ADLG - Game Report 295

Kingdom of Sicily (188) vs Seljuk Turks (203)

For my second game I decided to spin the wheel and try the Sicilians I had brought along. Kev for his part was experimenting with Seljuks. On that basis we were both exploring relatively new ground. My army had one large command of medium impact knights and medium impetuous knights supported by Saracen Heavy Cavalry, there was a small infantry command and a light cavalry command.

I decided to attack in the plains, and set up with the foot on the right holding the difficult ground, with the cavalry command in the centre. I decided to send the Light Cavalry command left flanking, and with any luck they might be able to seize the Seljuk camp.

We started with a right wheel to pin the enemy on that side of the battlefield. However, already my plan is unravelling as the enemy light cavalry have potentially exposed my right flank and opened up an avenue to take my camp. Now why did I place my camp there?

With my camp likely to fall the best I could hope for is to win the battle quickly, and in doing so hope my flank march arrives to secure the enemy camp.

On the right the battle has become piecemeal with the Seljuk Light Cavalry running amok while their heavy cavalry pin the remaining infantry. Poor command and control has started to prevent an adequate response; that is my story and I am sticking to it!

And finally the flank march arrives but some cunning Seljuk manoeuvring has allowed him to bring some medium swordsmen up to defend his camp and his flank. In the depth of the enemy left flank the Sicilian Medium Knights have themselves run amok. Although they have damaged the enemy cavalry, they have not eliminated them as a threat and they greater manoeuvrability has allowed them to move around the flank of the Knights and destroy them. In the centre the other Knights have engaged the enemy foot and seem at this stage to have the advantage.

However, despite the Seljuk's camp almost being taken they managed to rally around their elephant and destroy the Sicilian Knights from the rear!

Outcome

A Seljuk victory only losing 13 of 21 cohesion points.

Lessons Learnt

Why did I place the camp in such an exposed position; if I was going to wheel to the right and flank from the left the camp should have been on the left and not the right!

A more balanced army would see the cavalry and Knights in two equal commands. (spoiler alert – which is what will eventually happen with the Taifa Kingdom army list for Attack)