Roman Civil War - Curio's African Expedition

 

The Caesarians under Curio having successfully landed in North Africa close by the sea port of Thapsus, the local Pompeian forces under Attius Varus set out to throw them back into the sea. The armies met some distance from the town, close by the village Ignominium, where Varus offered battle. Lined up along a wadi, the XXI, XXII, and XXIII legions formed the front rank, right to left. Varus stationed himself in the centre with XXII Legion. XXI Legion formed up on rising ground to the right, covering a ford; XXIII Legion on the left with the velites in direct support. The light horse formed the reserve.

Optimates:

XXI Legion = 3SP
XXII Legion = 3SP, plus commander Attius Varus
XXIII Legion = 3SP
Auxiliaries = 2SP
Velites light infantry = 2SP (direct support)
Equites light horse = 2SP
- 6 units, 15SP

For his part, Curio decided to place the weight of his attack on the right, with I Legion directly supported by the velites. In the centre stood his other three legions, II in the front, III forming a second line, and IV in reserve. I Auxilia garrisoned the village.

Populares:

I Legion = 3SP with commander Gaius Curio
II, III, IV Legions @3SP = 9SP
I Auxiliaries = 2SP
Velites = 2SP (direct support)
 - 6 units, 16SP

So: to the initiative roll. Now, although the Caesarians were supposed to be the attackers, it occurred to me that in the given situation either side might take the initiative. Sure enough, after rolling three successive doubles - presumably the armies waited three days for the other to make a move - the initiative roll went 4-2 in far of the Pompeians (white dice). OK, what to do with it? Wait and do nothing - my first thought - or a wholesale offensive across the river? The narrative to come pretty much tracks with the pictures.

Fighting at the village (Ignominium) and on the 
Caesarian right

.

The outcome was a compromise: a 'surprise attack' across the river against the town. That was stopped cold. At this point Varus declined to test fate further, whereat the Caesarians launched their own limited attack. The fighting continued to rage inconclusively about the town, but Curio's attempt to force a crossing on the right was also held comfortably.

Second Turn initiative roll - little action so far

So - to the next initiative roll - 6-4 to the Pompeians. His prayers to Fortuna Hexahedra being answered in such fashion, Varus could not decline further to take the fight to the enemy. On the right, XXI Legion surged into the town, and drove the garrison, with loss, through it and out into the fields beyond.

Auxiliary garrison driven out of town. The place was to change 
hands twice more

Thus encouraged, and with Varus urging them on, XXII Legion smashed into the Caesarian centre. Beating back II Legion after hard fighting (both sides lost a SP), Varus lit up against III Legion where, for the moment they were held. 

Varus's successful drive begins

Following up, Varus threw back the second line - III Legion - as well: a disaster for the Caesarians. There being now FOUR units in the Reserve Zone, one had to be eliminated. Last in, first gone: III Legion dissolved in rout. This left the onus upon one of the remaining three to fight their way back into the battlefield in their turn, but meanwhile, there was still action on the Caesarian right to be resolved. 

II Legion defeated, now it's the turn of III Legion 

This involved Curio's wing being attacked from across the river, and in the flank by the Pompeian light horse. The lights went in first, and scored an immediate success. Back went I Legion, one strength point the poorer. 

Punishing flank attack by Pompeian light horse
against Curio and I Legion

XXXIII Legion came hurtling across the stream to complete the rout, but Curio was going back no further. I Legion held.

I Legion holds up XXIII 

The battle so far had been going badly for the Caesarians: a legion destroyed, and two more strength points lost. The Pompeians were down just one SP, but that was from Varus's own legion.

II Legion driven in and III Legion routed, IV Legion
about to restore Caesarian fortunes - if they can!

Now, with 4 activations available, the Caesarian launched their counter-attack. IV Legion took over the fight in the centre and shoved back Varus's centre, inflicting with it another SP loss on XXII Legion.

...They can! Varus's legion loses a second Strength Point...

As the Pompeians reeled back, IV Legion followed up. Taking a loss themselves, they completed the destruction of XXII Legion. Attius Varus was slain in the rout.

... and their third, along with Varus himself. But IV Legion
knows it has been in a fight!

The counterattack by II Legion retook the Ignominium village, driving back XXI Legion with loss.

II Legion comes out of reserve to retake Ignominium

Following up, they hoped to throw the enemy back across the ford, but the Pompeians seemed disinclined to retreat further.

