Medieval Islamic Battles

Relief force Heavies (right) harried by
Besieging Force Lights (Left)

Rupert put on the first episode of a two week game, that finally expanded out to three weeks, that pits two Islamic factions against each other.

The game used Alan Martin's 15mm figures, now owned by Rupert, in a challenging scenario that uses an adaptation of Rupert's popular Ancient Rues.

Steve and Phil commanded a composite Infantry and Cavalry force that is besieging an enemy castle. Mike W and Dave commanded a cavalry only relief force.

The slight change in the rules allowed each commander to determine at the start of the battle how squadrons of cavalry were grouped together - either as individual units or grouped as a unit of two or three squadrons.

By grouping squadrons together units started with greater strength and could therefore take greater punishment but as they got bigger and more difficult to handle they lost their shock capabilities.

Steve and Phil opted to keep all their units as single squadrons whilst Mike and Dave put together a ix of one,two and three squadron units with the Heavy Cavalry and left the Light Cavalry as single Squadron units.

Dave commanded the relief forces Light Cavalry which was on their right flank and pushed this up the elevated ground there to meet and neutralise the Besieging force'sown Light Cavalry which was on their left flank.

The battles between these units lasted most of the game with initial success for the relief force but ultimately a hard won victory for Phil. However, Dave and his Light cavalry had done their job, securing the flank for most of the game.

Islamic Heavy Cavalry

Meanwhile on the Relief force's left flank, Mike W, pushed three lines of Heavy Cavalry forwards,these were met initially but a line of Light Cavalry commanded by Steve. The pesky Light Cavalry did their job for half the game, holding up the approaching Heavy Cavalry.

To Steve's surprise the Islamic Heavies were also bow armed and capable of out-punching the lights who soon started to take serious casualties. The problem being for the Relief force was that they just could not catch the Lights to force a melee and break their will...

It should be noted that the Besieging force also had a lot of troops both Foot and Mounted in camp,before the besieged castle. The could use Action points to more these nits out of the camp to reinforce  the units defending against the Relief force.

One Heavy Cavalry unit was brought out of the camp to try and out flak the approaching enemy force on their right flank, however, Steve and Phil concentrated more on using their action points to carry the attack to the relief force with what was already n the table - rather than to build up their own forces.

More of Alan Martin's beautifully panted figures

Then finally it happened, the relief force's Heavies managed to catch an evading Light Cavalry squadron and destroyed it in combat, the accompanying squadrons, all already badly damaged, had seen enough and fled. This opened the way for the relief force to engage with the first line of the enemy Heavies.

This is where the tactical doctrines of using consolidated units made the difference,the relief force had units of two or three squadrons attacking single squadron enemy unis - who got the shock impact bonuses on turn one but fell to the massed strength of their opponents in the second round, loosing melee and breaking as their strength had been smashed in those two combat rounds...

The relief force's Heavies surged forwards towards the Besieging forces second line of Heavies only for Steve  and Phil to call it a day - their spirits broken.

Week Two will happen, its now up to Rupert as to what form this will take, a continuation of week one or a reset and rematch with commanders learning the lessons of their mistakes!