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Saturday 24 September 2011

Hail Caesar Scenario - Hastings 1066

The Opposing Forces

Anglo-Danish

King Harold II (CV8, 2 Attacks)
  • Huscarl Units x2
  • Fyrd Units x2
  • Light Archers x1
Right Wing Commander (CV8, 1 attack)
  • Combined Fyrd and Greater Fyrd Units (Large) x2
  • Combined Fyrd and Greater Fyrd Unit x2
  • Slingers x1
Left Wing Commander (CV8, 1 attack)
  • Fyrd Unit (Large) x1
  • Fyrd Unit x2
  • Javelin Skirmishers x1
Norman

Duke William II of Normandy (CV8, 2 attacks)
  • Mounted Milites x4
  • Dismounted Milites x2
  • Archers x1
  • Crossbowmen x1
Breton Sub Commander (CV8, 1 attack)
  • French Cavalry x2
  • Spear unit x1
  • Light Archers x1
  • Lt Crossbowmen x1
French Sub Commander (CV8, 1 attack)

  • French Cavalry x2
  • Spear unit x1
  • Light Archers x1
  • Lt Crossbowmen x1
Anglo-Danish and Norman Troop Types
The specific troop types are listed on the Hail Caesar Yahoo Group

Set up

Scenario notes:
The game was played scaling down distances in the HC rulebook by 50% on a 4x4 table.
King Harold's Forces hold Senlac Ridge whilst Duke William's forces set up between the marsh and Telham Hill. William's forces take the first turn.

Early turns
The game got off to a slowish pace with lots of single Division order moves and a fair share of command blunders.

Harold's forces quickly established a menacing shieldwall atop Senlac Ridge hurling Saxon insults towards Williams tardy troops. Only the Breton commander seemed to want to fight, his wing moving to within archery distance before most of the Norman Army had crossed the start line.



The Breton Commanders wing pushes skirmishers forward trying to tempt a Saxon charge


A savage close quarters combat ensues, Saxon and Breton casualties begin to mount.


The young Saxon Commander (who we shall call Ancenned) leads from the front. His presence swings the action in the favour of Harold's forces.



The Breton Command breaks and the Norman main force is still lagging way behind. If young Ancenned can rally some of his shaken units the Shieldwal may be able to be reformed before another Norman Assault.


William's forces (centre) and French sub command (right) slowly come within archery range of the ridge, but with a division broken the battle hangs in the balance.


William's Knights crash into the battle weary Saxon right flank. Can Ancenned hold out?


With their commanders attention elsewhere in the battleline, the saxon flank finally folds under repeated assault from the Norman Knights.



All along Senlac Ridge vicious hand to hand combat ensues and a hard-pressed saxon line beguns to buckle. Only the Huscarls have any joy beating back a surge of Norman infantry.



The Saxon left flank gives out leaving Harold's centre dangerously exposed.




The end is nigh. Surrounded by Norman Knights and infantry Harold's forces capitulate.

Friday 16 September 2011

Normans in 10mm

The second installment of the Pendraken Forum - You Vote armies from my painting diary, this time Normans with Frankish and Breton Allied support. A mix of Pendraken figures and Magister Militum filling the gaps.