XXI Legion stops II Legion at the ford.

I Legion drives off the enemy
light horse

On the right, Curio hoped to chase off the light horse - returned once more into the fray. Driving them back across the river, the Caesarians followed up and, after tough fighting in which both sides took losses, chased the light horse from the field. Again, as this was a 'follow-up' action, the Caesarians were unable to cross the wadi themselves.

Following up, I Legion throws the enemy light horse back and 
across the ford. Both sides take losses.

Have the Caesarians restored the battle?

To Gaius Curio, the situation now looked fairly promising. Early defeats had been largely avenged, and the enemy line looked ragged. But against the 5SP lost to the Pompeians, the Caesarians had so far lost 7SP. The situation was poised on the edge of Curio's gladius.

Sure enough, the Pompeians won the initiative dice - another 6-4. The chance to do some hurt was not to be missed. This was to be a second turning point of the battle.

Initiative roll: 6-4 to the Pompeians

On the left, XXIII Legion, with the close support of the velites. shovelled the opposing Auxiliaries out of their line and off the battlefield.

XXIII Legion pushes in the Caesarian right...

But the decisive action was on the Pompeian right. Returning to the fray, XXI Legion once again forced their way into the village (against the 3 rolled by XXI Legion, the obscured red die had actually rolled a 1). Following up, the Pompeians defeated the Caesarians in the reserve zone and drove them completely from the field.  

XXI Legion storms the village a second time 
(the red die, hidden behind the house, was a '1')

Defeated on both flanks, the Caesarians had lost the battle outright - a disaster. 

II Legion driven finally from the field

This was probably the toughest battle of the campaign so far. The Caesarians had lost a legion and 8SP in total; the Pompeians lost 5SP, including a legion and their commander. Destroyed legions count as a total loss; of remaining SPs lost, half are returned. So, out of 5SP lost, the Pompeians get 1SP back; out of 8SP, the Caesarians get back 3SP(half rounded up). Net losses, then: Pompeians 4SP, Caesarians 5SP. 

The Next Moves

As the campaign passed into the fourth month, the Pompeians embarked upon a concerted drive once and for all to smash the Populares faction. From the point of view of campaign mechanics, they won the initiative roll 6-4, even though only four formations - two armies and two fleets - were available to move.  

Fourth Month: Optimates Resurgent.

They determined upon a wholesale offensive everywhere. Now, I probably ought to treat Curio's defeat in battle really as a failure of the Caesarian African expedition as a whole. But I think it will be more fun if Curio has to fight with his back to the sea, and for the Pompeian fleet to (try and) get in amongst the Caesarian transports. 

In the north, Afranius's army is still close to a match for Caesar's; and the Pompeian fleet outnumbers the Caesarian. So: two land battles and two fleet actions to come...

To be continued...

A Naval Excursus -

 

Hex grid as pencilled. The white lines is just the overhead 
light reflecting off 2B pencil

Interrupting the Roman Civil War narrative is this little item - what I did today. This was based on a discovery I made a couple of days back that a hex grid with cells 60mm between opposite edges is very convenient and easy to make. The measurements required are 30 and 60mm in one direction (north-south, say) and 17.5, 35 and 70mm in the east-west. The only tricky one is the 17.5, and that is the one least used.

Horrible photo, but you get the idea

Some time ago, a visit to the city Art Emporium yielded a 102cm by 83cm sheet of heavy card stock, coloured on one face. Although I would have preferred a lighter blue, I decided this would be used for naval games. Instead of across the board (a feature of my well used hex-board), the 'grain' on this one goes along the length, which accommodates exactly 17 of my 6cm hexes. The board measures 15 hexes across, with a small 10mm margin.

Looking down on part of the board. All my care doesn't obviate the 
occasional stapid mistuke.

This board accommodates better my 'very tiny' navies, and will, I think be suitable for actions with limited presence of carriers, or none at all. This does not mean my 5cm hex sheets have been superseded - I'll still use those for more ambitious naval operations...

In the murk and mist of the Omez Strait -
A Ra'esharn task force off to deal woe to someone. 

I am now debating how to 'finish' the grid - black, darker blue (the sheet is pretty dark already), light blue or white. I was going to do white, but am now undecided. 

Roman Civil War update...

