As I was typing this up, I thought it just as well to add a couple more transports to allow the movement of 6-unit armies. Note, by the way, that the Populares have 8 (4 Legionary, 2 Auxilia, 1 Heavy Cavalry, and 1 Velites) and the Optimates 9 (the same plus one Light Horse) units from which to choose their 6 for battle.
As Gaius Curio has to make the choice before leaving Capua, he has with him:
4 Legionary units @3SP = 12SP
1 Cavalry unit = 2SP
1 Velites (light infantry) = 2SP
Note that there are no separate individual command figures. They stand - and fall - with one of the legionary units, which count as 'elite'.
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| The army of Gaius Curio transported from Capua, via Syracuse, to North Africa. The galley fleet escorts the transports. |
As one of the early moves, the Populares Army commanded by Gaius Curio will have to be transported from Capua, via Syracuse, into North Africa. And that thought at once set me off making two more of these things. At one unit per transport, a 6-unit army may be sent off. Of course, they will be accompanied by the galley fleet...
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| A closer view of the 5th and 6th transport vessels. I have not added the swan's neck to the poop deck... |
The underside of the transports will be numbered 1-6, with the idea of allocating units to ships. If ever a laden transport ship is lost at sea, we'll know which land unit went with it...
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| The fleet upon my 3x3 naval battle board |
To be continued: Opening moves, and the (land) battle of Massilia.
I love you ships! The galley fleet could also transport troops, this was common. Perhaps 1 SP of infantry only per galley?
ReplyDeleteMark -
DeleteThe same thought crossed my mind. That indicates that Curio could transport his whole 8-stand army to North Africa. Battles will still be 6 units the time, but the unused units might still replace lost ones, or even be exchanged for any withdrawn into the reserve.
The ships have yet to be tested in battle. I rather suspect Curio's expedition might well encounter opposition before reaching African shores; and there might soon be something seaward happening soon off Gallia Narbonensis.
Cheers,
Ion
Very nice additions to your fleet, the whole fleet looks very impressive. Great builds, they look super.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donnie -
DeleteAlthough I deprecate my allowing myself to be sidetracked off a very promising project, I'm sufficiently pleased with the results to carry on with it. Once I get really into this campaign it should not be too long to finish it.
Cheers,
Ion
Fantastic fleet Ion!
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack -
DeleteI went a bit nertz over it, but I like the way it looks, myself - especially as the ships were all very quick to make - and I had the materials already available. If they hadn't been I don't reckon I would have begun this little project at all!
Cheers,
Ion
Most impressive 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼. Looking forward to the uncivil war 🙂👍🏼
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martin -
DeleteWe'll see how it shapes. I daresay the protagonists - Big Juley and Pompus Maximus - have given vent to divers incivilities that have led to the present decay of the common wellbeing. I'm still undecided whether the dramatic personnae are to be historical or made up. Some names are hard to pass up: 'Caesar' (the hairy guy), Gaius Curio (the nosy or maybe the cautious), L. Domitius Ahenobarbus ('Red Beard')... Pompey the Great doesn't actually appear in this part of the war - he went east - but his sons Gnaeus and Sextus do. I've used one of them.
Cheers,
Ion
Your energy and enthusiasm never fails to impress. I haven't even got as far as printing and cutting out the top down galley images I scanned, and you've made enough transports for an entire Army! I shall await the unfolding campaign. Up the Populares!
ReplyDeleteMartin -
DeleteEnergy! Can't say that adjective has often been applied to my languid self. Had I any I might have looked into the method you have chosen. Those vessels took maybe a week to do, and that was at a leisurely pace.
As usual, I've taken an impressionistic (expressionistic?) approach to my ship construction: keeping things simple, within parameters set by my playing surfaces. Mind you these things are quite fun to make. That helps.
Cheers,
Ion
More brilliant ships there Ion! In the back of my mind I'm toying with getting some balsa out for go at scratch building, but real life keeps getting in the way:(.
ReplyDeleteSteve -
DeleteThat I believe is the function of real life: to distract you from what you'd rather be doing. My scratch building efforts began long ago, but it was not until the last three or four years that I really started producing in anything like 'volume'. At that, I have several sketches for adding to my 'Chubby Marine' (see 'The Blacklands War' label) pre-Dreadnought ships that have been demanding attention for a couple of years...
Trick is: keep it simple, but keep it fun. It's a drag when it all becomes a chore.
Cheers,
Ion
Your fleet construction skills are most impressive Ion. 👏👏 Will you be building any wrecked ships at all? That might be fun.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Geoff
Geoff -
DeleteThanks for you comment.
Wrecked ships? Yes, sort of.. I've made eight foundering vessels. Very sad.
Useful as markers...
Cheers,
Ion
Lovely ships Ion, I especially like the individual patterns on the sails. I'm trying to do something similar with my 1/1200 Renaissance galleys.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Andrew -
DeleteI just like bright colours and miniature spectacle. The problem of course becomes that of distinguishing the two sides. I've done that by white or red marks on the stem and fish-tail stern post.
Once you get into Renaissance galleys, you can go really berserk, and add flags, pennons and banners as well. A lot of fun to be had there! It's a great period for naval warfare, I think, although I don't do it myself. Plenty of personalities like Hayreddin Barbaros or Andrea Doria ...
Cheers,
Ion
Looks like a nice fleet.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rob -
DeleteI reckon a lot of fun might be had of it! As I consider that the appearance of merchant ships on both sides appearing in the same battle, I've made the one merchant fleet stand for either side.
Cheers,
Ion