Chromatic Chronicles - Another Naval Project

 One of the reasons for the Roman Civil War taking so long to play through and write up had to do with other projects I had going. One of them was the Chromatic Wars, so called because the warring nations were named after colours. Long term readers might recall from late 2020, the outbreak of the First Blacklands War, as newly created nations sought to expand their territories at the expense of the Settee Empire, more generally known as Turcowaz (TURQUOISE).

That campaign had a tendency to grow as one of the nations, Hellenica, had built a navy (based upon the Greek), in order to blockade the Empire by sea. A link to the whole narrative may be found at the top of the column to the right.

The nations Chervenia and Rhumbaba have both acquired very small navies since then, in preparation for the Second Blacklands War.

In the last few days I have resumed the ship building programme that is the subject of the following pictures.

Of the six vessels shown above, all except the two bottom left were made in the last four or five days. The two on the bottom left were inspired by Bob Cordery's articles on flatiron gunboats.  

'Flatiron' gunboats. Modeled on real ones, but 
I can't identify them! I lost my notes.

Compared with the other vessels these are somewhat overscale! I made them a couple of years back. They are based on real examples of the flatiron type, but I find I can not identify them! I think they were British.

HMS Victoria - yes, the one carrying Adm. Tryon's flag.
Ruberian Navy (RED).

All these vessels were built in what I call my 'Chubby Marine' style (the appellation a nod towards the Fujimi 'Chibi Maru' models of IJN ships of WW2). The ships (apart form the Flatiron types) are very roughly scaled at 1:1200 in length, and 1:600 in the beam.

HMS Thunderer - Ruberian Navy

Thunderer comes out as a very small vessel in this scale - just 8cm long. Its sole armament comprises the four early 12" guns; there is no secondary armament.

IZNS Tsarina Ekaterina II - Navy of Izumrud -Zeleniya
(GREEN)

I saw a really nice picture of this vessel and was struck by how elegant it looked. The main guns are barbette mounted. Now, while it is clear that the secondary armament can not shoot across the centre line projection forward or aft, one has to ask, to what extent the main forward guns can. Clearly the secondary armament forward and aft shooting effectiveness must be half the 'broadside'. What about the effectiveness of the main guns firing forward?

Now, my own variant of Bob Cordery's Portable Naval Wargames rules uses his gunnery stats, but, instead of standardising on ship type as he does, I have standardised on 4 guns of each of the listed types. This does complicate matters, requiring special stat lists, but I like the results (as seen in the Blacklands War naval actions).

Now, HMS Victoria (this vessel will probably receive a different name) had huge16.25" guns in its (fatally) massive gun turret. I gather they were installed in lieu of 13.5" guns that were unavailable at the time of commissioning. So let's for the sake of this article, pretend they are the equivalent of the most powerful ordnance in the 'pre-dreadnought' list: the 'modern' 11 or 12-inch guns.

The gun range is 8 hexes; the standard effect 9D6, reducing by 1 for each hex added to the adjacent for range. At 8 hexes range, the effect is down to 2D6. But the 9D6s go for 4 guns; Victoria has 2 only, firing forward or in broadside. So its effect must be halved: 5D6s, reducing to 1D6 at 8 hexes range.

What about the 'Y' turret at the stern? It houses a single 10-inch gun. 
The standard 4-gun shoot has a range of 6 hexes, with 7D6 at 1hex range. As Victoria has but one such gun, it rolls just 2D6 at 1 hex range, reducing to 1D6 at 3 to 6 hexes. 

For this vessel, the stern gun I count as a primary. This vessel's secondary 6-inch guns in broadside casemates shoot at the standard rate. Strictly speaking it should be allowed a 50% extra, but I'll stay with the four guns per side of the model, rather than the historical 6. These guns fire abeam only.

Work in progress: HMS Royal Sovereign (RED)

I admit to taking considerable licence with this ship. Of the eight Royal Sovereigns built, only one, HMS Hood, had turreted main guns. At that, those turrets were cake-tin shaped, rather than the shape I gave them here. The secondary turrets - far more substantial that the barbette emplacements - have been placed slightly nearer the ends of the vessel. Begun today, it now awaits its paint work.

4x13.5" main guns; 10x6" secondaries.

I will have to add in 'Modern' 13.5" guns to the pre-dreadnought ordnance list, for the vessels of my fleet that carry them. This will make Royal Sovereign a very powerful vessel, the main guns reaching out to 10 hexes. An alternative (quite an arbitrary one) is to go with the stats for the 'modern' 12" guns listed in the Portable Dreadnought game. The extra 3 dice at all ranges in broadside would be bad enough at the incoming end...

