Anglo Irish vs Arab Oman & Gulf States

A Headless Body Production

Venue:   On Military Matters Bookstore.  Owner Operator Dennis Shorthouse
Event:    Team practice for the upcoming Cold Wars team tourney.
Players: Phil Gardocki running Anglo Irish
                  Allen Kaplan and Dennis Shorthouse, Oman & Gulf States.
                 
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 300 points per side.
Theme: Open, team no restrictions


The Forces:

   Anglo Irish circa 1400: Commanders  Larry, Darryl and Darryl, all barely competent, and Darryl, Ordinary.
      8 Galloglaich, Heavy Swordsmen, 2HW (elite)

      4 Billmen, Heavy Swordsmen, 2HW
      2 Heavy Knights, Impact (elite)       
      6 Longbowmen,stakes
      3 Irish Nobles, Heavy Cavalry
      2 Light Cavalry, Javelin

      2 Kerns, Light Infantry, Javelin

      3 Irish Foot, Javelinmen, Javelin
Breakpoint...30
       The Corps will be called "Battles" as that was the naming convention for England in Medieval times.
    
Oman & Gulf States, We'll have to look at the pictures.  Lots of Camels.
Breakpoint...35(ish)

Dennis has a wonderful bookstore in Hopewell New Jersey, that he has been running for many decades.  Imagine going through a library that is nothing but military history.  If you don't think you knew him, he is a long time supporter of Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, and held the coveted #1 spot in the dealers area for over 20 years.  So if you have been to any of HMGS's events at the Lancaster Host, you probably have met Dennis at some time.

The Scenario:
Practice session for the upcoming team event at Cold Wars.


The Board:

The Anglo Irish have lose the initiative roll and must attack in the desert.  Cue the theme from Lawrence of Arabia.

On the left flank is a deep, impassible crevice. 

On the right, gentle hills covered in brush.

Deployment:
Overall, the Irish are deployed with their two strongest battles in the 1 and 2 position.  (from left to right), then the #3 battle of cavalry, followed by #4, the smaller, battle of loose order foot.
My intention is to hold the right in the terrain with the battle of loose order foot, advance boldly with my 1 and 2 battles.  #3 is to just cover the flanks of #2 as it separates from #4.  

The #2 battle, with 6 Heavy swordsmen, 2HW, and 2 Longbowmen.

Battle #4 is set up in defense of the bushy hills.  Most of it cannot be seen.

Due to a brain fart, this was about all the space I have to set up my Battle of Cavalry.

The view from Larry's horse.  In front are the Galloglaich of Clan O'Lyre, to the right is Clan Stafford.

While downwind is a lot of smelly camels.

I think they have Arab allies, so even more Camels.

Turn 1:

Darryl calls up the ambush and arrays his loos order troops around the hill.  His job is to not lose. 

Darryl's Battle of Cavalry was poorly placed and is going to be reassigned.

Larry's Battle of Foot is to keep the the gap closed between the crevasse.  Then just keep shooting with the Longbow.

Some people never get the memo.  2 units of Camelry run the gauntlet past the gap.

The rest of the Omani horde double time across the field.  The Anglo Irish open a gap for the Battle of Cavalry to occupy.

On the Anglo-Irish right, the mission is to just delay.

Just a couple of command points, and this hill will take on all comers. 

Turn 2:

The Longbow darken the skies with arrows upon the Light Camelry, which adroitly dodge them all.

On the right, Omani foot gets tagged.

Half of the Battle of Cavalry is almost in place, but the Knights lag far behind.

I thought it was better to plug the whole than arrive in one piece.

The fools on the hill.

Arab Camelry leap forward! They decide to shoot it out at a point blank range.

A brave set of lights probing the gap.

Longbow continue to score hits on the Omani line, but there are too many Arabs for bow fire to be effective.

The Arabs have a strong force to attack with on their left, but their command point rolls is not allowing for any rapid advance.

Turn 3:

I am surprised that the Arabs are racing to commit to melee.  This could be influenced by the game proceeding, where after over 3 hours it was a tie game.  I don't think this one will go the distance.

The stakes come out, as missiles continue to be exchanged.

Clans Ramsay and McFee charge, running off the Omani Javelinmen.

Irish Nobles charge as well, running off the Omani Lights.

Two Camels have run the gap, but now what?

Larry tries a couple of rallies, but both fail.

Darryl's Battle of Infantry is spread out.  Probably not a good thing.

Darryl's forces on the hill are about to be sorely tested.

The Arabs launch their assault.  Irish Light Horse dutifully flee, leaving a unit of Kerns to defend the fortifications.

The Arab left flank is still having command point problems.

The Longbow lose badly, but the Irish Lights hold their own.

The Galloglaich sneak behind the line of Camels preventing their escape.  Clan O'Lyre charges, with support, but loses the die roll for another cohesion level.

Omani foot accepts combat.  Billmen take a hit, another combat is a tie.  But a third fight against Galloglaich leads to 2 hits.

The Anglo-Irish have reserves to add to this fight.

Turn 4:

In come the reserves, smashing an Omani infantry. 

The Kerns at the barricades have their flank turned, but still hold on.

Patiently, the Arab Camelry move around the hill. 

With a great ululation, Arab foot race up the hill, reaping through the brush and Irish like scythe cutting grass.

On the turn of contact, the hill is lost.  But how long can the position delay?

Turn 5:

Darryl attempts to buy another turn.  The stakes come out, but the rally fails.

The Kerns at the barricades still hold on.  The barricades are not offering any defense here, this has just been lucky dice.  The Arab foot on the left is flanked by Longbow and destroyed.

The Arab center has collapsed, with 5 units destroyed.  The Knights are wondering where to go?  While this is all well and good, remember the best General the Irish have is "Competent", and here Darryl here has 7 groups to command.

On the Irish left, Darryl is facing much grief.  Many units damaged, to only one Arab Camel unit destroyed.

Arab Camels run down a Kern Light Foot, and turn the flank of the Galloglaich line.

But their own flank is also turned.

Back on the Irish right, the last Longbow is shot away.  Two Light Camels sneak past the to threaten the camp.

In an amazing display of die rolling, the flanked Kerns manage to destroy their frontal foes!

Turn 6:

To deal with the flanking Light Camels, an Irish Light Horse is pulled up.

More camels are killed, while in the distance, Longbows are also scoring points.

The Irish Nobles have pursued, caught, and pursued again.  Only an Omani Light Foot and being out of command is saving the Omani Camp.

English Knights, late for the party, have no dance partners to punch their card.

Our brave Kerns have finally fallen.  They did their job well as Darryl's Battle of Infantry is now forming up to face the Omani Horde.

Darryl, his command reduced to nothing, moves his hardest to safety, but not enough, and he is captured.

Off in the distance, The Battle of Cavalry is being surrounded.  But help is coming.  At least 3 units of Galloglaich and 2 troops of Knights are heading their way.

A better view of the situation.

Facing the both the clock and a rapidly reforming infantry line, the Omani throw themselves at the Irish line.  The results are mixed.  Another Longbow unit is killed, but so to an Omani Foot unit. 

Final shot.

At this point the Anglo-Irish was pushed well over it's demoralization level of 30 to 33.  A close game as the Omani were setting at 27.

Lesson learned.  I have been running Fortifications with Light Foot defending them.  This is allowed, but, Light Foot does not receive the +1 defense bonus for the Fortification.