Military Modelling – September 1982

Playtest “Infantry versus Cavalry”

Charles S. Grant with an north of the small hill to block that gap the Romans.
account of last month's main force would obviously try to make it to As this combat in the south was
the hills. The Sassanid forces did not intend resolving itself in this way the other
"Teaser" to let this operation take place unhindered. To Sassanid light
Last month's "Teaser" set the scene for an counter the move of the Roman cavalry in the cavalry (1) in the north charged round the
ancient battle with a primarily infantry army north the Sassanid light cavalry (1) were north side of the small hill to attack the
set against one consisting largely of cavalry. heading rapidly towards the same gap: Their Roman light cavalry (G). This move was not
Of the two possible cavalry armies fellows (2) in the south were moving with altogether unexpected, however, and the
suggested, I chose to play the heavy one some purpose towards the light medium commander of the Roman horse had
using a force of Sassanids. The reader will javelins (A). already ordered his men to evade the
remember that the Roman force was The first two periods saw their preliminary charge which they successfully did. This left
marching southwest on the north side of a manoeuvres accompanied by Sassanid the Sassanid light horse at the extent of
river; the River Collia' in this case. His force archery fire inflicting casualties on the their charge with no enemy to fight and in
consisted of the following which are shown on Romans. The considerable archery strength the next period they rallied back, not without
map 1. of the Sassanid horse was quite effective. sustaining some casualties from archery fire
Map This continued into the third period when the (round two to the Romans).
Unit Ref. Sassanid light horse in the south (2) charged At this stage the Sassanid "Rising Sun"
Light medium javelins. (33) A the Roman javelins (A). The initial contact extra heavy cavalry (4) could contain their
White shield cohort. (44) B caused a wavering of the Romans under the enthusiasm no longer. Throwing care to the
Red shield cohort. (44) C impact and the resultant "pushback" of the wind they lumbered forward and charged
Black shield cohort. (44) D light medium javelins by three inches. The into both the light medium javelins (A) and
Green shield cohort. (44) E situation at the end of this 3rd period is the "Red Shield" cohort (C) taking the
Light archers. (22) F shown in map 1. former in the side. Simultaneously the
Roman light cavalry. (22) G In the next period, however, without the "Purple" extra heavy cavalry (6) charged the
impetus of the charge to help them, the Roman "White Shield" cohort who were just
The four cohorts were medium infantry armed Sassanid light cavalry (2) were at a dis- able to turn in time to face them. This
with long, thrusting spears and darts or advantage to the more numerous and agile second assault by the Sassanid horse was
javelins. The exact positions of the Roman javelin men. This second period of melee, as swift as it was important, for now over
forces at the start of the battle were shown resulted in considerably more casualties half the Roman force was pinned down well
last month. Readers will recall that this was being inflicted on the most unfortunate south of the hills. Map 2.
as they were when a sandstorm cleared to cavalry, who decided it was too much and The Combat was furious but at the end of
reveal before them the Sassanid host on the broke and ran. Needless to say this exposed the first period of melee the result was a
line X-Y. their backs to further javelin fire and more stalemate between the "Rising Sun" (4) and
Map casualties. Round one clearly favoured the the two Roman units. This was not to
Unit Ref. MAP 1. This shows the Sassanids remain so for long, for further north the
Light cavalry I(15) 1 deploying rapidly off their start line X-Y "Purple" Sassanids scored a resounding
Light cavalry II (15) 2 while the majority of the Roman force are success against the "White Shield" cohort
Light archers (21) 3 rapidly heading north to the hills and causing them to break and nm. The "White
"Rising Sun" extra heavy cavalry (10) 4 safety. Shield" cohort now received further
"Skulls" extra heavy cavalry (13) 5
"Purple" extra heavy cavalry (1 5) 6
"Red Cloak" extra heavy cavalry (10) 7
"Blue Banner" super heavy
cavalry (11) 8
"Yellow Banner" super heavy
cavalry (10) 9
The strength of units is shown in brackets. In
addition the Sassanid cavalry symbols on the
maps have L, X or S to denote the type of
cavalry unit.
Yours truly arranged and umpired the game
which was, as usual, fought to conclusion by
those worthies the Dover Coven (not convent
as someone wrote to me recently perhaps as
a result of the Viking performance.) Both
sides were given the picture already
described but in rather more detail, as it was
presented last month. Each then had a quick
conference (there were several players on
each side) a plan was then made and orders
written. The game could now begin.
The Battle
The proximity of the opposing sides led to
considerable activity right from the start. The
Sassanid forces advanced rapidly while the
Romans immediately deployed off the river
route to the north. They had clearly realised
then the problem and with the light medium
javelins (A) to hold the south west front and
the light cavalry (G) moving rapidly to the
 Military Modelling – September 1982
Playtest “Infantry versus Cavalry”