More pics of the whole group...

If anyone can help me identify what my flatiron gunboats most resemble. I'm fairly sure they aren't monitors...

Roman Civil War - The End in Africa

Though victorious in Spain, the situation remained in doubt in Africa as the fourth month of the campaign neared its end. Following their victory a fortnight earlier, the Caesarians, led by Gaius Curio, pursued the Pompeians as far as Utica. For Cato of Utica, replacing the slain Publius Varus, that was the end of the line. He did have his fleet of seagoing transports, but the warships to escort them were still maintaining a blockade at Thapsus. Although the strategic situation was not to his liking, his army was still a match for the Caesarian. He resolved to fight.

Selecting a good defensive position, he placed his right wing - XXII Legion, backed by I Auxilia - on  rising ground.  Cato himself stood with XXIV legion, directly supported by the velites in the centre. The cavalry he placed on the left, with auxiliary infantry to back them.

Pompeian Army:

Right Front: XXII Legion = 2SP
Right Rear: I Auxilia = 2SP
Centre Front: XXIV Legion = 2SP + Cato, commanding
Centre Rear: Velites = 2SP in direct support
Left Front: Equites heavy horse = 2SP
Left Rear: II Auxilia = 2SP

Totals: 6 units, 12SP
The light cavalry were otherwise employed.

View from behind Caesarian army

That the enemy was ready to fight suited Curio, eager as he was to bring the campaign to a successful finish. Although the armies were numerically equal, he did enjoy a slight qualitative superiority, having three regular legions to the Pompeians' two.

Caesarian Army:

Left Front (facing the rising ground): IV Legion = 2SP
Left Rear: II Auxilia =2SP

Centre Front: II Legion = 2SP
Centre Rear: Velites = 2SP (direct support)
Right Front: Equites = 2SP
Right Rear: I Legion =2SP

Totals: 6 units, 12SP.
I Auxilia were engaged in protecting the road south.

View from behind Pompeian Army. Both commanders
in the centre.

No sooner drawn up for battle, Curio ordered the attack. The first clash, as expected, was on the right between the rival cavalry units. The action inconclusive, the Caesarian horse were rebuffed, whereat the Pompeian horse essayed a charge of their own. That, too, led to nothing decisive on this flank.

Caesarians attack!

Before the IV Legion could begin storming the hill, down came the Pompeians to attack them in the plain.  IV Legion met them steadfastly, and drove them back up the hill with loss. 

XXII Legion charges off the hill...

Returning to the Caesarian right, the cavalry withdrew behind the I Legion, who began a successful push that would eventually drive in the whole Pompeian left wing. Throwing back the enemy horse with loss, the legionaries carried on into the supporting auxiliaries.

I Legion defeats the Pompeian cavalry...

The auxiliaries fared no better, also taking heavy losses as the rampant Caesarians drove them from the field.

... and follows up to smash the enemy auxiliaries as well.

On the other wing, the Pompeians were barely holding (fighting uphill, the IV Legion's die roll of 4 reduced to 3).

IV Legion repulsed the Pompeian attack, and drive the 
enemy legion back up the hill.

The decisive fighting continued on the Caesarian right wing. The Pompeian cavalry attempt to recover the lost ground ending in failure... 

Pompeian cavalry attack fails to restore fortunes
on The Pompeian left wing.

General view. The Caesarians victorious on the right.

... there remained but one last effort to turn the battle. Cato himself wheeled XXIV Legion to attack the Caesarian right. I Legion turned to face this attack. That last clash proving indecisive, the Pompeians were unable to restore their line. The army began to draw off in defeat.

Cato's last ditch attempt to restore the battle not 
quite enough...

Less decisive - and less bloody - than Caesar's victory in Spain, this success was the end of the Pompeian campaign in Africa. The respective losses were just 1 Caesarian SP to 4 Pompeian. Though the latter army remained in being, there could be no retreat. Their backs to the sea, they might have been evacuated by their transport fleet. To determine whether the army might yet escape to join Pompey Magnus in the eastern half of the empire, I rolled the initiative dice for the 5th month. 

I Legion hold, and inflict losses on Cato's XXIV 
Legion

It was bad luck for the Pompeians: the roll went 4-2 against them. The transport upped anchor, left Utica, and left the army in the lurch. Cato had no option but surrender. Spain won, Africa won, the Caesarian faction had won the whole of the Empire west of Italy.

* * *

It transpired that in Spain, Sextus Pompey was a hunted man. In the post campaign confusion, he escaped by boat, together with a small entourage, and fetched up in Sicily. There, he began a remarkable comeback and carved out for himself an independent State that for a time Rome faced too many distractions to do much about. It was to be some years before the Empire was able to direct its attention to the upstart start its midst... But that is a campaign for another day...