Meanwhile Curio has landed his army at Thapsus, in North Africa. Varus has shown up and is offering battle, like Afranius, hoping that a stream across his front will aid his defence against the aggressive Curio. The circumstances being what they are, it seemed to me that either side might be the attacker. So this was decided by a die roll, which, after 3 consecutive doubles, came down on the side of the Caesarians under Curio. More on this in due course...

Roman Civil War: Populares Ascendant

Battle of Narbo, from behind Caesarian lines.

 

His victory outside Massilia having secured that sea port, Julius Caesar was chagrinned to learn that his fleet was in no position to use it. The Pompeian fleet had defeated it, Decimus Brutus has been lost with his ship, and the surviving half of his ships were seeking refuge in Luca.

Nevertheless, having destroyed the army of Ahenobarbus, Caesar thought the moment propitious at once to seek out the last remaining Pompeian army in Spain. After three battles, Ahenobarbus had been reduced to 8SP - less than half the total SP he began with. For the purposes of this campaign, that implied the dispersal of his entire force.

Onward marched Caesar, to be met by the army of Lucius Afranius near the sea port of Narbo. Meanwhile, as he moved forward, far away in Syracuse Gaius Curio's fleet, laden with his army, set forth for Africa, and a landing at Thapsus. Before they could reach landfall, the Pompeian fleet anticipated them.

Caesarian campaign moves

For this, the third month of the campaign, the Caesarians had seized the initiative, but as the roll was just 3-1, could move 3 formations. As Curio's army was already embarked, then the whole expedition required just one activation. Caesar's army used up the second, and the retreat of Caesar's fleet was the final move. Meanwhile, the army of Trebonius, now commanded by Gaius Fabius, was reorganising itself at Luca.

Battle of Narbo.

The armies met in the coastal plain north of Narbo. The Pompeian right wing covered in woodland, the velites lurked therein, with the Auxilia in reserve behind them.

The Armies of Caesar and Afranius were very nearly equal in strength. From the 8 and 9 units available  respectively, the following 6-unit forces were engaged:

Caesarian Army:

• IX Legion = 3SP
• XI Legion = 3SP
• XII Legion = 2SP, classed as veteran, and Caesar himself commanding.
• I Auxilia = 2SP
• II Auxilia = 2SP
• Velites = 2SP

Totals: 14SP + Caesar.

(X Legion and the Equites absent)

Caesar placed IX and XII Legions in the right and centre, himself with the forward line, and XI Legion in support in the centre. The light infantry led the advance on the left, and both flanks were supported by the Auxilia. 

Note that by support, I don't add to dice roll of the leading unit, merely that if the leading unit falls back, the second unit remains to oppose the enemy's further advance. The XII Legion classed as veteran gets +1 on its combat dice - in addition to the +1 on account of Julius Caesar's august presence.

Battle of Narbo - from behind Pompeian lines

Pompeian Army:

• V Legion = 3SP with Afranius himself commanding
• VII Legion = 3SP
• VIII Legion = 3SP
• Auxilia = 2SP
• Velites light infantry = 2SP
• Equites heavy cavalry = 2SP

Totals: 15SP + Afranius.

Action in the centre - Caesar leads from the front!

Caesar at once seized the initiative and took the fight to the enemy. Enjoying immediate success along the whole front, the Caesarians threw back the Pompeian velites out of the woods (a 6-2 roll will do that), and drove off the enemy horse in the plain. In the centre Caesar compelled V Legion to retreat with loss.  

Caesar attacks all long the front line, and drives 
in the Pompeian centre

Following up, the Caesarians suffered their first check. Caesar found himself face to face with Afranius. Failing to make further progress, XII Legion fell back.

Caesarian success on the right.

Pompeian rear areas filling up with stragglers and fugitives
from the battle

The Caesarians were not to be denied. Their check proved momentary. The Pompeian reserve area overcrowded with fugitives, the remaining formed units attempted to restore the already crumbling line. VIII Legion were at least holding that line, and eventually repulsed IX Legion's attack.

Pompeians holding on to the flank

But the battle was decided in the centre. 

Afranius forces Caesar to retreat!

Although Caesar's renewed attack against Afranius failed - fortunately without serious loss...

... But here is XI Legion to exact a condign vengeance

... XI Legion, taking over the battle,  at last drove Afranius's command from their line and into the milling crowd in the rear. Unable to recapture the woods, and holding the line only on the left, the Pompeians retreated in rout.