casualties as the Sassanids hacked

mercilessly at their

Playtest “Infantry versus Cavalry”
exposed backs. The Romans were of stout
stuff, however, and all other units stood firm
as the "White Shields" routed past.
The next wave of Sassanid cavalry to hit the
hapless Romans was the "Yellow Banner"
inconsiderable weight to the conflict involving
the "Red Shields." The "Skulls" extra heavy
cavalry (5) charged at the same moment
striking the light medium javelins (A). The
result of all this, which amounted to a solid
wall of horses and men locked in melee, was
that at the end of move six both the Roman
light medium javelins and the Sassanid
"Rising Sun" extra heavy cavalry broke off
from melee with the former routing and being
followed up by a jubilant regiment of "Skulls"
(5). While this was going on the "Purple
"extra heavy cavalry were still riding down the
remains of the "White Shield" cohort.
The next move, which was the seventh,
was really the end for the Romans. The
"Black Shield" cohort was charged
simultaneously by the "Red Cloak" extra
heavy cavalry (7) and the "Blue Banner"
super heavy cavalry (8). The latter were
almost beside themselves at having been left
out of the action so long. Map 3 shows the
situation by the end of the 8th move. From
the north the Roman light cavalry (G) are
engaged with part of the Sassanid "Red
Cloaks" (7) but further south the latter,
combined with the "Blue Banner" regiment
(8), have broken the Black shield Cohort (D).
The "Red Shield" cohort is also in flight after
a heroic stand, as are the light medium
javelins.
The Sassanids followed up, while
destroying all the routing units it exhausted
the heavily armed cavalry who, by the time
they had rallied and rested their winded
horses, were too late to catch the remaining
Romans. The "Green Shield" cohort (E), the
remains of the "White Shields" (B) and the
archers (F), with most of the light cavalry,
were able to reach the hills, if in some
disarray, during this breathing space.
Conclusions
The result of the hard fought battle was a
clear victory for the Sassanid host. Despite
this it proved a very well balanced game and
had the Roman commander appreciated that
Military Modelling – September 1982
he would be caught he might have done
better to devote all his energies to 100%
defence instead of trying to shield some of
his force who were still heading for the hills.
Nevertheless such comments are easily
made in retrospect and both sides fought a
hard and determined battle. All in all it was
voted by the participants, one of the most
enjoyable scenarios to date and all declared
a desire to try the light cavalry option in the
future.
This last "Teaser" marks the end of
Charles Grant's present series of "Table Top
Teasers". Interested readers may wish to
note that Charles' book Scenarios for
Wargamers is now available. Published by
Wargames Research Group the book has
52 wargame scenarios — one for every
week of the year. Well worth adding to the
home library the book is available from
Wargames Research Group, 75 Ardingley
Drive, Goring by Sea, Sussex BN1 2 4TN,
price £6.40 paperback; £8.50 hardback.
{Update: UK based gamers can get it
from The Keep, alternatively it is also
available from Amazon}