Chariots Rampant? The Infantry

Lion Rampant v2 (LRv2) introduces the concept of Strength Points. This is an alternative to figure removal. I want multi figure bases, so far so good.

What of Bronze Age infantry? Diverse to be sure. The militia of the Palace Culture, full time professionals, wild tribesmen. 

Then there is armament. For some there is armour. Bowmen, do they line up in rank or run about skirmishing. Luckily LRv2 can accommodate all of this and more. Choices to be made, all of them subjective.

I’m was inclined to go for 4 figures a base for the look of the thing. Three figures a base would better enable “Wall of Spears” . Two bases wide and two deep. 

Resolution came in the Goblinoid frames of my Gladiator Bronze Age figures. For them three is company enough on a single base.  Note, I'm following Keith at Bydand blog's example with these rounded edge bases. 

Let us have a go at a Hittite Guard unit. Pretty much unarmoured saving a helmet and small shield.  Used to fighting and capable. They can throw javelins and fight close up. I’m opting for LRv2 Light Infantry so:

  

Models per unit	12	points	6
Attack	6+	Attack Value	4+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	6	Shoot Value	5+ Range 6”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Veteran, Javelins

 

Now some Hittite archers. As we have a pretty elite force in mind let us make them veterans.

Models per unit	12	points	6
Attack	7+	Attack Value	6
Move	6+	Defence Value	5+
Shoot	6+	Shoot Value	4+ Range 18”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Veteran

 

Now, on to the soldiers of the provinces.  Light infantry once more with 2 units. These fellows can do well on the defensive forming a “Wall of Spears”.

Models per unit	12	points	3
Attack	6+	Attack Value	5+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value	-
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Wall of Spears

 

If we add a Chariot Unit for the final 6 points we have a complete LRv2 “Warband” of 24 points.  Our General can be found in one of the 2 chariots. It is a nicely balanced force.

Now, it happens that I have another unit of Hittite chariots. To field that I would need to lose my versatile Guard unit or both of the “Wall of Spears” units or my veteran archers.

That said 2 units of chariots supported by Guards and archers strikes me as the sort of force a palace might rapidly deploy against raiders.

Where to next on this one?  Libya I think. I bought a lot of Bronze Age figures years ago for a good price. 

I also have a fair few Assyrians or Neo Assyrians I'm never sure which they are. They are still unpainted and from Colonel Bill. Mainly Chariot Miniatures with a few Essex I think. Very nice figures and whither Chariot Miniatures now?

I have worked out how to rate the Assyrian 4 Horse Chariots. I will simply treat as single model as the equivalent of a two model 2 Horse Chariot unit.

I'm resisting the urge to start painting them immediately. 

In my experience you cannot go wrong with Colonel Bill. Good price, good service, swift delivery.  We must speak as we find. On that note Lion Rampant v2 continues to impress. A happy purchase.

Chariots, Chariots Rampant?

A wee while ago I followed the development of a Chariot Wars game on Jonathan’s blog (Parlouse) see link in side bar. The author, Ian Russell-Lowell, is someone who really knows his stuff.  A genuine expert if you like.  

The title of the rules in development is Rein Bow Warriors.  An apt and witty title. I’m not sure where it has got too. What I have seen so far looks very promising.

Getting chariots right is tricky.  We need to understand they were the wonder weapons of their day. Like all wonder weapons they cost a fortune to make, maintain and deploy.

Turning to Dan Mersey’s Lion Rampant (v2) I reach his thoughts on chariots. He is thinking about Irish and Pictish chariots.  That’s fine. Chariot technology didn’t deviate much wherever, whenever.  I’m ignoring “heavy” chariots here. The exception rather than the rule.  

All the same, one heavy chariot has the same horsepower as two light chariots, ditto firepower if we can misuse the term. Is it as simple as that?

Anyhow, Dan tells us to treat Irish and Pict chariots like so:

“Use the Heavy Cavalry profile

+2 points per unit (so unit cost is 6 points). That’s a quarter of a Lion Rampant 24 point “Army”.

Unit may not enter, rough terrain, cross linear obstacles(walls, hedges, etc.).

Armour is increased to 4

Use only 1 or 2 models per unit and track damage using the Strength Points rules elsewhere in this chapter.”

Here is Dan’s Heavy Cavalry profile with his Irish and Pict chariot adjustments.