 

Roman Civil War - Caesar in Spain

 

Having defeated Afranius's army at Narbo, with the death of the leader of the Pompeian effort in Spain, Caesar was at last able to pursue his planned advance into the Iberian Peninsula itself. Local informers reporting the presence of the Pompeian army assembling at Ilerda - well off the main coast road - Caesar took his army thither. There, he found the enemy, drawn up behind a river - a tributary of the Ebro.

The battle on the Pompeian right: driving off the |Caesarian horse.

Caesar's Army, less detachments, comprised:

Right Front: I Auxiliary = 2SP
Right Rear: II Auxiliary = 2SP

Centre Front: IX Legion 2SP + Caesar in command
Centre Rear: Velites 1SP - in direct support of IX Legion

Left Front: Heavy Cavalry = 2SP
Left Rear: XI Legion = 3SP

Totals: 6 units; 12SP

The recent defeat at Narbo had elevated Sextus Pompey to the command of his father's cause in Spain, but had left him with an army rather weakened. By placing his available forces behind a river, and somewhat protected by woodland on his left, Sextus hoped at least to equalise his chances. Actually, the relative weakness lay more in the lack of reserves, rather than the disparity of force in the upcoming action.  

Sextus Pompey's Army comprised:

Right Front: II Legion = 2SP
Right Rear: Velites in  direct support: 1SP

Centre Front: Light Cavalry = 2SP
Centre Rear: VIII Legion = 2SP with S. Pompey in command

Left Front: II Auxiliary = 2SP
Left Rear: I Auxiliary = 1SP

Totals: 6 units, 10SP

That was it: Caesar's hurry (a plot device, this) left X and XII Legions -  5SP between them - somewhere back along the road from Narbo. Sextus Pompey had available all he could muster. There was no more to be had. This battle the Pompeians simply had to win.

Battle in the centre. Light horse attacking IX Legion

Standoff in the centre. Caesar's legion has taken
some hurt.

Nevertheless, this was to be the hardest fought and bloodiest battle of the whole campaign so far, the outcome resting upon the edge of a gladius - or maybe under the foot of a heedless legionary.

Battle on the right. Pompeian Auxilia barely holding 
against their opposing counterparts

As the Caesarians drew up for their attack over the river, the Pompeians seized the initiative, attacking from the open ground on the right and centre. The Light horse attack was, unsurprisingly, repulsed by Caesar's Legion, though not without cost. The Pompeian right was more successful, and drove back from the river bank the Caesarian heavy horse. Following up, they encountered XI Legion, and were promptly stopped with heavy loss.
(Note: I see that I have shown XI legion with 2SP - a mistake: it should be 3SP)



In response, the Caesarians countered on the flanks. The activation rolls having been 3-2 in favour of the Pompeians limited both sides' initiatives: The Pompiean push on the right and the one-two attacks in the centre; and the Caesarian mounted counter-attack against the enemy right, and the Auxiliary attack upon the woods.

Following up, the Caesarians receive a mauling from 
the defenders, but are giving as good as they are taking

The Caesarian horse defeated again. They were to
prove ineffectual all day.

The attack on the woods proved a costly affair for both sides. Though inflicting some hurt upon the defenders, I Auxiliary were themselves mauled by the determined defence. Their initial attack drove the Pompeian front line clear out of the woods into the reserve area behind. Following up, the Caesarians encountered the weaker, second line. Fighting magnificently, the Pompeian I Auxiliary drove out their counterparts, from the wood, back across the stream. But the effort had wrecked the Pompeian I Auxiliary unit for good. The Pompeians were fortunate that the Caesarians were unable with their second line to seize the momentarily vacant woodland.



On the right, the Caesarian attack was equally unsuccessful. The horsemen were repulsed again. (The 6-2 dice were the next turn's activation rolls - a very good one for the Pompeians!)



It appears from the pictures hereabouts that I omitted some significant events. Caesar continued pressing as much as he could on the flanks, with considerable success. On the left, the Pompeians were driven back across the river. On the right, the Pompeian II Auxiliary were beaten down and destroyed, though they held long enough that, once again, the Caesarians were unable immediately to exploit their success. Pompey was able to slide his Legion into the woodland to cover the open flank. But that left only the light horse to cover the centre. The situation was become parlous for the Pompeians.