For the Pompeians, this was a complete disaster: 7 Strength points lost, 2 units (VII Legion and the Cavalry) destroyed. This made a serious dent in their overall strength. At most, they could recover a SP for V Legion or the light infantry, which implied a 6SP total loss.

The Caesarians, of course, had plenty to celebrate. Although checked a couple of times, their losses were negligible - so insignificant withal, that they amounted to zero strength points.  Altogether, right now the portents looked good for a successful outcome of the war.

****

Battle off Thapsus

Sailing from Syracuse, Gaius Curio's fleet was barely enough to accommodate his whole army, and that only by placing his auxilia units aboard the fighting galleys. The addition of these fighting men he hoped, however, would afford some advantage to his battered fleet.  


For their part, the Pompeians sought to stop the Caesarian fleet whilst still well out to sea (result of a die roll). The respective galley fleets comprised:

Caesarian: 

• Left wing: 1 Septireme heavy galley = 3SP + Curio commanding
• Centre: 2 Quinquireme medium galleys @2SP = 4SP
• Right: 1 Quinquireme = 2SP

Totals: 9SP + 4 infantry SPs.

Note that all four vessels carried 1SP of auxilia aboard. This gave them each +1 on their combat dice, but did not add to the strength points. If a ship was lost, it took the infantry SP with it - for good: no post-battle 'half returns' here!

Pompeian:

• Right wing: 1 Quinquireme medium galley = 2SP
• Centre: 1 Quinquireme = 2SP
• Left: 2 Septireme heavy galleys @3SP = 6 SP 

Totals: 10SP

Clearly, there has to be at least one vessel in each of the 3 battle sectors. Who went where was decided by dice rolls. The two heavy Pompeian ships fetching up on the left wing, of course the other two ships had to fill the other sectors. The two transport ships in the Caesarian rear merely signifies the leading transport vessels.

The heavier ships on the wings push back their 
lighter opponents. 

It seemed from their deployment that the Pompeians hoped to smash through Curio's fragile right wing, thence to turn in upon the centre. Curio himself thought his best chances lay in quickly breaking through the middle of the enemy fleet.

First contact was made by Curio's command wing, and at once began forcing the Pompeians to back water. Outnumbered in the centre, the Pompeians were holding, but the fighting was a deal fiercer on their left. Though taking damage and forced back, the Caesarians took a heavy toll among the enemy ships, and even repulsed with loss the enemy following up. Losing 1SP themselves on this wing the Caesarians inflicted 2SP on their heavier opponents.  

Pompeians counter-attack...

Added to that was the SP lost on the Pompeian right. To these losses was added a fourth as their centre also began to give way. In an effort to restore that battle, the weighty left wing renewed their drive to sink or disperse the Caesarian right. To no avail.

Heavy losses on the Caesarian right - the 
outnumbered Caesarians more than holding their own!

Their right and centre driven out of the battle, and unable to recover the initiative, the Pompeians were forced to concede defeat, and to retreat. The battle over, Curio was free to put his troops ashore at Thapsus.

The Pompeian centre and right unable to fight their 
way back into the action (the 5-2 initiative roll 
won by the Caesarians), the battle is lost.

This was an undoubted Caesarian victory. The Caesarian fleet took just 1SP of damage; the Pompeians 4. But as no ships were sunk or destroyed, all SP damage is recoverable.  So, despite their defeat, the Pompeians still have a fleet in being that can match the Caesarian.

Although the damage toll is 4-1 against the 
Pompeians, they have lost no ships destroyed.

It now remains for the Pompeians to make their move. But having rolled a 1 for their campaign activations, there isn't much they can do. Afranius's army will retreat to Tarraco or Ilerda; the Africa fleet will retire to Utica; and the Pompeian fleet is hovering around the Narbonnensis coast. There is likely to be a land battle at Thapsus as Attius Varus seeks to throw Curio's army into the sea...

To be continued...

Disasters in the Narbonnensis

 

Caesarian assault along the river line

After the defeat of L. Trebonius in operations around Massilia, the leader of the Populares, C. Julius Caesar, led his main army to settle matters in the Gallia Narbonnensis. Trebonius's army remained in being, less its commander, slain in the late battle. This army Caesar ordered withdrawn to Luca, whilst he took over the lead in the campaign. Accompanying the march, as it were, the fleet kept pace along the Genovese coast. 

