Douglas Johnson

The Mahdist Wars Source Book Douglas Johnson

For war game players and writers, the MWSB provides basic historical information, including much hard to find detail that exists in no other source. By providing well researched facts on army organizations, tactics, weaponry, soldier and warrior dress and costume, it is possible to refight actual and "what if?" battles as miniature war games, learning how they were lost or won in ways not possible by reading about them alone. Volume 2 covers basic information on the Mahdist Army, as well as the Abyssinians and Italian Colonial forces drawn into the conflict from 1886 to 1899. Besides organizational, tactical, and weapons information, the uniforms/costumes of these three combatants are covered in detail, particularly the dress of the Mahdists, with the most full color illustrations and photos of Jibbas and other items to appear in any work on the subject. Similarly, the dress of the Abyssinians and Italian forces, including their Askari's, is described along with color plates. As in the first volume, special emphasis has been made to provide full color and highly detailed period maps of the region and battles. A number of special "pictorials" have been added to help illustrate campaigns, battles, and weapons not otherwise specifically covered in the text. Operational studies include Italy's campaigns and actions against the Ansar armies, and several detailed chapters on aspects of the decisive Battle of Omdurman. Many popular myths about this action are given critical treatment, including the famous--but not necessarily deservedly so--Charge of the 21st Lancers. The Mahdist Forts built along the Nile to defend their capital, Omdurman, are located and identified, complete with respective armaments and commanders, as well as numerous color photos of some surviving examples today. And to round out the work, there is material on rank and succession among the Mahdiyya, and a detailed chronology of the conflict, from the youth of Mohammad Ahmed to the death of his Khalifa at Um Diwaykarat. And for general completeness, there is the chapter, "Hollywood And The Sudan," a list of Internet resources, and for war gamers an updated list of manufacturers of figurines in all scales, from 54mm to 5/6mm, with which to assemble their own armies in miniature. Priced at $30.00, this 8.5" x 11" soft bound companion volume has 148 pages containing 17 color maps (many full and half page size), 93 color illustrations/photos, 42 B& W illustrations/photos, 7 full pages of color uniform illustrations, and 35 pages of detailed Orders of Battle. Bibliography and notes follow at the end of each chapter.