Models per unit	2	points	6
Attack	5+	Attack Value	4+
Move	5	Defence Value	5+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value	-
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	12
Armour	4	Special Rules	Counter Charge

I mostly like this. Mostly, because chariots were light, designed to bounce over rough ground, the horses and crew were highly trained. They could cope with sloping hills too. I’ll be ignoring Dan’s rough ground prohibition.  

I’m also minded to Julius Caesar’s view that chariots panicked his Legionaries. Fearsome? Shooting javelins? Dan includes that in his combat stat's. But, let’s not go there yet.

Dan is at pains to recommend we don’t try to apply the foregoing out of period.  

I’m going to ignore that because I think it might take us somewhere useful in terms of a Bronze Age Chariot Game.

There is another matter. Bronze Age Chariot Warriors shot bows.  Hugely expensive Composite Bows.  Bows that had a greater penetrating power and range than the self -bows of foot soldiers. A Chariot could also carry many more arrows than an individual man on foot. For that reason I opt for the hitting power of crossbows combined with the rate of fire of bows.

Chariots it seems were not deployed singerly.  Mutual support seems to have been the order of the day. Plainly the Military Minds of that time felt this was a necessity. Much to ponder there.  What circumstances did they envisage?

Dan injuncts us no more than two chariot units in any force.  I find this entirely satisfactory. Here then is a heretical Lion Rampant Bronze Age Chariot  unit profile.

Models per unit	2	points	6
Attack	7+	Attack Value	6
Move	5	Defence Value	5+
Shoot	6	Shoot Value	4+ Range 18”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	12
Armour	4	Special Rules	Fearsome, Skirmish, Evade

Anything else?  Yes, in Lion Rampant units move or shoot. Chariot archers had a vehicle to move them.  They trained to shoot on the move.  The Special Rules Skirmish ability allows chariots to move and shoot in the same turn. 

Here is a problem.  Look, no composite bows. Drews, that great scholar of the period, thinks they had them. I'm not convinced. Rein Bow Warriors likens chariot combats to arial dog fights. I buy that. Look at that Dendra armour, arrow proof. Something to think about.

Something else to think about is why do we have so much evidence for unarmoured chariot drivers? Was it foul play to shoot down the driver? A convention of Chariot Wars? We know that chariot drivers were highly valued technicians. Did they just change sides when captured?

Soonish we are going to look at the nemesis of the Chariot. Again through the lens of Lion Rampant. We will also see some sample Bronze Age Lion Rampant “Warbands”. Hittites, Sea Peoples, Libyans and Mycenaeans.

I will be reporting back. 

Bringing up the Guns- Anglo-Sikh Wars

 

Yes, it is Elephant Time.  As you know elephants were used to pull field artillery in the Anglo-Sikh Wars. In 1857 too. I have 6 in all.

These are from Dixon’s Indian Mutiny range. Very nice indeed. Gun from Fighting 15s, gunners from QRF.

Nothing says India like an elephant.  

I have been careful to keep my elephants neutral, both sides can use them.  

Before buying the Dixon Nellies I bought some from Fighting 15s.  These are smaller creatures but attractively done. Their main demerit is that no limbers are supplied. Luckily for me Irregular Miniatures helped out with three Elephant Limbers. As you might expect Irregular sell elephants with limbers but that was not where I found myself.

You see the resulting combination here.  Passable I think.

 

This last is actually a Rajah’s Elephant. I had intended it for Duleep Singh. Alas, I find that Prince’s life is too tragic to contemplate-even in 15mm. His elephant now pulls a gun. 

Should you want an infant Maharajah on an elephant try QRF.  They have a splendid one.

I have a couple of bullock pulled limbers too. Here is one.  All very much end of project stuff you might think.  You would be right.

More Revolutionaries - AWI/Revolutionary War

 

Above, the General.  I need to add three Brigadiers or thereabouts.  The Revolution was not really a cavalry war but they had their moments.  These are my American Dragoons so far.

Above and below Dragoons from QRF and Minifigs.  

Sometimes the American cavalry outnumbered the British ones.  I might have to get some more.

A mainly Minifigs Rifle unit here. 

Below, my second Rifle unit. Very handy fellows, although you need to keep them out of trouble.  

They needed to keep their distance.

The serious fellows here.  My second Baltimore unit above.  All Minifigs with a Polly Oliver standard bearer. Generic Continentals below mostly from Essex.

