Ilipa 206BC Society of Ancients Battle Day

This year's SOA Battle Day is Ilipa206BC will be about a dozen games all re fighting this battle with different rules forum members welcome to join in.
We play tested this game at Cavalier 2024 the scenario adjustments seemed to work well. Managed to play it twice a win to both sides.

The date for the above is Sunday 24th March so not much notice.

Good support for this event about 12 games all putting on the same battle with different rules. Normally at shows our historical refights are between 600/700 points but owing to lack of Spanish troops we scaled it down to 450 points approx. We had intended to play it twice but as we had good support from other SOA members wanting to join in we dropped out and helped others play the game so played it once.
BACKGROUND
This clash of arms took place in southern Spain in the vicinity of Seville. The Punic army being commanded by Hasdrubal and the Romans by Scipio. Hasdrubal deployed early in the day in the same order as he had done over the past few days with his Libyan spearmen in the centre with his Spanish allies and mounted troops on both wings. Scipio's dawn advance not only denied the Carthaginians their breakfast but also concealed until it was to late that he had shifted his legionaries to each flank with the centre now consisting of Spanish allied foot. Polybius states that by use of complex manoeuvres Scipio was able to extend his wings to match or exceed the enemies in spite of there superior numbers. The Romans attacked with their wings holding back their weaker centre and carried the day.
THE ARMIES
in brief Polybius gives a figure of 45000 for the Roman foot. the figures from various sources for the Carthaginians range from 45000/70000. The quality of the generals played a significant roll in the battle. We classed Hasdrubal as Average and his to sub generals as Poor, seemed reasonable taking into account poor deployment and performance. Scipio was classed as a Genius and his 2 sub generals as average.

Will post further on photo's of both army lists but in brief they consisted of:-
Romans (Command Good)
Centre 4 units of Spanish (FP) supported by skirmishers
Both Wings 2 LU's of legionaries (FP), Velites and 2 Cav (CM)
Carthaginians (Command Average)
Centre 3 LU'S of Libyian (FP) supported by skirmishers
Both Wings 4 units Spanish Scutari (FL) (PBW), Elephant, skirmish unit
one supported by unit of Cav (CM) the other LC (javelin)

SCENARIO RULE ADJUSTMENTS
To represent the reported fatigue of the Carthaginians due to lack of breakfast and standing most of the day all march moves to suffer an extra -1 DT modifier
We wanted to make the Carthaginian army marginally stronger so classed the VD of the elephants as 0.

Will Post shortly
BATTLE REPORT

PHOTO 1 Above
Deployment
On the right the Romans, the near flank consisting of 2 LU's of legionaries, velites and 2 roman (CM), the centre 4 units of Spanish (FP) plus skirmishers, the right flank commanded by Scipio identical to left flank except Spanish (CM) instead of roman.
On the left the Carthaginians the near command consisting of 4 single units of Spanish (FL)(PBW) but 2 deep with elephant and skirmishers in front flanked by a unit of Spanish (CM). in the centre 3 LU's of Libyian Spearmen with skirmishers in front, left flank identical to the right flank except CL instead of CM.

PHOTO 2 TAKEN AFER 3RD MOVE
The near Carthaginian right flank rolled a double 1 on its 1st move so went down to incompetent then rolled doubles on its 2nd and 3rd moves so was unable to move for 3 turns leaving the Roman left flank to advance unhindered.
The roman Centre, the single rank of Spanish allies advanced at a slower pace to protect the inner flanks of the roman legionaries advancing on both flanks.
In the Carhaginian center the left LU of Libyan spearman wheeled to the left to attack the roman legionaries but were repulsed with losses.
At the top of the picture you can see the elephant engaged in combat with the legionaries drawn combat both incurring losses.
At the very top the 2 roman allied Spanish cavalry charged the carthaginian LC and although they successfully evaded 3 times the attacking cavalry were luckier and caught them. Initially th LC were lucky as the cavalry failed to hit with 8 dice but on their activation were destroyed on a CT roll of 6.

PHOTO 3 TAKEN AFTER4TH MOVE
At last the incompetent Carthiginian right flank successfully activated, the FL and CM pulled back a little to avoid potential damage from their elephant which charged the roman legionaries but was repulsed with loss.
In the centre Hasdrabul attacked the roman allied Spanish FP with 2 LU's if Libyan spearman the near Unit being repulsed. The 3rd Libyan LU attacked the legionaries again and was again repulsed with loss of its rear rank.
At the top of the picture the Carthaginian FL get our of the way of their elephant and one of the FL about faced to protect against possible attack by enemy to their rear.
The solitary cavalry figure at top of photo is Scipio moving across to help rally his 2 cavalry units on the enemy table edge.

PHOTO 4 TAKEN AFTER 5TH MOVE
Elephants on both flanks destroyed but damage the legionaries.
Carthagian RF cavalry move our to face roman cavalry.
Hasdrabul preserves with his attack in centre losing rear rank of one LU of Libyan spearman. Losses on both sides.
At the top of the picture Carthiginian FL engage legionaries both taking losses. The FL that had previously about faced and advanced on one the enemy cavalry on there baseline was charged by the cavalry and after taking loses from PBW and 2 rounds of melee the cavalry were destroyed, unlucky CT's.

PHOTO 5 TAKEN AFTER TURN 6
The table is now looking decidedly thin.
On the RF the carthaginian cavalry with attached general were both destroyed in combat against the roman cavalry. One of the FL units and a roman FP rear rank were destroyed leaving 1 FL unit still in contact and 2 FL in reserve.
In the centre the roman spanish allies were destroyed but damaged the Libyan spearman severely.
At the top of the page the Carhaginian FL still engaged in combat with roman legionaries both taking further losses.
The LF Carthaginian general attached to a FL unit successfully march moved 3 times to catch in the rear the remaining CM unit in the rear a lucky CT roll of 1 saved the cavalry from destruction.
Situation after Turn 6
Roman - centre picked up
RF on a third losses
Carthaginian - centre and RF both on a
third losses
Note
If the rear attack had succeeded in destroying the cavalry that would have been sufficient to take out Scipio's command and with other loses the roman army would have been beaten

The carthaginian RF on a third also had its general killed so no units of that command can be activated.

PHOTO 6 TAKEN AFTER FINAL MOVE 7
If you enlarge this picture at the top left you can see more clearly the Carthaginian FL unit with attached general attacking the rear of remaining cavalry unit. The 1st round of combat both sides failed to hit so each took a disordering casualty and after the 2nd round of combat the cavalry CT was 1 so just took another disordering hit taking its accummulated loses up to 4 so survived by the narrowest of margins.

The Carthaginian RF was on a third loses and as there general was destroyed the previous turn none of there units could be activated so we're sitting ducks. The roman cavalry units attacked the FL but were repulsed with the loss of one of the units. The FL that was in contact with the roman legionaries was destroyed which took out that command and with the loses in the other commands the army was beaten so the victory to the Romans by the narrowest of margins.
Romans so lucky could have lost the battle the previous turn or a draw this turn if rear attack succesful, that's the way it goes sometimes.

Great! Thank you for sharing.