Carthage Versus Rome Again

The scenario today is the same as last time. The Romans must hold ground and the carthaginians drive them off. As last time I used a lot of Greeks and assorted barbarian cavalry on the Carthaginian side and a mix of Imperial and Republican Romans. This time I was the Romans.

Mat one the dice rolls to make me set up first and for him to have first turn. Unlike the last game the romans did not move too far out. Unlike last time the archers were deployed to shoot at elephants and roman cavalry guarded the ir right flank river crossing from enemy cavalry. A catapult and extra heavy infantry i positioned in the centre.

Mat sent his cavalry in a flan attack and an initial stand off became precarious for the Romans when we had to take a cavalry unit away to force back advancing Carthaginian infantry in the centre/right.


                                                               View from the Roman side

                Roman auxiliary archers (actually American Indians I once based to use as Aztecs!)

                                                            The Carthaginian side

        One unit of DSG Roman cavalry turn from guarding the river crossing to support the centre. This left the Atlantic cavalry on Britains horses to hold off the enemy cavalry. later the unit returned to again hold of the Carthaginian cavalry.

                                                    The Romans maintain their position.

                                                           Standoff at the river.

             The elephants attack but are killed or driven off by the Romans.One poor beast was down to one wound and staggered aimlessly around the battlefield until joining a melee between both sides infantry. Although it distracted the romans at firsr they soon finished off the beast.

                        The wounded elephant moves towards its own side's archers.

                                            A cavalry stoush at the end remains a stalemate.

                The Carthaginian infantry ends the torment of rRoman arrows when it closes with and wipes out the archers.

           Roman reserve infantry close the gap, at first throwing its spears at the Carthaginians and then closing for melee.

                           Roman cavalry and infantry push back and destoy the enemy infantry.

                                            Carthaginian archers are attacked in the flank.

The Romans maintained their positions and even pushed into Carthaginian positions, threatening the enemy general. The cavalry did their delaying job and the catapult caused destruction among enemy chariots and infantry. It was a clear roman victory.

Next  ancient wargame will be a little bigger with similarly matched forces. The Carthaginians will employ war elephants but the Romans have a secret weapon. We'll be using my other wargame table.