More Militia.  "One volley boys, give me one volley."  I cannot recall which American General said it. Indeed, on reflection, he may have asked for two volleys. That's one of David from Not by Appointment's flags below.

The British could nearly always break the Militia. It tended not to matter.  The Militia would, terrain permitting, regroup and return to the fight. I was interested to read a British Officer's opinion that the Militia fought better than they had against the French.

While we are considering the Revolutionaries one of Washington's missives on deserters is of interest.  Like most of us I tend to paint the Revolutionaries with a lot of Homespun clothes.  Washington's 3 deserters wore respectively, a red overcoat, a green overcoat and a blue coat.  A bit brighter coloured than I had thought.

Poking through the lead pile I find that the rifles and militia are done.  Another 2 or three battalions of uniformed troops look possible. Added to that I have 3 units of Light Infantry nearly done.

I was interested to read Washington's opinions on his Army.  The men he thought would do well enough.  The officers were a cause of serious concern to him. The whole thing deserves a post.  Should time provide we will have one. For the sake of brevity and verity it could encompass the splendid squabbles of the British Command.

League of Augsburg - A Book and 3 Armies

 

My latest acquisition above.  Barry Hilton and Clarence Harrison’s  "For Ireland and King James-The Jacobite Infantry at the Battle of Aughrim".

This is a full colour hard back.  It details the regiments of the Jacobite Army that Barry has sufficient detail on and is certain fought at Aughrim.  For each one Clarence provides uniform and flag plates.  All very nicely done. I might have gone for a few figures in trews. Mike McNally did so.   No matter really ,as no one makes them. 

It is a self proclaimed book for wargamers by wargamers. All the same it is more than that.  Barry modestly says he is not an historian. Not by trade perhaps. Yet the description independent scholar would do him no injustice. He knows his subject very well.  I'm pleased with this book.

Apparently the boys are considering a Williamite Aughrim volume. I'll be on the list for that one too.

While waiting for the book I ordered more toys. All from Irregular. I thought I'd add a few new Jacobite regiments. The idea being that I'd use the book as a painting guide. Then inspiration struck, and instead of ordering 1 new Army Pack I ordered 3.  This qualified me for an additional discount!

Anyhow, I thought you would like to see what I got respectively for the English, French and Dutch Army packs. 

Before we do that here is an English regiment comprised of Irregular Miniatures figures-save the drummer. He is Essex.

Pretty nice I think. I have moved the pike men to the side so you can get a better look at them. If you want League of Augsburg 15mm, Irregular are a good choice. Buy an Army Pack and they are a good and very affordable choice.  

I like 6 figures to a base and any League of Augsburg Army Pack will give me at least 3 units like the one above, plus a squadron or two of cavalry, a gun and a General. A supported Brigade I suppose.  Enough for a side using Beneath the Lily Banners certainly.

Here is a French cavalry squadron from Irregular.

A gun and crew below.  Four gunners are provided you see 3 of them here.

Let's start with the English.

I can get 3 regiments of infantry, 2 squadron's of cavalry, a brigadier and a gun and crew from this pack. With a few left over too. One cavalry squadron is in Lobster helmets.

Variants abound in both Horse and Foot. I should add wire pikes are supplied for the pike men.

Now onto the Dutch.

Pretty much the same possibilities in this pack.  Note though, Eppinger's Dragoons and a squadron of cavalry.  Of course Eppinger's would do for mounted Grenadiers in other armies too.

Last but certainly not least in this period the French. 

Once again we get 1 dragoon squadron and 1 of cavalry instead of 2 cavalry squadrons. I have also grouped the musket and pike variants together.  The command figures are also separated out. As we might expect it provides for 3 regiments of infantry at 6 per base.

A closer look.  As you can see I have not cleaned up any of the figures. It is actually very easy to do. That said I wanted you to see what to expect.

There are other figures in Irregular's League of Augsburg range not shown here.  I like them although I prefer Essex or Dixon drummers for my units.

Of course the figures we see here could be used for pretty much any army of the period. At £32.50 a pack including postage Irregular's offer is a bargain.

If you were considering the League of Augsburg in 15mm I hope this post has been of use to you.  

For me I have the pleasant task of choosing which 7 battalions of foot to do next. Imperials are a strong possibility. Followed by which 4 squadrons of cavalry to do.  One of the 2 squadrons of Dragoons will be English I think.