Roman Civil War - Optimates Resurgent

Battle of Luca

The Third Month of the War between Optimates and Populares having closed with the former's victory in Africa, the Fourth Month began with the determined Optimates drive to seize the initiative on all fronts. The initiative rolls 6-3 in their favour permitted all formations to advance against the enemy. The result was four battles being fought within the first fortnight.

Facing 6 Pompeian units, 4 Caesar try to protect
the transport ships.

Having defeated the Caesarian navy off Massilia, the Pompeian pursued eastwards along the coast until reaching Luca, in Italy itself. There, they caught up with the much weakened Caesarian fleet, together with the transports. As the Pompeians drove forward, the Caesarian galleys formed a screen in the hopes that, outnumbered as they were, they might yet save the non-combatant ships. 

Fourth Month: Pompeian moves 

The view from behind the Pompeians. the heavy
ships are in the centre and on the left.

The shoreline protecting the northern flank, the Pompeian fleet drew up in a single line with their heavier units mixed in the left and centre squadrons. The Caesarians placed their heaviest weight in the centre, looking, perhaps, to a diekplus breakthrough to discomfit the foe. 

These formation were decided by dice roll, it being assumed, of course, that all three sectors had to contain at least one unit.  The Caesarians lined up their three medium galley units along the whole front, and a die roll determined that the heavy unit, together with Decimus Brutus, attached itself to the centre.

Of course the initiative goes to the Pompeians!

Having seven units available, the Pompeians left one medium out of the battle. The location of the two heavy units were determined by dice rolls to be left and centre; and the four mediums filled the gaps.

Pompeians damage the Caesarian shoreward wing!

At once the Pompeians seized the initiative, and scored immediate successes all along the line. The Caesarians began at once to back water, just one unit holding its original position. Now, the reason for the transports being lined up in the reserve area might now become apparent. I enacted a rule that, a unit victorious in the enemy start zone might follow up into the reserve area and attempt to sink a transport. But, in order to follow up, it was not enough to drive the enemy off the board: the enemy unit had to be sunk.

Most of the Caesarian fleet driven in amongst the transports -
but they remain afloat!

The Pompeians never quite managed it. Although a tactical victory - driving the Caesarian escort galleys into the transport fleet - they sank no units. Having lost 3 Strength Points to 1SP inflicted, and forced to retreat from Luca, the Caesarians saved the transports. 

A tactical Pompeian victory, but they fail
to reach the transports betimes...

However, when the news arrived at Caesar's camp near Narbo, he was not pleased to learn that his army was nor far separated from his fleet, now somewhere about Rome. For their part, unable to do anything on land, the Pompeian fleet commander bethought himself that perhaps he should return to the support of Afranius.

Pompeian Counter-Attack at Narbo

Having been defeated at Narbo, L. Afranius determined upon vengeance. His army was still a match for Caesar's (so he reckoned). G. Julius Caesar awaited him just south of Narbo, at Collis Viridis. Upon the eponymous eminence, Caesar stationed himself, with his veteran XII Legion. Having just one other regular Legion with him, the XI, he supported that unit with the velites. The horse he placed upon the open left. The auxiliaries formed reserve supports on both flanks.

Caesar's line at Collis Viridis

For his part, Afranius covered his whole front with his three Legions. The weakest of the three, the IInd,  he placed upon the right, facing the Caesarian cavalry. III Legion stood in the centre, directly supported by the velites. He himself faced Caesar himself with IV Legion, a unit of auxiliaries in support.

The Pompeian line. Despite their defeat a fortnight
earlier, they manage to assemble an army marginally stronger
(by 1 SP) than the Caesarian!

The Armies:

Caesarian:
Left front: Equites Heavy cavalry = 2SP
Left rear: II Auxilia Foot = 2SP
Centre Front: XI Legion = 3SP
Centre rear: Velites light infantry = 2SP (direct support)
Right front: XII Legion = 2SP (veteran) with Julius Caesar commanding overall.
Right Rear: I Auxilia = 2SP
     Totals: 6 units; 13SP

Pompeian:
Right front: I Legion = 2SP
Right rear: I Auxilia = 2SP
Centre front: III Legion = 3SP with Lucius Afranius commanding overall
Centre rear: Veleites = 2SP (direct support)
Left front: IV Legion = 3SP 
Left rear: II Auxilia = 2SP
     Totals: 6 units; 14SP

That, despite his earlier defeat, Afranius managed to assemble an army slightly stronger than that of his adversary, was partly determined by the roll of the dice. His overall force reduced by one legion, he could still select 6 units of the 7 remaining. His horsed unit, presumably operating at some distance from the main army, was left out of the action. Still with 8 units to choose from, Caesar had but 2 Legions immediately available, and one of those the veteran XII Legion, numerically weaker than their comrades.

