Middle Anglo-Saxons (III/24b) v Strathclyde Welsh (II/81d)
Tensions in the disputed lands west of the North Pennines regarding who controls the disputed lands around Caer Luel have led to open warfare. As the Northumbrians march over Stainmoor to assert their claim another force marching south from Strath Clut intercepts them north of the settlement of Pen Rid.
The Armies
Northumbria:
1 x General (4Bd)
2 x Hird (4Bd)
6 x Select Fyrd (Sp)
2 x Great fyrd (7 Hd)
1 x Scouts Ps
Strathclyde Welsh:
1 x General (Cv)
3 x Comitatensis (Cv)
7 x Pedyt (Sp)
1x Archers (Ps)
The Battlefield
The Northumbrians despite being more aggressive rolled low and ended up as the defenders. This suited them as they were able to select terrain to help limit the enemy cavalry's mobility. Choosing from the arable terrain set they selected a hamlet and ploughland from the compulsory list and a river, a steep hill and a wood from the optional list. Dicing for placement allowed the Strathclyde Welsh to position the hamlet but everything else was placed by the Northumbrians.
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| The battlefield (less the gap between the table edge and the woods) |
The Northumbrian master plan was to restrict the table as much as possible to slow the Strathclyde cavalry's freedom of movement. The Great Fyrd elements were placed on the most exposed flank as losing these wouldn't count towards the army break point. Things started to unravel from the start as the plough land was found to be good going (there was only a one in six chance of it not being but you can hope) and the river turned out to be Paltry so also counted as good going. Clearly it had been a dry spring and summer.
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| After deployment the restricted space seemed to be vouring Northumbria. |
The Northumbrian deployment (furthest from the camera) placed the Psiloi alongside the woods, with the intention of occupying them to make it more difficult for the enemy to work around them. The next three elements were the Northumbrian Hird and General all solid Blades. That gave a small advantage over the opposing Spears. Next came the Northumbrian spears and lastly slightly refused the Great Fyrd. At this point the river hadn't been tested so in case it was difficult terrain nothing was deployed into it by either side.
Nearer the camera the Strathclyde Welsh had split their cavalry as 2 elements at each end of the line. The general is the inner of the two elements on the left flank. This was to give some control issues later in the game.
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| Both sides slog forwards with the Welsh cavalry starting wide flanking moves. |
The Northumbrians were being cautious and simply brought the Great Fyrd into line and pushed forwards as a shield wall. On the other side because the ground wasn't as restricted on the right of the Welsh line they pushed forward with their cavalry on that wing. The other wing was slowed crossing the steep hill and is working it's way to the right with the intention of passing down the side of the woods.
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| First contact - no not aliens! Welsh horse crashing into the Great Fyrd |
The initial clash was between the Welsh cavalry on their left and the Great Fyrd. This was expected to be a bit of a push over, expected but not what actually happened. The general's element recoiled and the other unit only pushed it's opponent back. Not exactly the Ride of the Rohirrim then. Still better luck next time. On the other flank the Northumbrians settled their archers into the woods and there they intended to stay, creating a threat zone to block easy passage of that flank.
In the centre the Welsh Pedytes continued to advance hoping the Nobs on their horses might have the job done before they have to exchange spear thrusts with the Northumbrians. They should be so lucky!
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| One Great Fyrd unit destroyed and the other pushed back. |
What you can't see in the above shot is the Welsh right flank cavalry clearing the bad going on the steep hill. The dilemma for them is do they try for the gap between the table edge and the woods or turn in towards the end of the Northumbrian shield wall. With the enemy creating a threat zone they cannot avoid to the right of the woods they elect to shift towards the centre. On the other flank the second unit of Great Fyrd is destroyed and the cavalry have cleared the flank of the enemy shield wall.
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| The Northumbrians stand their ground while the Welsh foot slowly close in |
The Infantry lines finally come to blows but neither side can gain a decisive advantage. Initially the Welsh foot seem to have the upper hand but slowly the Northumbrians start to push them back. The weak spot in the Welsh line is the need to include Psiloi to prevent an overlap while the Northumbrians have to tie up the Welsh cavalry hovering around their open right wing. In the ensuing combat the Psiloi flee while a unit of Northumbrian Spears do manage to stop the Welsh rolling up the flank, at least for this turn.
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| After the first turn of shield wall on shield wall action. |
As the shield wall starts to fragment the ability to provide side support slowly evaporates, and the chance of a decisive combat results becomes slightly more likely. Despite that, neither side is collapsing. The losses are starting to mount but these are all from attacks on the flanks where a element has been flanked and cannot recoil. The Northumbrian Psiloi in the woods have changed their position to place their threat zone alongside the open flank of their shield wall. At this point it's a nail biting 3:2 in favour of Strathclyde (remember the 7 Horde losses don't count towards the Northumbrian break point).
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| It looks more organised than it is from this flank. Trust me though that isn't an attack 'en echelon' |
By turn eight the Northumbrian attempt to hold off the Welsh cavalry attack has failed and their right flank is wide open. Things are looking just as shakey on the other flank where its the Welsh hanging on by the skin of their teeth. The Welsh Psiloi have been destroyed and a Hird unit is setting up to hit the flank of the now badly fragmented Strathclyde Welsh shield wall after flanking their Psiloi last turn. It's now 3:3 although I doubt extra time is beckoning! But disaster strikes they roll 1 for Pips and can't close up enough to get the position they need.
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| Can the Northumbrians pull something out of the bag? Well No they can't actually |
Play moved to Strathclyde who having ridden like hell to get to the Northumbrian camp capture it before another dice is rolled. Strathclyde win 5:3.
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| Strathclyde poised for victory |
The Horde elements had held off the collapse of the Northumbrian right wing without contributing to the break point and actually made a better showing than expected. The clash of the shield walls became a shoving match with neither side able to gain a significant advantage until flanks were turned. The basic combat factors are not sufficiently different to create the chance of an easy doubling result in combat even where blades face spear which feels about right. Once the line fragments it becomes a tiny bit easier but still requires the statistically unlikely chance of getting a 1:6 split on the dice to create the result needed. Ultimately it was the mobility of the Welsh horse and their ability to create flank positions which turned recoils into destroyed results that made the difference. If the ploughland had turned out to be difficult going and the river had aided defence things might have turned out differently but then again it may not have done.
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| The survivors at battles end. |
All in all a couple of hours well spent on a solo game and a chance to get my recent paint work onto the table. Man of the match award goes to the Northumbrian Psiloi for never having to fight anything while still denying the flank to the Strathclyde Welsh cavalry.
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