Rome vs. Carthage 1200 Point Armies

Well, I was able to finish up the last of my Carthaginians. It was time to get them all on the table to face my six legions of Romans. Each army was made up of about 1230 points. That is about 750 figures on the table. The Carthaginians would be supported by a divisions from Gaul, Spain and Numidia. Turn One: Carthage won the initiative. The Spaniards were ordered to advance and did so enthusiastically (three moves forward). They drew first blood when their skirmishers’ ranged fire inflicted one casualty on each unit of velites. The Gauls, on the other hand, refused their orders to advance. On the Carthaginian left, the division of Libyan spearmen advanced six inches forward. The rest of the line was held back to await developments. On their initiative, Legio I advanced to secure the crest of the high ground in front of them. The skirmishers of II Alae moved into the woods in front of them. On the left, the commander of Legio II ordered his Velites to charge the Spanish lights. One group was successful in driving back their counterparts while the second group lost and fled the field. Turn Two: Again, the Carthaginians won the initiative. On the right, Hannibal sent forward his skirmishers to drive back the velites of I Alae. One group won and the other lost and fled the field. In the center, the Gauls and a division of veterans advanced one move towards the Roman line. On the left, the Libyan spearmen charged up the hill with their elephants in the lead. They were able to drive back the elite Legio I.

The cavalry of I Alae send their cavalry forward to drive back Hannibal’s skirmish line. Legio III moves forward to occupy the crest of the hill to their front. Legio I pushes back the Libyan phalanxes and destroys an elephant in the process. Their cavalry, however, are driven back even further by a group of citizen spearmen supported by some skirmishers.

Turn 3: The Romans won the initiative on this turn. On their left, poor command rolls would hamper their efforts. Nonetheless, they were able to take down some Spaniards with their pila. On the right, Legio I destroys another elephant, but the contest there is gridlocked. The Legio I cavalry is driven from the field by the heroic citizen infantry.

On their initiative, the Spaniards charged forth to engage the hastati before them but were unable to drive them back. The Gauls sent forth their skirmishers and destroyed a group of velites from IV Legio. The veteran division also moved forward. An elephant came into range of a unit of hastait. With one shot it rolled a six. The unit was able to save the casualty but still had to take a break test resulting in a “3”. This forced them back disordered through the principes supporting them. The Libyan spearmen remained locked in battle with Legio I, but was able to rout a unit of principes.

Turn 4: Once again, poor command rolls would continue to plague the Romans. II Legio tried to drive back the plucky Spaniards, but only one unit of principes went forward into contact. They were able to drive back some Spanish horsemen. Legio IV. rolled a “10” and did nothing at all which would prove to have significant consequences. On the right II Alae moved to its right to form a second line behind the hard-pressed Legio I. This was fortuitous as in the continuing mele in front of them a unit of principes is destroyed in front of them and they are in place to challenge the Carthaginian breakthrough. A unit of principes charges the troublesome elephant to their front, drives it back behind the Carthaginian line and continues forward into a unit of citizen spearmen.

In their initiative, on their left, the assault of the Libyan spearmen is losing steam. II Alae is able to check their charge on the ridge and the stalemate of the other phalanx continues. The veterans are able to halt the charge of the Legio III principes. The biggest event of this turn was the ferocious charge of the Gallic warbands upon Legio IV. Two units were crushed, two more driven back disordered. Only the cavalry was able to withstand the onslaught, but only barely. On the extreme right, Hannibal finally puts his division of veterans into motion sensing the Roman line is beginning to break. He still has two divisions of cavalry to commit to the battle.

At this point, the Romans are in a tough situation. Two legions are close to breaking point and they have no reserves. The Carthaginians, on the other hand, have three divisions that have yet to be committed to the battle. Their lack of cavalry will prove to be a great challenge in the closing turns.