Caesarians push back the Pompeian wings...

Although the Pompeians began the battle briskly enough, the Caesarians held the line, then counterattacked strongly on the flanks. Although taking an early loss, XII Legion gave as much hurt to the enemy opposing them. Passing I Auxilia through the line, Caesar kept up the pressure on the Pompeian left. On the other wing, the heavy horse threw back the I Legion with loss, but were in turn driven off by the supporting auxilia.

XI Legion, perhaps wishing to emulate XII, begin
a drive against the Pompeian centre...

The decisive action developed in the centre. The august presence of Afranius himself was not enough to prevent XI Legion holding the centre against the first attacks, then driving back his III Legion, with heavy losses, well past its start line. A desperate attempt to recover the ground inflicted heavy loss among XI Legion, but the effort exhausted III Legion. The Pompeian centre collapsed, and Lucius Afranius slain in the rout. 

...that leads to the rout of the Pompeian III Legion
and the death of Lucius Afranius.

This was a great victory for the Caesarians, that more than made up for the naval defeat earlier in the week. The Pompeians lost 6 Strength Points, 3 from the destroyed legion. Of the remaining 3SP lost, then, the Pompeians could receive back 2SP - 1 legion and 1 auxilia.

Total victory for Caesar, who is now able to march 
into Hispania.

The Caesarians lost but 2SP, both from the Legions. They get one back. The temptation is, subtracting 1SP from XI Legion, to award its superb performance in this battle with veteran status. Yes: I rather think that Caesar's congratulatory post-battle address to that legion will chuff those fellows no end, and confirm its sense of worth...

Meanwhile...

Africa: Pompeian Naval attack at Thapsus

The Pompeian commander in Africa, Publius Varus, determined to wipe out the Caesarians, ordered attacks by both army and navy. Victorious a week or so ago, Publius Varus followed up towards the sea port of Thapsus, finally to put to the sword the rebellious Populares. Meanwhile the fleet, though depleted by losses earlier, brought to battle the Caesarians, seeking to destroy latter fleet: galleys and transports all.

The depleted navies face off, the Caesarians
defending their transports

The opposing fleets were almost a match: just four units apiece. But the Pompeians enjoyed a marginal advantage in weight: half the units comprising septiremes, against just a quarter of the Caesarian. Nevertheless, earlier successes had filled the latter with confidence. 

Caesarians hope to envelop the Pompeian seaward wing;
the Pompieans to crush the Caesarian centre.

The Pompeians placed their main strength in the centre, the septiremes being taking station there and the shoreward flank. The Caesarians hoped that by weighting their seaward wing with the septiremes augmenting the mediums, they could envelop the enemy line before the latter could break through to the transports (note that the placements were determined by dice rolls; the interpretive narrative merely a rationalisation of the results). 

First clashes: honours even

The Caesarian effort began well enough, containing the initial Pompeian assault, and even forcing back their seaward wing, and causing some loss in the centre. But things were already going badly there, and upon the inshore wing.

Caesarians successful on the seaward wing - is victory in sight?

Although the Caesarian seaward units were victorious, and finally sank their adversaries, this did not make up for the disasters elsewhere. The centre and the seaward wing were both sunk, and the Pompeians successfully followed up into the transports. Having sunk a third of the Caesarian transports, the Pompeians finally drew off  (unfortunately, I seem to have forgotten to take the appropriate pictures; I thought I had!).

No. Pompeian plan successful. Caesarian lose the 
half their galleys, and a third of their transports.
Disaster!

This was an undoubted disaster for the Caesarians: two galley and two transport units sunk, for just one enemy galley unit. The depleted naval force could not hope to bring off Curio's army, at least not all of it - and that army, defeated once already, was facing an imminent attack...

To be continued: Africa: Backs to the Sea!