Zulu Dawn:“Excuse me, my Lord, there's something I must convey to you. I rode along the track down to Rorke's Drift. The sky above is red with fire. Your orders my Lord? Do we move to the drift?”
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The iNdluyengwe Regiment with10 or 11 companies totalling 500 to 550 men (this is conjecture, based on the fact that Zulu Companies averaged about 50 men) approached the post from the south, around the flanks of the Oskaberg (Shyiane Hill).
They formed up into their attack formation behind the hill.
The right horn would move along the terraces of Shyiane Hill while the left horn swung wide around the post taking advantage of a covered approach.
The chest and loins would advance directly on the post covering some 600 yards of open ground.
Or, it may be possible that the Regiment did not adopt the buffalo head formation and just advanced directly on the post ?
The regiment's skirmishers .20 warriors in open order ,came into sight at 1630hours at a range of 600 yards.
The British moved defenders to the south wall and opened fire less than a minute later at 500 yards with the Zulus having advanced to about 100 yards. (600 to 500 yards )
The south wall and two buildings of Rorke's Drift can deploy about 40 riflemen ...
The Zulus will advance at 90 yards a minute (going from cover to cover in a "steady" advance)
The casualties will virtually all be on the lead 3 companies of the iNdluyengwe, the one company deployed in an extended skirmish line and the two lead companies of the chest.
Their charge is broken 50 yards after having collected 1120 cartridges
500 yards to 140 yards = 16 shots per men in volley fire = 640 cartridges
160 yards to 50 yards = 12 shots per men in independent fire = 480 cartridges
The 40 men have used a total of 1120 cartridges
From 500 to 320 yards, British fire will be 5% effective = 8 Zulu warriors hit by volley fire
From 320 yards to 140 yards British fire will be 10% effective = 32 Zulu warriors hit volley fire
From 140 yards to 50 yards British fire will be 10% effective = 48 Zulu warriors hit by independent fire
Total = 88 Zulu warriors hit on 150 of the 3 leading companies
The casualties will virtually all be on the lead 3 Companies of the iNdluyengwe, the one company deployed in an extended skirmish line and the two lead companies of the chest.
PS : This part of the battle of RD lasted 5 minutes, so that the Zulus should move to 90 yards per minute
The question I ask myself is:
Why Captain Cox did not have to break the attack of the zulu regiment uNokhenke at Kambula, while the balance of power was the same ,this soldiers were more shelteredand and that his soldiers were better (old veterans of the last Cape war ) than the defenders of RD
RD = 40 men against 550 warriors = 13.75 zulu per defender
Kambula = 150 men against 2,000 warriors = 13.33 zulu per defender
You must explain to me in the The details, thank you in advance ...
Best regards
Pascal
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Comparisons... Sun Jan 20, 2013 5:34 am
Hi guys
Ben then? Kambula and the adventures of the Captain Cox, this is not your cup of tea ?
Cheers
Pascal
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Comparisons... Wed Apr 03, 2013 7:35 am
Captain Cox had a good presentiment! Remaining on site, would spend all his soldiers ...
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