ADLG - Game Report 260

Hittites (20) vs Achaemenid Persian (64)

The final date with destiny on Day 1 at Brixham for the Hittite Empire was an outing against Dave's Persians. I was again defending in the Plains. Fortunately I managed to avoid the unpleasant prospect of facing the Persian Sparabara with my chariots. Instead the Hittite Chariots were better placed to engage the Persian Cavalry. The Hittite centre was refused.

On the left the Hittite spears supporting the Hittite chariots have stood to receive the contact, but have certainly not fared as well as they should have! In the centre the Hittite General has contacted the Persian Cavalry, while the remainder of the Army advances to contact.

The Hittite General in his chariot is holding his own against the Persian cavalry. In the centre the Persian Chariots are threatening the Gasgans, but there are ample reserves to fill the gaps that they may leave. On the right the Hittite infantry has engaged the Sparabara, and has turned their flank.

On the right the Persian line is disintegrating as the benefit of the flank being turned reaps its rewards. In the centre the Gasgans are proving remarkable resilient – for once.

The Persian left has been destroyed. In the centre the Gasgans succumbed to the ferocity of the Persian chariots.

Outcome

A victory for the Hittite Empire losing 19 of 26 to the enemies 25.

Lessons Learnt

The right flank success was what we should have been capable of achieving against Phil's Assyrians!

ADLG - Game Report 259

Hittites (20) vs Assyrians (7)

After a less than well-deserved pasty, it was on to do battle against Phil's Assyrians, where I was defending in the plains. Here the numbers were very much in my favour, the question would b be could I make them count. The Hittite's deployed with the Chariots to the left with the Heavy Chariots closer to the infantry to support them. On the flanks were medium spears to work and expose the enemy flank.

And at this stage the plan seemed to be on-track.

The Hittite Light Chariots clashed with a grinding of hub against hub. However, in the centre the heavies are falling victim to very accurate bow fire. The Hittite centre has been held to allow the right flank to advance.

Although the Assyrian's have defeated a chariot their flank has now been threatened by medium spearmen. The Assyrian archers have destroyed the Heavy Chariot and the Hittite reserve has been deployed to support the remaining chariot. The Assyrian left flank has retreated in the face of the Hittite advance.

The Assyrian Chariots have brushed away the threat to their flank, leaving the battle on this flank very much in their favour. On the Hittite right although we have managed to overwhelm the enemy we have no meaningful enemy to fight! While, In the centre the Assyrians outnumber the Hittite's in contact.

The Hittite centre has been crushed, but both flanks are far to preoccupied in their own battles to support, or even destroy the enemy from the flanks.

Outcome

A creditable Assyrian victory by losing only 14 of 22 to the Hittite 26.

Lessons Learnt

If one has a significant overload on a flank, it needs to be able to be committed at the right time and place to be of any value; effectively the Assyrian and Hittite numbers were equal at the decision point.

ADLG - Game Report 258

Hittites (20) vs Sea Peoples (24)

Finally, at Brixham, and before I could enjoy the Devon Pasties I was confronted with Max "Call it a Draw" Sea People's Army. This was the other Army I could have built for the competition, and therefore I was looking forward to this battle with some trepidation as I knew its strength lay in its heavy impetuous foot, and the overall numbers in his army. I was invited to defend in the Mountains, where we deployed with a strong centre and the chariot command ready to deploy to the flank.

Once again, the question would be could my medium impetuous swordsmen stand against his heavies.

The Chariot command was able to deploy smoothly from behind the hill, with their flanks ably protected by the medium spearmen. The remainder of the line conformed to the home side of the gully protecting our left flank.

The enemy centre and left advanced as one large force to crush my right flank.

Although the chariots have broken through the Gasgans melted away against the enemy's heavy foot. However, the potential for completing the breakthrough and turning on the enemy flank has been denied us because of the intervention of the enemy chariot reserves.

The Hittite centre has now engaged the enemy centre, and the outcome has not been in our favour! On the Hittite right the remaining chariots have driven of the Sea People's light chariots but they have not yet managed to influence the battle the way they would have wanted to.

Two of the Sea People's chariots have been defeated, but the Hittite chariots are now a long way from being able to support their infantry. The infantry battle is delicately poised with both sides suffering casualties. The Hittite's are winning the battle in the gully, but losing the right and are about to lose the centre.

Outcome

A Sea People's victory by inflicting 26 and only losing 22 of 29.

Lessons Learnt

The Sea People's might have been a good choice for me.

The debate over the choice of Hittite Medium Spears or Medium Swords continues.

ADLG - Game Report 257

Hittites (20) vs Neo-Babylonians (8)

Before we all headed of to Brixham, I had a single opportunity to get the Hittites out for battle. Before Paul and I engaged in battle I took an obligatory picture of the Army deployed. I was given the privilege of attacking in the plains.

With a close up of the Gasgans; impetuous medium swordsmen who would be sacrificed by the Hittite empire to secure a breakthrough – or at least that would be the plan.

As one might have predicted Paul went for a classically compact formation. For our part we went with Infantry centre supported on the open flank with the Chariot command. In support to the chariots were medium and light infantry hidden in a gully, miles from the action!

Unfortunately, the Hittite command was conspicuous by its absence, which meant that the perceived hammer blow with its supports was not in evidence. At least the threat of the open flank has meant the Babylonians decided to honour the threat.

The lack of command was compounded by the deployment; it is never a good plan to split an infantry line with mounted troops in the centre as one requires at least one more command point to move the line! The consequence being that the left flank is now on its own.

Of course no matter how good or bad one's command dice are, they are moot when you lose a Heavy Chariot on contact to the enemy. Finally, the Hittite right flank starts to close on the Babylonian camels.

The Babylonian Heavy Chariots have bested the Hittite heavies and are now ready to commit to defeat the Hittite centre. In the centre the Babylonian horse archers are continuing to cause attrition. While on the Hittite right the battle is trying to decide whether they can sweep around the Babylonian left flank.

The Hittite left has won its battle in the field, but elsewhere the Hittite's have failed to secure any of their objectives.

Outcome

A Babylonian victory in which they only suffered 8 losses.

Lessons Learnt

A valuable lesson in what not to do when deploying the Hittite Chariots.

Try better to recognise how your opponent might deploy in the terrain; and avoid deploying troops where they are never going to deploy!