Battle of Fulford Gate, Part 2

Moving on from Week One, we had change n personnel, as the waring commanders took breaks (holidays actually!), leaving us with the following players on each team.

Vikings -  Rupert (King Harald), John (Tostig) and Dave (Jarl Gunvald) all ably aided by Mat

Anglo Danes - Steve (Earl Edwin), Phil  (Earl Moncur), helped by Mark

The situation at the start of Week Two, conflict along the river line with all to play for...
Harald's troops nearest camera with Tostig's contingent and then Jarl Gunvald.

Fighting was intense with each side taking casualties, the Anglo-Danes, defending the river line held back the Viking Bondi & Hirdsmen, leveraging their advantage their defensive advantage. But, cunning old fox, Harald, realised that the trick in cracking the Anglo-Danish shield walls was to exploit his crack troops - learning from the exploits of his Berserkers he then committed his Hearth Guards to attacking the enemy lines with their two handed axes.

Immediately he started to see success and this was picked up by Tostig and Jarl Gunvald who committed their crack troops to the attack as well.

Tostig's Hearth Guard, punishing the extreme left wing of the Anglo-Danish line - held by Mercian General Fryd, who were unable to stop their assaults.

Soon both winds of the Anglo-Danish Army were in trouble, Earl Edwin's left flank, held by General Fryd, were being mauled by Tostig's Hearth Guards, eventually they cracked and retreated. Leaving the ford uncontested.

Earl Edwin's Housecarls, rushing to re-enforce the left of his line, eventually engaged with Tostig's Hearth Guard, trying to recapture the ford, but to no avail as night-time arrived too soon.

On the Anglo-Danish right flank, a contingent of Housecarls had been strengthening the flank and doing good work. However at the Bridge the Berserkers had continued to do their work, disrupting the shield wall and fighting to the death. This allowed Harald time to deploy his Hearth Guards along the same part of the river bank and finally the two Fryd units (one General & one Select) gave way and routed. leaving Harald in control of the bridge.

Nip and tuck in the centre

In the centre the fight continued to be very close fought, with neither side gaining any huge advantage, Anglo-Danish advantage in holding the defendable river line being offset by better quality Viking troops and some unfortunate dice throwing.

With one turn to go, disaster struck Earl Edwin's forces, both of his sub-commanders were struck down in personal combats, whilst this had no immediate effect it meant that the good Earl Edwin was left with an initiative disadvantage and a lack of field commanders to help save any vassalating units when they were morale tested.

On the Anglo-Danish right, Vikings take control of the bridge,
as English units retire from the fight

So as night fell the umpire declared a marginal victory for the Vikings, who had taken both the Bridge and the Ford and had a number of units north of the river. The Anglo-Danes had fought well, holding their own for most of the day, until mounting casualties took their toll.

This periodic campaign will now move on to the Battle of Stamford Bridge, historically fought just 5 days after Fulford Gate but in wargames terms will now be scheduled for December!

Casualties taken by both sides will be factored into the Order of Battle for Stamford Bridge, whilst both side can expect to receive re-enforcements - on the English side the arrival of King Harold and his Army and on the Viking side the arrival of more supporters and Harald's reserves.

Finally the map from the game that may be of interest to our viewers / readers!

Table-top Map, English deploy on village side of the river,
Vikings deploy on the sloped side of the table

Cruel Seas - Again!

After a week's delay - due to preparing to stage my 'Battle of Fulford Gate' game, I've been able to complete the last batch (for now) of Cruel Seas vessels.

This week's Cruel Seas output

This time we have a group of 2 x German S-Boats plus 3 x Vosper MTBs and a couple of sinking vessel markers. The painting process was pretty much the same as previous postings, although the two German vessels ended up being a little darker than those I did in the last batch. I'll likely go back and dry brush them lighter at some point if it ever crosses my mind again!

Two German S-Boats, one of each type

As can be seen the paint job is a little darker than the previous two I've done.
Not sure how much of an issue this might be.

I decided to make a couple of sinking vessel markers by cutting an MTB in half, using a razor saw and ensuring the cut ran diagonally so that I could utilise both sides as a sinking vessel. Truth be told, when making the models I managed to ping one of the torpedo tubes across the room as I cut it from the sprue - never to be found again!

I briefly considered scratch building a new tube but that was beyond my skills and I didn't want a vessel with just one torpedo tube as part of the flotilla.

Hence the sinking versions!

3 x Vospers, two different types

Another view

As noted the trickiest part of doing the sinking vessels was picking the cut line, I allowed this to go through part of the cabin superstructure to make it appear that there are two 'equal' sinking models'.

Sinking vessels with their decks on show.

