Wednesday, December 4, 2024

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 This army Caesar ordered withdrawn to Luca, whilst he took over the lead in the campaign.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...

16 comments:

  1. Many years ago, when enthused with DBA, I created a mini-campaign for Caesar's Civil War. The Pompeians had armies in Greece, Spain and Africa which were effectively passive. Caesar had to decide which to attack and carried over any losses. A solo play through followed history with defeats in Spain then Greece and then Africa. Pompeian survivors were allowed to regroup, so after Africa ended up in Spain for a final showdown.
    I then tried it on players......
    An unlucky and hesitant Caesar went down to defeat in the first battle in Greece and never recovered....he may even have died!
    Never let people loose on your historical creations unless they resemble the real general in their style of play!
    Neil

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    1. Neil -
      A lesson for the unwary. In one of the first campaigns I was involved in, I had a 'bit' part, even though I had rather more war gaming experience - a whole year - than most of the other players. Unfortunately, the campaign 'director' chose one of the least experience as the French C-in-C. In the end I had to be the stand-in to hoik the already carbonated chestnuts out of the fire...

      For this campaign I was tempted to give Caesar some kind of 'plot armour' against defeat or death. I must admit the passive role for the Pompeians was a temptation, but I really just wanted to play it straight. I very nearly chose fictitious names for the commanders: Nefarius Purpus, Sender Victorius, Appian Glorius, Bilius Bibulus, style of thing.

      Having said all that, the performance of XII Legion I think will lead to its receiving some sort of upgrade in status - the only one so far.
      Cheers,
      Ion

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  2. Excellent battle reports. I like the additions for galleys carrying infantry, and am experimenting with exactly that modifier myself. So far so good. These battles usually take me 10-15 minutes to play out as well. As for units being eliminated for exceeding the reserve are stacking limits, I allow the whole unit to return after the battle, minus any loses they took in the battle. My rationale is that they simply rout as a result of mass panic, but rally and return to the colors in the days after the battle. For the next battle I count such units as poor because of the hit to their morale. My thoughts are the rout might cost you the battle, but maybe not the war.

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    Replies
    1. Mark -
      Although I had toyed with the idea already, I think it was your comment that persuaded me to allow galleys to carry a strength point.

      I'm playing this as all destroyed units are lost outright, half (rounded up) lost land SPs are returned post-battle, and all non-sunk fleet damage is 'repaired' at once. Land forces are lost at sea only if their carrying vessel is lost.

      I have an altogether different rationale, to wit: I want attrition to define (so to speak) the parameters of the campaign. Units forced back into 'overstacking' the Reserve Zone have one chance of getting back out, and that can depend upon who has the initiative. If they are destroyed, that implies a general rout and a following pursuit that leads to large scale losses. Whether destroyed on the field of battle or 'in the pursuit', destroyed units stay destroyed.

      So far all units have counted as 'average'. I was very tempted to difference the sides by giving the Caesarians a high proportion of veterans, and the Pompeians more 'poor' units. But again, I decided to work on the whole campaign as a 50-50 proposition.

      Interestingly, the one historical fleet action I know of, that around Massilia involved small numbers of galleys (maybe two or three tens). The smaller Caesarian fleet got the better of it in the two successive battles.

      Ahenobarbus's army has been pretty much wrecked (I'll have to check the numbers, but I think it is out of the campaign). But the war is by no means lost. Afranius still has his army; and now has the stronger fleet.

      Cheers,
      Ion

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  3. Another good battle report and a good read. plenty of food for thought as the campaign progresses.

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    Replies
    1. Donnie -
      The Pompeians may have lost an army, but the issue is still in the balance!
      Cheers,
      Ion

      Delete
  4. I do like the combination of land and naval battles in your campaign. The model ships look particularly good.

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    Replies
    1. Cheers, Peter -
      I rather think the war at sea does add that extra dimension. I'm not sure how much of a role the Pompeian transports will have, but we do have a Caesarian convoy coming up between Sicily and North Africa.
      The model ships are simple to make, and look the part; that's the main thing.
      All the best,
      Ion

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  5. Very enjoyable read Ion.
    I'm definitely in favour of successful units gaining some sort of bonus during a Campaign.

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    Replies
    1. Maudlin Jack -
      Sometimes one simply has to reward good service, however egalitarian one's policy. Plus 1 on the dice roll is not too much of a bonus. Probably.
      Cheers,
      Ion

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  6. Very inspiring, the campaign has excellent narrative flow and I like the quality differences in the various units which aren't overpowering, but give some tactical nuance to the engagements. I know it can be hard to put fingers to keyboard sometimes, I usually go and do something else for a bit until the muse takes me again.

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    Replies
    1. Martin -
      At the moment the legionaries are the strongest units, the margin smaller than it would have been if I had gone with the DBA combat factors. But the differencing is solely in the SP values; the legionaries (3SP) are simply harder to kill off than the 2SP units.

      In the last week I have read some Thucydides - the Syracuse campaign, and a good deal of the war subsequently. Tell you what, with enough Greek armies and fleets, with an admixture of Persian, Thracian and possibly Phoenician involvement; with shifting alliances and allegiances, one could do a really complex and kaleidoscopic campaign in and around the Aegean sea!
      Cheers,
      Ion

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  7. Ships mucking about, speared foot and mounted troops moving hither and more from. Great stuff and wonderful campaign work. Always something to think about when I visit. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. pancerni -
      I appreciate your comment! I like to present exciting narratives when I can.
      Cheers,
      Ion

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  8. Another great battle report. Finishing a game in 10 minutes certainly leads to a means to completing the campaign.
    I find my thoughts differing with yours on land forces giving an advantage to warships. Since there is a purpose built transport fleet I would penalize the warships to discourage this use of them. By adding a bonus this does the opposite an encourages the behavior. The key is if you are enjoying the play you made the right choice.

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  9. Mixed fortunes - Caesars forces were victorious on land, but the fleet suffered a reasonably heavy defeat. All is still to play for…
    Your artwork is lovely. Not only the pic of the legionary but also the images you have on some of the sails 👏👏
    Cheers,
    Geoff

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