Having reached the woods, Pompey at once launched a cross-river attack against the apparently weak front line of Caesarian auxiliaries. The odds seemed to offer a winning proposition: the wargames dice goddess, Bellona Hexahedra, ruled otherwise. The 1-6 roll tells the story: Sextus Pompey was roundly and bloodily repulsed.

Sextus Pompey chances his arm upon a 
battle winning attack - and takes a drubbing.

Nor did matters go any better on the Ponpeian left. Hoping for a miracle, the Pompeians attacked on the right, and met with an equally brusque reception. The remnants of II Legion perished in the stream. 

Destruction of II Legion

If matters were going badly on the flanks, events in the centre bade fair to turn the battle. Observing the bank opposite to be defended by light horse only, Caesar determined upon a final, battle-winning push. This would have been an even more winning a proposition than Pompey's woodland counter attack. The fickleness of fate once more made mockery of Man's machinations. The attack foundered under  the enemy javelins, IX Legions were routed. Here I had to clad Caesar in a certain amount of plot armour. In the scramble for safety, he was knocked down and trodden on. For a moment his life was despaired of, but he emerged from the wreckage of IX Legion somewhat dishevelled and worse for wear, but otherwise uninjured. I rolled a D6 for him with the score to represent the level of injury. It rolled a '1'.  

Both sides forced to regroup their forces. Caesar 
gets trampled in the dirt when IX Legion routs, but
survives - more or less uninjured.

So the battle continued. XI Legion slid across to cover the vulnerable centre - the velites having survived the rout, whilst the horse now took over the Caesarian left. 

Sextus repulses attack upon woodland position

The to-and-fro battle of the woodlands carried on, Pompey himself leading the repulse of the enemy auxiliaries.

XI Legion force their way across the river

In the centre, however, XI Legion, with the support of the velites, forced their way across the stream, unhorsing many of the defending light horse. To their left, the horse finally dispersed the II Legion, and followed up to inflict losses upon the supporting light infantry.

Caesarian horse destroyed in attempting the same...

That final drive might have settled the matter, but for the failure of the Caesarina heavy horse to clear the riverbank. The light infantry put the horsemen finally to flight. Having beaten back the enemy light horse, however, XI Legion were able to strike the flank of the Pompeian light infantry. Though the latter swung left to face them, they could not withstand the weight of the Legion. Now, the whole of the Pompeian centre and left having been driven away from the riverbank, and more than half the army destroyed, there could be no retrieving this battle.

Final victory: XI Legion routs what remains of the 
Pompeian right wing. 

Nor, withal, was there to be any chance of retrieving the campaign in Spain. Losses were very heavy on both sides, but the Pompeians lost four units completely destroyed; the Caesarians two only.

Very little remains of the Pompeian army! Bit the Caesarians
know they have been in a fight to the death.

Here's the 'butcher's bill':

Caesarian losses: 

Right Front: I Auxiliary -1SP
Right Rear: II Auxiliary -1SP

Centre Front: IX Legion -2SP destroyed, and Caesar slightly injured
Centre Rear: Velites no loss

Left Front: Heavy Cavalry -2SP destroyed 
Left Rear: XI Legion -1SP

Totals: 7SP lost, 2 units destroyed. 2SP returned to the army (1 Auxiliary, 1 to XI Legion)
Net loss 5SP. 
Army left with 12SP, and still in being.

Pompeian losses:

Right Front: II Legion -2SP destroyed
Right Rear: Velites -1SP destroyed

Centre Front: Light Cavalry no loss
Centre Rear: VIII Legion -1SP with S. Pompey in command

Left Front: II Auxiliary -2SP destroyed
Left Rear: I Auxiliary  -1SP destroyed

Totals: 7SP lost, 4 units destroyed. 1SP only returned to the army (VIII Legion).
Net loss 6SP
Army left with 4SP.

Four Strength Points only, the Pompeians in Spain had remaining. That was far less than half this army had begun with. Clearly there was nothing left for the remnants but to surrender to Caesar's mercy.

This battle was a fine climax to Caesar's campaign to bring Spain under his sway: very heavy losses to both sides, and a fluctuating fortunes. The plot armour for Caesar was really just to minimise the likelihood of his demise, whilst keeping some chinks of vulnerability. A '6' on the 'fate' roll would have occasioned his removal from the campaign...

But if Pompey's fortunes in Spain have met with disaster, what has been happening in Africa? The Pompeians there have a very fair chance of maintaining yet the fires of the Pompeian cause...

To be continued... 

Roman Civil War - Backs to the Sea!