The other thing to consider on the sinking vessels was that the under-side of the water-line boats is hollow, thus I had to find a way to full out their hulls. Looking at images of MTB hulls they appeared to be pretty flat, I opted not to model the propellers so it was a matter of supergluing strips of wooden coffee stirrers to the hull and when the glue is dry carving off the excess and then sanding down before painting black.

And same with their hulls on show.

The sea on the bases was painted with Citadel Paints 'Stegadon Green' before using clear PVA glue to build some wave texture on the water surface. I stippled white around the sinking vessels to simulate foaming water etc.

Battle of Fulford Gate - Battle Report - Week One

Week One of the Battle of Fulford Gate was hosted by Rupert and involved 28mm figures from Mike W's collection. Mike W, also developed a set of 'Quick & Dirty' Dark Ages Rules for this series of 1066 gates.

On the Viking Side we had Rupert, Mat and Dave commanding Harald Harada and Tostig Godwinson' arrays. On the side of the English we had Steve, Mike N, Phil and Mark commanding the armies of Earls Edwin and Moncur.

The number of figures on each side was somewhat similar but the Vikings had generally better quality troops, albeit that their Victory Points required them to establish a foothold north of the river by the end of the day.

The Anglo Danish Armies, from the Western flank,
Earl Edwin's Mercians nearest the camera and Earl Moncur's Northumbrians in the distance.

Both sides had a command conundrum to solve before deploying their troops, the river over which they would be fighting was tidal and so they had to select a game turn in which to start the game with this in mind. Additionally the English side was tasked to hold the river line as long as possible, whereas the Vikings were marching on to the battle field and would want to start the game as early as possible.

Vikings of Gudbald's command (part of Tostig's motley array oy of allies & supporters)
lead an attack on Edwin's Fyrd on the western flanks.

After initial deployment - as it happens both sides elected to deploy as early as possible on turn one - the sides marched forward to the river line. The English reached the river line first and there set-up a shield wall along the length of their line.

Vikings from Tostig's division, heading north, come off the slopes and head towards the English lines on the river, hoping to cross at the bridge and ford locations.

Gudbald and his troops where the first to make contact with the English in and around the western marsh areas but the fighting was inconsequential and was to continue for many turns. To the East,  Moncur's forces closed and engaged with a Bondi unit initially attempting to force the bridge, only to be stopped by their English adversaries.

English Archers in the marshy are a to the west of the battlefield.

Harald reacted quickly as he was in the vicinity of the bridge attack, realising the Bondi unit was not suitable to succeed in such an attack he pulled them back and fed in his Berserkers instead. These proved much more effective as they began to cut their way through the defending General Fyrd.

The battle lies from the eastern point of view, with Berserkers attacking across the bridge 

The game reached a natural break-point, to be continued next week - there was now fighting all long the line with Viking units crossing the river and flinging themselves against the English shied walls

Detail of the bridge fight, with King Harald and his bodyguard, personally directing the attack

In the centre, Viking Bondi,
crossing the river to spread the happiness to two English units - one General he other Select Fryd

Final view of the Bridge battle, with the Berserkers pushing through the opposing Fyrd
but at the cost of casualties to themselves.

Week Two to follow soon!

Friday Night Games: Battle of Fulford Gate, 20th Sept 1066

Fulford Gate, fought on 20th September 1066, was the first significant battle to be fought in England in that fateful year. The Viking Army was led by  King Harald Harada of Norway and Tostig Godwinson whilst the defending English forces were led by brothers Earl Edwin of Mercia and Earl Morcar of Northumberland.

Tostig Godwinson was the traitorous brother of Harold Godwinson, King of England, who had fallen from favour whilst he occupied the role of Earl of Northumberland. Tostig had never been a popular with the people of Northumberland and his heavy handed approach to dealing with opposition led him to be outlawed and banished in in 1065.

Tostig then touted for support and found an ally in King Harada of Norway after the death of King Edward and after Harold Godwinson was proclaimed the new King of England. Tostig lead several raids against the south and east coasts of England, none of which were hugely successful, before heading for Scotland where he met his sworn brother King Malcom of Scotland.

Mid September 1066 Tostig sailed south to meet up with King Harard's forces and to join them in an attempt to take York

Tostig Godwinson's Division

For the purposes of this battle, Tostig's division is made up of four main factions to reflect the support he was getting from his various backers.

The core of his troops were English rebels and his immediate family and kinsmen that had sworn oaths to his service. These are represented by two units - one of Hearth Guard and one of less well armed followers - equivalent to Select Fyrd in quality.

Tostig' Flemish Troops.

Tostig's wife was Flemish and thus he had received backing from his brother in law Baldwin, Count of Flanders. These troops are equipped in the Norman style and should be considered to be of good quality

Tostig's English Rebels

Finally his sworn brother King Malcom of Scotland has supplied a Scots spear unit, these are agile, fast moving troops who whilst not suitable for a Shield Wall approach to fighting could harry and damage any unit it opposes.

