ADLG - Game Report 164

Ottoman Empire (267) vs Order of St John (263)

The final game of the day I decided to unleash the Ottoman Empire against Paul’s Knights of St John. Fortunately, as the attacker I was able to start my move by redeploying my Janissaries and their supports from the centre to the left. I detached a small cavalry command to delay the enemy as best as they could. While the main cavalry command went to do its stuff up the left wing.

We managed to secure the infantry line against the gully. Meanwhile out on the right the Light Cavalry have been left behind to buy us more time, while the commander withdraws his two Sipahi. On the left the cavalry are seeking to envelope the small infantry command before the Knights of St John can engage.

The left wing cavalry have managed to destroy most of the enemy infantry and are now pursuing into the rear of the enemy position. The Knights are finding it very difficult to advance across the diagonal of the battlefield.

The enemy infantry has been reduced to two bowmen, but the casualties on the Ottoman Cavalry could limit their ability to finally destroy the infantry. The slow advance of the Knights continues, and it has yet to come into Bow range of the Janissaries.

The remaining enemy bowmen gave been surrounded by the Ottoman cavalry. The Knights are in Bow range at last and are suffering for it. They are also threatened on their left by the remaining cavalry from the right flank that has moved to support the Janissaries.

The Knights of St John crash against the Janissaries, but the infantry fail to break. With the support of the Sipahi in the rear of the knights they have already destroyed two knights.

Outcome

A win for the Ottomans by inflicting 22 hits to only receiving 5 in return.

Lessons Learnt

It is probably only best to conduct such a radical reorientation of ones battle line when one is attacking!

ADLG - Game Report 163

Low Countries (243) vs Catalan Company (262)

Next up more fun with an Almogavar rich environment, against Paul’s redesigned Catalan Company. For probably the third time of asking Paul once again managed to get a hill to anchor his defensive position upon. I decided that this time I was going to be a little more adventurous against the Catalans and take the fight to them. I formed the CinC’s wing on the right in two columns to move as quickly as I could down the right flank, while the Flemish left and centre advanced to fix the Catalans right and centre.

On the right I didn’t advance as far and as fast as I would have liked, I would have been better advised to have the CinC leading the infantry!

However, I managed to mostly achieve separating the Catalans, apart from the irritating Light Cavalry heading of to my right flank.

The Catalans exposed their troops on the hill. And for once we remembered to give our missile troops some bolts and arrows, and managed therefore to get a blow in first. I tried manfully to ignore the Catalan Light Cavalry marauding of on my right somewhere.

The Flemish left and centre are for once more than holding there own against the Catalans. On the right and right of centre we have created a gap which we are starting to exploit. However, those twice damned Light Cavalry have returned to give me another lesson in the art of using Light Cavalry to try and rescue a situation!

The Catalan camp lies open to plunder as the Flemish destroy all before them. Except for the Knights who have are assailed in front by the Catalan Knights and in the rear (up the duff) by the Light Cavalry.

Outcome

A win, yes a win, for the Flemish against the Catalans by inflicting 23 hits and only receiving 12 in return.

Lessons Learnt

A favourable result and a better return on the two Knight units with included generals.

If you are in column it is probably best to have the General with the infantry rather that the cavalry!

ADLG - Game Report 162

Low Countries (243) vs Feudal Spanish – Aragonese (190)

Time waits for no man, so we all gathered again at Entoyment for another day’s ADLG gaming. We used the theme for this year’s Warfare ADLG competition as the basis for the day, which would allow the select few of us going to try out our armies. For my part if took along my Low Countries and my Ottomans.

The first game was for my Flemish against Robin’s Aragonese Feudal Spanish. The ground was a little less than my liking for my Heavy Spearmen- heavy army. I have been experimenting with using two of my Knights as included generals as a counterattack force for the infantry. I deployed with two infantry commands in the centre and right with the CinC’s command of cavalry and infantry on the left – trying to manoeuvre themselves out of the rough terrain.

We managed to seize the hill, but would we stay on it?

The remainder of the infantry line deployed to the left of the hill. While the enemy closed we hoped to get in one or two rounds of bow fire.

The flower of the Flemish nobility have launched themselves at the Spanish knights, while we wait elsewhere for the enemy to move forward and contact us.

One of the delicate flowers has wilted and perished, requiring the remainder to demand the support of a spearman. Elsewhere the enemy fire and contact has been particularly galling for us. The two included commanders are moving their knights forward to counter attack.

The Flemish right is looking very sick indeed, despite inflicting some hits in return. Meanwhile the hill remains in Flemish hands. The Spanish seem disinclined to attack up hill against the spears, why?

The Flemish right has failed, and the gaps are now manifest for all to see. The end is nigh.

Outcome

A win for the Spanish by inflicting 22 and only receiving 11 in return.

Lessons Learnt

Once again trying to rescue a mal-deployment proved a step too far.

Once more the Almogavars made a difference – the medieval super-troopers.

ADLG - Game Report 161

Seleucid (42) vs Triumvirate Roman (83)

After a number of battles with medieval and other such assorted armies, Robin and I decided it would be good to get back to our Classical Ancient roots with a Seleucid on Roman bash.

I opted to attack. The first thing I did was throw down a coastline to protect my flank. I deployed a medium infantry command on the right to contest the gully. The main pike block with attached imitation legionaries on their flanks. While the Cataphract command was refused on the left.

Roman barbarian allies seized the edge of the gully first. While in the centre I decided to wait for the Cataphracts to come up on the flank of the pikes in support. The Romans are starting to refuse their right.

The die is cast (or rolled) and the lines close up to each other.

Error number 1. If you have Scythed Chariots don’t take the in against bowmen, and certainly not Cretan elite archers. (although they don’t need to be elite when they roll 5s and 6s!)

some fancy footwork from the Greeks allowed the Imitation Legionaries to swap places with a Pike block to allow them to face off against the Gaulish Cavalry. I sent the Cataphracts out wide to the left to try and draw the Roman line out.

Before we can make contact in the centre the Gaulish Cavalry were withdrawn, and the elite legionaries stood up in their place. WE have. However, forced an overload on the left of the infantry line.

Contact – Wait Out!

Initial contact results were relatively even with no major upsets.

However, subsequent combat results didn’t go quite as well. On the right in the gully a Thracian unit has been destroyed and a damaged Light Infantry unit is holding the line. While an Imitation Legionary has been destroyed by the real thing. However, the elite pike block has broken through. On the left the Cataphracts are pursuing supported by the Light Cavalry.

In the gully another Thurophoroi unit has been destroyed. However, by the coastline we have turned the flank. In the centre the elite pikes are pursuing while the others have turned to the flank to support the other Imitation Legionary which is in serious trouble. The enemy camp is looking an attractive target.

Despite the support the second Imitation Legionary has perished. In the centre a similar fate for a pike unit. However, on the right the Greeks seem to be coming out on top thanks to the flank charges. The camp remains a target despite the intervention of the Roman Light Cavalry.

As dusk draws in the Romans have destroyed the remaining pikes in front of them, however, the remaining pikes have been much more successful. While on the Greek right the gully will soon be ours!

Outcome

A win for the Seleucids by 20 of 21 to 23 of 23 Romans!

Lessons Learnt

Avoid exposing Scythed Chariots to bows – again!