 

Defence of Leptiminius. Pompeians seize the initiative

The Caesarian advance upon Utica, the main city of the Africa Proconsularis north of Carthago, having been checked and driven back, Gaius Curio led his army back into the Byzacena district towards Thapsus. Before reaching that seaport, he determined upon a stand close by the town, at the village of Leptiminius. Forming close under the town precincts, he placed I Auxilia in the village itself, and the heavy horse backed up by II Auxilia to the left of the place. Placing IV Legion in reserve behind the village, he placed himself with II Legion on the right, with the velites - light infantry - in close support.

Caesarian Army:

Left front: Equites = 2SP
Left rear: II Auxilia = 2SP
Centre front: I Auxilia = 2SP (in the village)
Right front: IV Legion = 3SP led by Gaius Curio
Right rear: Velites = 2SP in direct support
Reserve: II Legion = 2SP (under strength)
    Totals: 6 units, 13SP

Caesarians

As expected, Publius Varus stood in the centre with XXIII Legion, with Auxilia in the second line. The understrength XXI Legion he placed in support of the heavy horse on the right, facing the Caesarian mounted troops. On the left, XXIV Legion was supported by the second unit of auxiliaries.

Pompeian Army:

Right front: Equites heavy horse = 2SP
Right rear: XXI Legion = 2SP (under strength)
Centre front: XXIII Legion = 3SP led by Publius Varus
Centre rear: I Auxilia = 2SP 
Left front: XXIV Legion = 3SP
Left rear: II Auxilia = 2SP
    Totals: 6 units, 14SP
 

Pompeians

As the attackers, the Pompeians advanced bravely into the battle, and were at once checked. XXIV Legion was stopped, then driven back by Curio's own IV Legion. So began a fierce to-and-fro action on the Caesarian right wing.

Pompeian assault

Following up his early success, Curio struck the Pompeian II Auxilia formation to receive a rude and costly check in his turn. 

To and fro fighting on the Caesarian right

This failed to discourage the Caesarians, who seized the initiative (the 5-3 die roll in the following pic)...

Caesarians seize the initiative

... and visited upon the Pompeian auxilia unit an equally punishing requital. 

Curio pushes back the Pompeian wing

The auxilia falling back brought XXIV Legion back into the fray. Following up, the Caesarians also forced back the opposing legionaries (the 1-1 dice roll becoming 3-1 owing to the presence of Curio himself, and the direct light infantry support).

Pompeian wing barely hanging on!

In the meantime, there had been little movement elsewhere. The Caesarian left drove off the enemy horse, but found themselves face to face with XXI Legion. Though losses were heavy, the fighting remained undecided for a considerable while.  

Indecisive blood letting on the Caesarian left

Meanwhile, the garrison having withstood the Pompeian attack, Curio took advantage of a pause in the action to order II Legion to relieve the Auxilia, thence to take the fight to the enemy. This they did in fine style, throwing Varus and XXIII Legion back behind the supporting auxiliaries, then following up to engage this second line.

Overview: Caesarians advancing

Success now followed upon success all along the front. Having driven the Pompeians back beyond their deployment line, Curio withstood the furious counter attack XXIV Legion mounted, and drove them with loss from the field.

Pompeian attempt to restore their line fails

On the opposite wing, the equites' final charge crushed XXI once and for all. The follow-up failed, however, to sweep the enemy horse from the field. The Pompeians managed to hold up this front. 

XXI Legion collapses in rout

In the final act of the day, the stout IV Legion held Varus's counter attack. Barely holding their right and centre, the Pompeians lost the day on their left. Curio had crushed XXIV Legion and II Auxilia both, and inflicted 3 casualties for each received. It was time for the Pompeians to quit the field. The Caesarians had won.

A Decisive Caesarian victory!

It was only in camp that evening that Curio discovered how essential that victory was. His fleet having been decisively defeated at sea, a defeat on land might well have ended the African campaign right there with the loss of the whole expedition. In view of recent events, he'd got off lightly, just 1SP lost from his horse, and 1SP from IV Legion. Pompeian losses were XXI Legion destroyed, and 6 SP overall. 

Meanwhile, at Luca, in the north of Italy, the Pompeian fleet having driven the Caesarian towards Rome, found itself in a quandary. A Roman army lay in that town, which rather discouraged any notions of following up. The fleet carried no ground troops, so could effect nothing ashore. Learning of the Afranius's failure to restore the situation at Narbo, the Pompeian fleet turned westward...

To be continued:
Having, more or less, weathered the Pompeian counter-offensive, The Caesarian forces carry the fight to their adversaries. There is some talk in Rome of converging what is left of the Caesarian fleets into one. Even then the Pompeian fleet in Spain would be the greater.

The next posting will include the state of the opposing forces, as Caesar tries to bring the war to a rapid conclusion...