The Optimates, or Pompeian, army led by Ahenobarbus had not come off the recent battles unscathed. Conscious of the depletion of his army, he lined up his force along the line of a small river. His right wing screened by a hill with a tract of woodland beyond, he hoped the slight obstacle of the stream might supply his deficiency in numbers.

Map of the action

The Armies:

Populares (Caesarian):

IX Legion = 3SP
X Legion (commanded by Caesar in person) = 3SP
XI Legion = 3SP
XII Legion = 3SP
Auxilia = 2SP
Equites = 2SP
Total: 16SP 

Optimates (Pompeian):

I Legion (commanded by Ahenobarbus) = 2SP
III Legion = 2SP
IV Legion = 2SP
VI Legion = 2SP
I Auxilia = 1SP
II Auxilia = 2SP
Total: 11SP 
Note that all units except II Auxilia had accumulated losses in the course of the previous two battles.

Terrific battle on the Optimates' right wing

The Pompeian army drew up in two lines. The first comprised III, IV and VI Legions; in the second stood Ahenobarbus with I Legion, flanked by the Auxilia units. The weak I Auxilia stood behind the marginally less vulnerable right wing.

Caesar also placed his legionaries in the front line, keeping his own X Legion in support in the centre.
The auxilia followed XII Legion into the woods; the cavalry supported the open wing.

Pompeian left driven in and IX Legion across 
the stream. Losses not great, but Pompeian situation
looks dire already

The battle took some time to develop, as, with an early initiative, Ahenobarbus declined to cross the stream to take the fight to the enemy, but preferred to rely on the protection of the obstacle. It did him little good.

Caesarians win again...

Once his forces were lined up along the riverbank, Caesar ordered a general advance. The attacks were immediately successful. IX and XI Legions easily forced their way across the stream, though with minimal loss to both sides. XII Legion had a much tougher fight: both sides taking heavy losses (both rolled 5s) with the issue remaining in doubt. 

Pompeian VI Legion crumbles, but XII Legion 
knows it has been in a fight!

The riverbank defenders driven in, the attackers pushed on. Though inflicting considerable hurt upon the Caesarians emerging from the stream, the Pompeian III Legion was destroyed where it stood (both sides rolled 6s this time). A  quick counter-attack in the centre, led by Ahenobarbus in person, drove XI Legion back across the river. The situation on the flanks remained critical.

Caesarian right wing establishes itself firmly on the 
Pompeian side of the river

The hard-fighting XII Legion finally routed what remained of the Pompeian right, the weak unit of auxiliaries being quickly destroyed. The attempt by the I Auxilia to recover the riverbank on the left met with an equally summary demise. Almost surrounded, Ahenobarbus sounded the retreat. 

XII Legion victorious! The under-strength 
Pompeian auxiliaries routed and destroyed.

This was a strikingly easy victory for the Caesarians, despite the slight advantage to their opponents whilst defending the riverbank. The plus on the combat dice did not, it seems, compensate for being driven into the Reserve Zone, especially when the Caesarians scored the same results following up into the second line. 

The Caesarians lost just 3SP from this battle, two of them from XII Legion (I'm very tempted on their performance to give XII Legion permanent 'veteran' status: +1 on the combat dice rolls). For the Pompeians, this battle was a disaster. Their losses totalled 6SP out of 11 - but both auxilia formations and III Legion were destroyed. After returns, Caesarian net loss was just 1SP; the Pompeians, 5SP. 

The end of the action: both Pompeian wings 
driven back, and the caesarians have the initiative.

Caesarian fleet ...

******
The fleet accompanying Caesar's march encountered the Pompeian galley fleet outside Massilia. The fleets were exactly equal: 1 heavy and 5 medium units. Both sides placed their heavy units in the centre, but, as it transpired, they were not directly facing each other. As the fleets met close under the Narbonnensis shore, one unit on each side was placed in reserve. The Pompeians placed their reserve unit behind the shoreward wing; Decimus Brutus kept his reserve on the seaward side.

Pompeian fleet

The fleets approaching each other

Seizing the early initiative, the Pompeians drove forward along the centre and right. The left wing proved more laggard. In his usual headlong fashion, Decimus Brutus flung his centre squadrons hoping for a quick result in the middle of the enemy line. In this, he rather forgot his original plan: a species of 'Periplous' against the seaward wing for which the extra unit was placed behind the right. However, it remained possible for that unit to reinforce the centre when required. 

