Battle of Baecula 208BC using Ancients Battlelines Clash

Introduction

This is game 42 in play testing my ancient rules by replaying historical battles.  The latest version of ‘Ancient Battlelines Clash’ is on its own blog page. I am play testing the rules by replaying all the Peter Sides scenarios from his Historical Battles books.  ABC is designed to finish in around 30 minutes on a 2'x2' table.

I have been slow in play testing these rules for the last few years.  For November 2019 I set a challenge to play the 10 First and Second Punic Wars battles in the book.  This battle is game 7 of the 10 games I managed to play in November.

Battle of Baecula 208BC

The three Carthaginian armies in Spain were separated and Scipio goes after the one led by Hasdrubal.  Hasdrubal sets up in a strong position in a ravine with light troops screening his camp.  He is unaware that Scipio is bringing his heavy infantry around the flanks.

This is really a sort of ‘what-if’ battle as when Hasdrubal realised it was not a light infantry skirmish he abandoned his camp with his heavy infantry and cavalry. 

Internet links of interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baecula

https://www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/60-second-punic-war-218-202-bc/265-011-baecula-208-bc.html

Troops

Roman

6 legionaries, Heavy Infantry

4 Velites, Skirmish Infantry, javelins

4 Spanish Allies, Light Infantry, javelins

Leader with a legionary unit on the right.

Army control ability +1

Breakpoint: 9

Carthaginian

4 Gauls/Spanish, Heavy Infantry, warband

4 Spanish, Medium Infantry

4 Skirmishers, Skirmish Infantry, javelins

2 Numidian Light Cavalry

Leader with the heavy infantry

Breakpoint:  7

All but the skirmishers are deployed uncontrolled (so cannot act until the Romans come into range).

Deployment

           

Romans on the left.  All Carthaginians except the skirmishers on the hill are uncontrolled - they cannot activate until enemy in range.

Game

After a couple of turn, the skirmishers get close enough to exchange missiles on the hill

The Velites  and Carthaginian skirmishers exchange missiles.

All the Velites retire, and only one Carthaginian skirmisher does likewise.

The Velites all retire and only inflicted one casualty.

The Spanish Light infantry now attack the Carthaginian skirmishers

The Allied Spanish light infantry go in next.

The hill is cleared of Carthaginians.   It did cost the Romans two Light Infantry units that routed.

The Allied Spanish light infantry clear the hill but lose half their number.

The Romans legions are in position to attack the heavier Carthaginian units.

Each Roman flank has manoeuvred around the hill and it ready to attack.

The Roman right contacts the Numidians and the Medium Infantry.

On the right Roman flank they make contact.

The Cavalry fires (for no effect) and evades off the table.

The Medium Infantry is disordered, retreats and routs due to interpenetrating the warbands.

The legions pursue into other units.

The light cavalry flee and heavier units are contactes.

Scipio’s unit suffers a disorder while meleeing with the warbands!  However, another medium infantry retreats and routs.  The legion pursues into the warband that inflicted the disorder on Scipio’s unit – both are disordered.

A few disorders and locked in melee

One the Roman left flank,  the legions are charge into medium infantry and Numidian cavalry.

The Roman left flank makes contact.

The Numidian cavalry evade and the medium infantry is routed.  The heavy infantry pursue.

Much the same as the right flank - light cavalry flees, one medium infantry routed and locked in melee.

The Carthaginians have reached their breakpoint and retire from the field.  So historically, the same thing happened – Hasdrubal retired from the field to save his infantry and cavalry (in the game they evaded off the table).

Enf game.

Verdict

That went quite well.  I was thinking that it would not be able to recreate history but when the Carthaginian army reached its breakpoint the army fled and so the Heavy infantry never needed to get into combat.