Alexanders Successors - Demetrios Poliorketes Vs Seleucus

Yesterday the boys from the 'Lonely Gamers' club put on a great little Successors battle, using WAB Successors supplement (still yet to be published). The army sizes were 4997pts for the Seleucid Early Successor Army and 4975pts for the Demetrios's Antigonid Early Successor Army. Players were Myself and Jeff on the Antigonid side and Leroy and John Williams on the Seleucid side.

Demetrios's battleline his right anchored by the fortified camp.

Seleucus's battleline with his strong left flank - three units of cavalry, two elephants and his Hypaspists formed as light infantry.

The scenario was roughly based of one of the many small battles Demetrios had against the growing power of Seleucus. One side fighting to regain lost ground and Babylon, for his father and the other trying to regain and build his own empire. The battlefield was set up so that each army had their own fortified camp to hold and defend from the other and with numerous area of rough ground, just to slow down the pike and force the army commanders to think of better ways to combat the other.

The only cavalry unit on Seleucus's right flank was a unit of Skythians (Tin Soldier).

Tarentine light cavalry (Navigator Miniatures) fighting for the Antigonid Army.

The Antigonid battle plan was to move forward the pike blocks in the centre hopefully stopping and holding the Seleucid pike in place, then advance on the left with light cavalry and infantry hoping to turn his left. On the Antigonid right defence was based on the fortified camp and two cavalry units plus the Hypaspists (formed up in a Phalanx).

Seleucid pike guard their fortified camp.

A fantastic center piece for John's collection. Not sure who painted these figures but the dying elephant looks great.

The massed Seleucid cavalry on the their left flank. Forward of them and not pictured are two elephants and Thracian light infantry. Seleucus is the single mounted figure behind them.

The Seleucid plan was also very simple -hold with the infantry all along the front, refusing the right and then with all the most of the cavalry, elephants and light infantry attack on the left, take the Antigonid camp and then sweep around the flank of their army and cutting them off from retreat.

Seleucus's Thracians are charged and then defeat Demetrios's Arab camel riders.

'The thin red line'. Antigonid veterans and regulars advance towards the Seleucid pike.

The Seleucid battleline advance to meet them.

Both plans work well from much of the game, however the Seleucids failed to take the camp and then in a head on charge both commanders attacked each other. Seleucus companions broke and routed. Demetrios pursued and rode him down. The Seleucid army soon gave up the fight and the Antigonos regained his kingdom.

A view from the Antigonid camp.

Figures used were a mix of A&A, Old Glory, Vendel and Foundry Miniatures. All figures used were from John Maguires and my collections. I have also been busy making up some desert terrain since last time I used this mat I did not have any and got in trouble from one of the boys.

Perry Miniatures - Ashigaru and Peasants

The two units pictures are the latest figures painted by Leroy Simpson, for his Samurai Army collection. All figures are from Perry Miniatures except two 1st Corps figures which are mixed in with the peasants. Again as you can see he has done a fantisic job. Anyway we are planning to have a game soon so that you can see his whole army on the table. Enjoy.

Leroys' latest Ashigaru unit.

Perry Peasants pictured below.

THE CANADIAN PUSH ON CARPIQUET AIRFIELD 1944 - Flames of War

This little game was borrowed from the Rapid Fire Scenarios, available on their web page, however John changed it a little so to be used for Flames of War. Basically all he did was drop the companies sizes down to platoons and made the SS companies only two platoons instead of three. This way it evened up the game a bit more. Plus he9 also changed a couple of vehicles, but nothing to drastic.

Stuarts of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers led the way.

Followed by C Company of the North Nova Scothia Highlanders.

Historically the battle started at 0745 hours on 7th June 1944 the Canadian 9th Infantry Brigade resumed their push inland from Juno Beach. The Stuart tanks of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers led the way followed by C Company of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. The other three companies of Highlanders followed, riding on the Sherbrooke Fusiliers’ Shermans. Unknown to the Canadians they had run straight into elements of the newly arrived 12th (Hitlerjugend) SS Panzer Division. And that is where our battle started.

The young soldiers of the 12th SS wait in ambush.

Players for the Canadians were Peter, Julian and Terry. All were novices to the game and had only played a few games. However with four platoons of infantry, twenty tanks and numerous bren gun carriers against the Germans (Germans were played by myself and Jeff. John ran the game) with only four platoon and nine tanks, one would think they had the upper hand.

German armour opens fire on the Allied armour.

Allied armour falls prey to the German tanks and artillery.

They spread out and try a flanking move.

Infantry dismount from the Shermans and into the cover of the hedgerows.

Slowly the Canadians advance forward.

But that was not the case. In the scenario the 12th SS had to hold their fire until the third turn and by this stage the allies where still grouping their armour along the road. Then when the Germans called in artillery support all hell was let loose. M10 tank destroyers were destroyed, bren gun carriers went up in smoke and jeeps disintegrated. Then when the allies tried to advance around the flank they ran into another company of 12th SS in ambush. Thanks were smoking everywhere by the fifth turn.

But unbeknown to the Allies a second German ambush has been set and they walk straight into it.

12th SS infantry and tanks counter attack onto the Allied flank.

Allied armour lies destroyed everywhere and the infantry are own their own.

By about the eighth turn all allied armour was either destroyed or had been removed from play, after failing their moral. The Germans on the other hand had only lost three out nine tanks on the table and still had a great number of infantry and support units left. John then took over command of the Canadians and advanced with the infantry. The advance was devastating and showed us all how to use infantry in close country well. One platoon on these buggers managed to destroy two SS platoons and some support weapons and then contest the objective in the last turn. Thanks John we was winning before that.

With their armour support gone and regardless to the Germans closing in on their flank the infantry still push forward to the take the objective.

German Command Post

Anyway it was a great game and if we were to play it again we might consider giving the Allies some air cover. Enjoy the shots.

Great for the anti-infantry roll.

Vinnie