The centre squadrons engage...

Brutus got his quick result, and it did not augur well for the Caesarians. The centre driven in, both Caesarian units taking big losses - unrequited at that - the Pompeians hesitated not to follow up. Three Strength Points the Caesarians had lost already, two from his heavy unit, and no material damage to the Pompeians.

At once, matters go badly for the Caesarians.

Some hope remained of turning the tables. Owing to the dilatoriness of the Pompeian shoreward units, the Caesarian vessels on this wing drove in upon the flank of the Pompeian centre. They were faced, however, by the Pompeian heavy unit, which, though taking losses themselves and getting slightly the worse of it, managed to inflict some damage in return (the 6-5 dice roll). 

A Caesarian counter-attack does some damage...

But the Pompeians reassert their ascendancy, as the Caesarians 
start to lose ships.

Seizing the initiative themselves, the Caesarians pushed forward, but events were not going their way. One of the central units was sunk, and they were unable to make head against the rest of the line. By this time, the shoreward Pompeian units, though straggling, were beginning to come into line. 

The Pompeian shore units still distant from
the action...

Fierce fighting on the seaward wing saw the Caesarians pushing back their opponents, but overall the battle was going badly. His splintered centre heavily outnumbered, Decius Brutus went down with his ship. The shoreward unit was caught before they could reorganise betimes to meet the late-coming enemy, and the reserve squadron failed to intervene. Only on the seaward wing did the Caesarians enjoy any success, sinking one unit, but at the cost of one of their own.

The seaward units giving and taking fearful 
punishment...

The fleet badly mauled, the battle lost, the Caesarian remnants drew off. 

Utter disaster for the Caesarian fleet: two-thirds 
of the fleet lost, against just one in six of the 
Pompeian!

It was a disaster for the Populares. Caesar had lost an able admiral, and the fleet had lost 4 units sunk, and overall, 10SPs. Nine SPs were a total loss.The Optimates fleet had not come off unscathed, but, of the 5SP worth of damage, only 2SP might be written off. 

******

This gave Julius Caesar considerable food for thought. But the momentum lay with him (the subsequent Campaign Initiative Roll went 3-1 in favour of the Populares), and he resolved to march upon Narbo and Hispania to try conclusions with Afranius's army. Replacing Trebonius with Marcus Antonius, he instructed the new commander to occupy with Trebonius's former command the area around Massilia. The fleet would remain in the offing.   

Meanwhile, far to the south, Curio loaded up his fleet and set forth for Africa...


******

Before continuing, a couple of issues have presented themselves. 

1. In the kind of battle that led off this post, placing the defended river line along the square boundaries as I have done seems to make the defence problematic owing to the lack of depth to which the defenders might be able to withdraw without disaster. The first four combats in the centre and Caesarian right all went the Caesarian way without inflicting losses.  The lead units were driven into the reserve Zone, then the second line went the same way as the caesarians followed up. At least one, possibly two, units destroyed simply for exceeding the reserve zone capacity.

The battle might have been over right then and there, but I did allow some chance of a comeback.

The thought occurred that the river line might be better placed along the centre of the middle row of squares. For quite a while, this seemed like a good idea, but I'll take it 'under advisement' for the moment. That battle I think took maybe 10 minutes to play out. So, by the way, did the fleet action.

2. Curio has laden his whole fleet - 4 galleys and 6 transports - with his infantry for the African expedition. No doubt the Pompeian fleet will oppose the landing. 
Now, the transports can carry whole units apiece; and the galleys each 1SP (to be allocated). It seems to me that the extra infantry about the galleys will add something to their 'fightability'.  What I propose is this:

A galley with a land unit SP aboard adds +1 to any combat dice roll. However, if the ship is lost, the land unit SP goes with it.
A transport with a land unit aboard adds +1 to the dice roll, but transports have just 1SP only, and, if lost, the infantry goes with it.

Meanwhile, as the Caesarians have the initiative, the African fleet will not have had time to embark any infantry units. I'm not 100% sure I would allow it anyway. The purpose of putting land units aboard is to effect a landing somewhere, not to resist one.

******

Finally, my apologies to readers. I played these actions out a week ago, and have found the motivation to write them up pretty threadbare. I have no idea why it has been so hard to put 'finger to keyboard'. But really there is no excuse.  

To be continued...