Tostig's Scots Troops

As with all Hearth Guard units in this game, they can fight in a shield wall with swords and spears or throw caution to the wind and break out their mighty two handed axes to inflict maximum damage on their enemy,

Tostig's Hearth Guard

Finally we have Tostig himself, with his three bodyguards (also Hearth Guards), this bodyguard will lay down their lives for their master in battle but in reward will expect the lion's share of any booty!

Tostig and his personal Body Guard

Earl Edwin's Mercian Division, fought alongside his brother's Northumbrians. Not natural allies to Harold Godwinson but after Harold married their sister, Edith, the relationship between the three outspoken men was eased.

With news of Harald's landings Edwin & Morcar sort to gain further favour by confronting the Viking host in the field, delaying their advance, until Harold and his Army could arrive in the north.

Edwin and his Mercian Array

Edwin's forces consisted of two units each of General and Select Fyrd, plus Housecals, Archers and a body guard.

Edwin's General Fyrd - unit one

Edwin's General Fyrd - unit two

Edwin's Select Fyrd - unit one

Edwin's Select Fyrd - unit two

Edwin has just 10 Housecarls in his array - formed into a unit...

Edwin's Housecarls

Plus some Archers....

Edwin's Archers

Edwin with his Housecarl bodyguard and two sub commanders

King Harald  III Hardrada's Viking Host

Harald Hardrada led the main Viking force in the invasion of England that late summer in 1066, exact numbers are not certain but were certainly in the order of 10,000 by the time that the Battle of Stamford Bridge occurred.

However at Fulford Gate, we must assume that the army was still on the move with contingents arriving later than expected and with a large protective force guarding the fleet on the coast. It is also suggested that a number of the population of the north, especially those of Viking heritage, sided with Harald and came out for him in the days after his landing.

One of two Bond Units in Harald's array

Typical Viking Armies would be more bias to Hirdsmen rather than Bondi. but as some locals were said to have thrown in support to their invading kinsmen, I have strengthened the number of men in these units.

And the second Bondi Unit

Harald's army also contains two units of Hirdsmen, typically armoured and armed with Spear, sword or Axe and trained in aggressive attack tactics. 

First unit of Harald's Hirdsmen

Viking Hearth Guard and Hirdsmen are trained in the effective  Swinehead tactic - basically a flying wedge that was designed to break into and disrupt Shield Walls.

Second unit of Harald's Nirdsmen

No Viking Army would be complete without some Berserkers, these guys can fight as a single unit, or be hidden within other units to leap out and attack approaching enemies. Cleaver management of these guys can make a real difference in a tight fought game.

Harald's Berserkers, these figures are all converted form Warlord Games Ancient Britons

Next we have Harald's Hearth Guards, fifteen chosen men under the Raven Head banner.

Harald's Hearth Guard

Finally Harald had two units of archers with him, these guys would be used to hunt and provide supplies for the army when on the move but also to 'soften-up' the enemy prior to any sustained hand to hand combat 

Unit One of Archers

Second Archer Unit

King Harald has a bodyguard of 5 Ulfhednar warriors - equivalent of Berserkers and feared equally. With Harald are two Sub Commanders 

Harald with Ulfheadnar bodyguard and two sub-commanders

Earl Morcar of Northumbria brings six units to the battle. Two each of General & Select Fyrd plus a unit of Archers and his Housecarls.

Earl Morcar's Array.

Anglo Saxon / Danish troops all have the ability to forma shield Wall and when fighting as such they gain much mutual protection and morale support. However, should the shield wall get disrupted then the units can be quickly damaged by well trained troops.

Morcar's General Fyrd #1

Morcar's General Fyrd #2

The Fyrd in these times was a levy raised from the population to defend their region against enemy attack. As the names would suggest the General Fyrd was taken from the lower ranks in society and would be less well armed, typically with Shield, Spear and long knife. The Select Fyrd was raised rom wealthier, better to do people who could afford helmets, chainmail or leather armour and even maybe swords and axes.

Morcar's first unit of Select Fyrd

Morcar's second unit of Select Fyrd

Earl Morcar as with any self respecting Earl maintained a body of household troops - his Housecarls, these guys were well armed and armoured and have the option of fighting in a Shied Wall or alternatively fighting with their twohanded Axes.

Morcar's Housecarls

Morcar had a small unit of Archers at his disposal.

Archers

Morcar had a bodyguard of four Housecarls and two sub commanders at his disposal.

The Battle will be played out Friday 21st July at Rupert's venue. Figures are all 28mm, movement trays will be used and the rules are home grown!

Steve & Mark have requested to be English leaders and Dave is threatening to arrive with additional Viking forces that will be assigned to Tostig's motley crew...