Grand battles are the names of places we remember which generally mark a high (or low) point in a campaign. They are about the defeat of the enemy and consequently the seizing of control over territory. Battles were for the most part rare. Raids, on the other hand, were generally smaller actions and far more common.
Most warfare is effectively about the control of territory; raids are operations designed to strike into enemy territory, achieve an objective, and then retreat to the safety of friendly territory before the enemy can mount a coordinated counterattack. The aim is never to capture and hold territory. Typically taking place at night, when the enemy is sleeping and their guard is at its lowest, a raid aims to achieve its objectives whilst minimizing casualties among the raiding party. While many modern raiding forces consist of highly trained elite soldiers, raids can be conducted by any type of soldier. They are, in fact, often executed by irregulars. The defenders will typically be second-line troops. Raiders may come by land, by sea or by air.
The tactic of raiding is as old as warfare itself. Tribal warfare is characterized by ritual warfare and raiding, where one side will test the other by taking livestock, goods, and even people.
A classic example of early raiding comes from Ireland, in the epic tale Táin Bó Cúailnge, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, but Homer's heroes also spend their time raiding the territory around Troy. Border areas can become notorious for raids, such as the Border Reivers of the Tudor period.
Raids could often be large affairs, involving small armies. The Great Raid of 1220–1223 saw Mongol forces led by General Subutai go through Persia and Georgia, around the Caspian Sea to confront the Alans and Russian Princes before returning home. This raid also acted as a reconnaissance for future Mongol conquests. The Hundred Years War saw the chevauchée, where a large, mounted force would enter enemy territory with the purpose of looting and burning what they could. This tactic was mirrored in the American Civil War with numerous raids, notably the Beefsteak raid of 1864.
In modern times, the horse has been replaced by the jeep and truck. The open spaces of the Western Desert were ideal for raids behind enemy lines, with famous units like the Special Air Service and No1 Demolition Squadron (of Popski’s Private Army), damaging the Axis effort in North Africa,
As soon as humans had built boats and ships large enough to trade, those vessels were adapted to raiding. The Sea Peoples were a notable menace recorded by the Egyptians.
The Vikings are perhaps the best known naval raiders. They conducted raids against the coasts of the western Europe and into the Mediterranean. They also raided eastwards through the Baltic Sea into eastern Europe, and as far south as Constantinople.
The Hundred Years War saw many raids conducted by sea by all sides on both the French and English coasts. The Renaissance saw raids become a feature of the clash between Christian states and the Ottoman Empire. Elizabethan England used raiding extensively to attack the Spanish possessions in the New World, often attacking shipping or raiding coastal settlements. The golden age of Piracy saw many raids on land and sea. The Barbary Corsairs raided far and wide, as far as England with many raids recorded against Devon and Cornwall in the early 17th century. The corsairs success led to the construction of watch towers along the Mediterranean coast to warn of their approach.
The Napoleonic era saw its fair share of raids, the most spectacular of which was the British attack on Copenhagen in 1807, which involved both land and sea elements. The result was the surrender and capture of virtually all the Danish navy and supplies.
In World War II, the commando raid on Saint-Nazaire was one of the more successful, and damaged much of the port’s facilities. The British-Canadian attack against Dieppe in 1942 stands out as one of the largest raid operations of the war. While a tactical failure, it succeeded strategically by diverting German manpower away from the Russian front, and helped the Allies learn many lessons for seaborne assaults.
In the modern era, assaults using parachute or helicopters have become more common, although, as the battle of Mogadishu 1993, and of Hostomel Airport 2022 proved, air superiority or surprise is required for modern air insertions to succeed, though the latter may not have been designed as a raid. The Bruneval Raid 1942 combined air and sea elements to attack a German radar installation. Both the raid on Entebbe and Operation Neptune Spear (killing of Osama Bin Laden) used surprise to great effect.
For the defender, the challenge is in having forces available to repulse a raid, which means having garrisons or levies to protect and patrol border areas, and/or using watchtowers. The Old Kingdom Egyptians built garrison forts on their borders to protect themselves from incursions from the Libyans and the Kushites. These had many features recognizable in later fortifications, including bulwarks, battlements, machicolations, and sally ports. Some even had kennels for dogs.
The Romans developed an extensive system of border defences known as the Limes. Though its exact purpose is debated, the fortifications would certainly delay raiders whether on their way into the Empire, or coming out, loaded with loot.
Raids are a tricky subject to game. Most historical raids, at least in their initial phases, would have met little resistance and would be a walk over, game-wise for the attacker. So a good raid scenario has to have balancing factors – the raiders only have a limited amount of time before the defenders can deploy reinforcements (here comes the cavalry!). The raid itself can be broken down into three parts – the approach (avoiding detection), the raid itself, and the retreat (avoiding pursuit). All three could be made into games, but the number of defending forces would have to be carefully checked, as the attacker will probably have limited forces entering into each new scenario.
On the one hand, our raid scenario needs to allow the attacker some chance to get close to the objective. The defender should have sentries, who may spot the attackers and raise the alarm. There are several ideas which we explore in the scenarios in this this issue. This balancing act I tried in my own rules Osprey Black Ops. The defender does not have full control over their forces until after the alarm is raised. Once the alarm bells are ringing, the defender gains full control over their troops and will have reinforcements arriving. A good raid will allow the attacker the opportunity to achieve the objective with a little skill and luck, while the defender has the opportunity to react, not just sit back unable to do anything.
A good scenario should have clear objectives for both attacker and defender. There are many possible raid objectives:
While raids can involve more than one objective, multiple objectives may be a complication not everyone enjoys.
Raids can be great fun and, if the balance is right, they can be nail biting to the very end. So, get your boot polish out, don your cap comforter (the woolly commando hat) and go play some raid missions! WS&S
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