25 October 2020
I always enjoy very much reading battle reports posted on this forum. In this period where most of the tournaments are canceled, we surely are all hungry for more FOG news. At least I have the chance to have a FOG player right at home, in the person of my son Kevin. Therefore, we’ve decided to share our latest game with you all.
In the year 237 BC, Hamilcar Barca lands at Gades in order to gain access to the gold and silver mines of the Sierra Morena. The Turdetani tribe take position across his path. No pasaran !
HAMILCAR :
No Spanish troops, nor Gallic infantry allowed.
3 x 6 African spearmen, 1 x 6 Poenic infantry, 2 x 6 Poenic levies, 2 x 6 Numidian javelinmen, 1 x 4 Balearic slingers, 1 x 4 Libyphoenician, 1 x 4 Gallic cavalry, 3 x 4 Numidian light horse, 2 x 2 Elephants
1 IC, 3 TC.
16 BG with breaking point at 13.
IBERIANS :
3 x 6 Avg Scutarii, 1 x 12 Avg Scutarii, 2 x 8 Sup Scutarii, 2 x 8 Caetrati, 2 x 6 Celtiberians, 1 x 6 Cavalry, 3 x 4 Light Horse, 4 TC.
14 BG with breaking point at 12.
The Carthaginians invade in Agricultural. We’ve decided that the Iberians move first.
INITIAL DEPLOYMENT :
THE CARTHAGINIANS from left to right :
Numidian Light Horse, in front of a gentle hill
Gallic Cavalry
African Spearmen and Numidian Javelinmen, partly in an enclosed field
African Spearmen and Lybiphoenician Cavalry
African Spearmen and Elephants
Poenic Levies in an enclosed field
Elephants and Poenic Levies
Poenic Infantry and Numidian Light Horse in an enclosed field
THE IBERIANS from left to right :
Caetrati and Celtiberians, in front of a vineyard
Cavalry and Celtiberians
All the Scutarii are massed in the center : 6 Avg, 8 Sup, 12 Avg + 6 Avg in rear support, 8 Sup, 6 Avg.
All Avg Scutarii are deployed in 3 ranks to benefit from the upgrade at impact.
Caetrati and Light Horse, coming out of an open field
The Iberian Camp, in the center
General view of the central sector
FIRST MOVES : TURNS 1 – 2 – 3
The Iberian C-in-C knew his people well and was himself not one to fuss about tactical finesse. His army stretched practically across the whole battlefield. There was only 1 possible command : General Advance Straight Ahead at Full Speed ! Only the 8 Sup Scutarii facing the Elephants were having second thoughts…
Hamilcar was surprised by such aggressiveness, but met his foe frontally.
The Scutarii slam into the Carthaginian center. Both sides lose a base at impact. The 12-strong BG then loses the melee, but holds on thanks to the fighting general and rear support. The 8-strong Sup fragments the opposing African spearmen at impact (double drop), which then routs at the melee.
On the right, the 2 inside Spanish Light Horse pivoted to shoot at the Gallic Cavalry, then had to evade, and returned to finish in an awkward position. The outside BG charged its opponent, which fragmented and lost a base.
On the left, the Celtiberians charged the Elephants (which disrupt), while the cavalry charged the Poenic Levies.
The Spanish met with some initial success, but would it be enough to tip the balance in the melee ?
TURN 4 :
The Scutarii lose all across the line ! The 12-strong Avg loses again a base, but holds on. The Sup drop to disrupted.
On the right, the Numidians are surprisingly resilient and even manage to disrupt the Spanish Light Horse. And a well-aimed javelin killed the Spanish general !
The Gauls charge by making a sharp turn, hoping to catch the fighting Spanish Light Horse in the flank. Luckily for the Iberians, the charge is just too short, because the kinked column cannot evade !
On the center left, the Elephants charge the Sup Scutarii, but drop a level at impact and another one at melee … At least they survive both death rolls with flying colours.
TURN 5 :
In the center, the Scutarii lose again and a second Iberian general dies fighting ! The 12-strong Avg should have double-dropped here, but we missed that. The Sup drop to fragmented, and the rear support group disrupts witnessing the death of their beloved general ! What started well enough for the Iberians is getting from bad to worse.
End of turn 5 :
On the left, the combats remained indecisive. The Poenic infantry moved forward, and the Iberian cavalry broke off. Hamilcar was looking forward with confidence to the next turn. But could the wind change again ?
TURN 6 :
This time it’s the end for the big Scutarii BG in the center : they double drop, and crash through their rear support troops, who promptly fall to fragmented ! The Sup Scutarii fight on, and don’t care for the fleeing common folks that fought alongside them.
On the right, the Spanish Light Horse set themselves up and shot Hamilcar’s Gallic Cavalry to disrupt. The mercenary cavalry then of course charged into the flank of the fighting Iberian Light Horse (it will subsequently rout), while another BG evaded off-table.
Score so far : the Iberians have lost 8 /12 (and 2 generals), the Carthaginians 4/13.
Hamilcar has almost won the day, but the fight still goes on on the left. The Celtiberians charge into the Poenic infantry, and the Spanish cavalry returns to the fray against the Poenic Levies.
The Carthaginians lose the impact, and then also the melee. The Poenic infantry loses 2 bases, while the Levies and the Elephants drop to fragmented.
On the center left, the Elephants still hold their own against the Sup Scutarii, but the second BG of Levies crashes against a 6-strong Avg Scutarii in the enclosed field.
TURN 7 -- LAST TURN :
Time to finish off the Scutarii in the center. The African spearmen pursued into the rear support group and promptly routed them. The Sup Scutarii finally succumbed to the flower of the Carthaginian aristocracy.
New score line : the Iberians have lost 10 /12, the Carthaginians 6/13.
Then disaster struck on the left ! All 3 BG lost in the melee and broke !
And it became even worse : the 2 BG on the center left also lost and broke !
Final score line : the Iberians have lost 10 /12, the Carthaginians 13/13.
End game position :
CONCLUSIONS :
This battle between 2 large armies turned out to be mostly a head-on clash. The little maneuvering space on the center right could not be exploited by either side. The Armoured Sup Carthaginian cavalry in the center, with general and charging in a single rank, proved very efficient. We both enjoyed the successive reversals of fortune, the dramatic deaths of the Iberian generals and the close end result.
Thanks for reading this through to the end.
For a closer look at these miniatures, as well as many others, feel free to visit my blog : www.tituspullo.over-blog.com
