiri-Karamu - Warrior - musket, revolver, hatchet Tikitiki - Young Blood - enfield, mere Eru - Warrior - shotgun Rangitahau - Young Blood - musket, hatchet Tareha - Warrior - T&C carbine, knife The hidden party is concealed in any of the hidden rifle pits, or may be placed in open view within the pa (but not within 6" of the British party). Up to two men (notwithstanding that Heni is a woman!) may be concealed in the pits.	Colonial Forces - RN Assault Party Lt J. Bowdler - Gunman - Revolver, Cutlass Seaman Burrows - Shootist - Revolver, Cutlass Seaman Munroe - Gunman - Revolver, Cutlass Seaman Jamison - Citizen - Revolver, Cutlass Seaman Pratt - Gunman - Revolver, Cutlass ...... Colonial Forces - 43rd Infantry Assault Party Sergeant White - Gunman - Enfield, Bayonet Private Black - Shootist - Enfield, Bayonet Private Thomson - Gunman - Enfield, Bayonet Private Waddy - Gunman - Enfield, Bayonet Private Rice - Gunman - Enfield, Bayonet Private Avery - Citizen - Enfield, Bayonet The assault parties are placed up to 3" within the pa, one at each of the breaches made.
Maori - Reinforcements Ropata - Warrior - shotgun, mere Hika - Warrior - enfield, mere Wiremu - Young Blood - shotgun, hatchet Ahitana - Young Blood - musket, mere The reinforcements appear whenever their card is turned (or can pass, next having an opportunity the next time their card is turned). They appear at any edge of the board, except from outside the pa.

Victory Conditions - The last person alive in the pa wins the day. Anyone failing their nerve test flees and cannot return to the pa - British flee through the breach, Maori off the board in the direction away from the breach. Other than this, figures may not leave the board.

What Actually Happened - Following the bombardment, British assault troops moved in. When they reached the pa they found it practically deserted, and rushed in to take possession. Inside the pa was a maze like interior of trenches, rifle pits and cut outs. The assaulting troops soon became hopelessly muddled. Unfortunately, the pa also contained concealed Maori positions, underground bunkers where the defenders had seen out the bombardment. As the British explored the pa, the defenders opened fire at short range with musket and shotgun. Hand to hand combat followed, but the balance was tipped in favour of the defenders by the return of warriors who had slipped out of the rear of the pa earlier on. This caused panic amongst the British, who fled back down the hill in rout. The Maori, realising they would be unlikely to repeat their exploit the next day, vanished into the bush that night, taking many captured weapons and trophies with them. The Maori victory however encouraged the Governor to renew calls for peace and offer improved terms to the warring parties, and Cameron quickly shipped his main army back to Auckland!

Return to Maori Quartet

Return to The Rules With No Name

Return to The Foundry