Sunday 24 February 2008

BBDBA 'Ain Jalut' - Mongols vs Mamluks

A BBDBA refight of 'Ain Jalut', where the empires of the Mongols & Mamluks clashed in Syria. This was a mass scrap of Horseman with the Mamluks having a few Foot Troops. Jack would play the part of the Mamluk commander 'Baibars', while I'd be the Mongols commanded by 'Ketboga'. Historically this was a win for the Mamluks & in doing so threw back the Mongols from a possible invasion of the Holy Land & North Africa.

The inspiration for this came from the 'Crusades' issue (#13) of Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy. The fantastic Spanish Wargame Magazine. The Terrain was just to be a flat plain, with Hills in one corner & a river on the other flank. Historically the Mamluks attacked from the South.
In our game the setup is the reverse.

BBDBA Army Lists

IV/35 Mongol Conquest 1206-1461
3x3Cv(Gen), 6x3Cv, 27x2LH

IV/45 Mamluk Egyptian, 1250-1517
3x3Cv(Gen), 18x3Cv, 6x2LH, 3x3Aux, 3x2Ps, 3x7Hd

Intial Setup & directions of attack


Mongol Attack from across the battlefield


Mongol Light Horse race into action


An impressive sight, 7 elements of Mongol Cavalry in the centre.......


....up against 18 Mamluk Cavalry elements. hhhmmmmmm....


Screaming Mamluks up close


Mamluk Foot, 3 Hordes , 2 Auxillia & 3 Psiloi. General at the Back.
This meagre bunch formed Jacks Left Flank


The Mamluk Juggernaut, view from Jacks side


Good Pips & the Mongol light Horse close the distance.
The plan was to take both Flanks & encircle the centre.


In a move that takes me by suprise. Jacks Mamluks split ino an 'arrowhead'
Eh I'm dumbstruck....What's he been reading?


View from the Mongol Left, suddenly they're in danger.


Nice view of the Mamluks Centre


The attack on the Mongol right stalls when 2 Light Horse Flee from combat.


Some Mongols make it to the edge of the board, but they are held by the Mamluk Psiloi.


Nice shot of the Mamluk Cavalry as it smashes into the Mongols


It's a big scrap but eventually numbers count, the Mamluks force back the Mongols.


Success on the left, Mongol Light Horse capture the Mamluk camp.


However also on my left flank it's Mongol Light Horse vs Mamluk Cavalry.


Again Mamluk numbers count, the Mongol Left then breaks.


The Mamluk General enters the combat on the right.


It's no good... Mamluk Cavalry swarm General Ketboga


The Mongol right is broken, Light Horse Flee from the field.


Jack is unusually bloodthirsty & offers no quarter. He goes for the complete destruction of the Mongols. With General Ketboga slain & the final Mongol command broken, the game ends.


Final view of the field from the Mongol Left,


Just like the Historical outcome, the Mamluks win in our version too.
I didn't like the look of this one from the start. 18 Mamluk Cavalry elements
was a lot to overcome. While the Mongol Light Horse got forward quick
enough, they just lacked the offensive punch when it came to combat.
Suddenly Mongol losses began to mount & Jack took great delight in
slaughtering fleeing elements.

Saturday 23 February 2008

III/73 Seljuk Turk(a) Rum 1200-1243AD

The strongest of the Seljuk states was the Sultanate of Rum (pronounced Rome) which had its capital at Iconium (Konya). At it's height the Sultanate held a vast area of Anatolia. Not suprisingly it's a horsemans army, with half the elements being Light Horse.

III/73 Seljuk Turk(a) Rum 1200-1243AD
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x3Cv, 1x3Kn, 6x2Lh, 1x4Sp, 1x3Bw or 2Ps, 1x2Ps or 3Bw or 3Ax

Seljuks of Rum




Spear, Bow, Psiloi & auxillia


Light Horse


Cavalry, General & Knight (Khwarizmian Allies)

Friday 22 February 2008

III/73 Seljuk Turk(b) 1037-1276AD















The Seljuks that rose to domination in the Middle Ages. They defended the Islamic world against the Crusaders, and conquered large parts of the Byzantine Empire. They also provided a barrier between Europe and the raiding Mongols. Very heavy on Light Horse, this list is meant to represent the other tribes not part of Rum.

III/73 Seljuk Turk(b) Others
1x3Cv(Gen), 1x3Cv or 2Lh, 8x2Lh, 1x2Ps or 3Bw or 3Ax or 2Lh, 1x2Ps or 3Bw or 3Ax or 2Lh


The Seljuks!




8 Light Horse Elements!


Seljuk Options - Psiloi, Auxillia, Bow & Light Horse


Seljuk General & Cavalry

IV/13 Medieval German(b) 1236-1450AD



Achtung Baby!
Here's our second set of Medieval Germans. This list covers
just over 200 years so we've added a few later looking Knights. The list
is pretty similar to the earlier Germans, the main difference being the size
of the Knight elements.

IV/13 Medieval German (b) 1236-1450AD
1x3Kn(Gen), 1x3Kn, 2x6Kn, 1x4Bd, 1x4Cb, 2x4Sp, 2x3Ax or 4Sp or 4Pk, 2x2Ps

The Germans ready for action





6Kn Elements



3Kn Elements


German Knight General


Lots of colourful German Spears


German Pike Elements


Psiloi in the foreground, Auxillia & Crossbow in the rear

Tuesday 19 February 2008

BBDBA Early Imperial Romans

Early Imperial Romans with extra options. I would probably go with extra Cavalry.
We class these as 'Eastern' Romans. We have another BBDBA Roman Army based
on a 'Western' theme. Roman Civil War coming soon!







DBA II/56 Early Imperial Roman 25BC-197AD

The mighty Early Imperial Romans! Still heavy on the Blades but with an equal number of Auxillia to deal with those 'orrible' Warbands. We have more Early Imperial Romans than
any other DBA armies.

II/56 Early Imperial Roman 25BC-197AD
1x3Cv or 4Bd(Gen), 1x3Cv, 1x3Cv or 2Lh or 4Bw or 2Ps, 4x4Bd, 4x4Ax, 1xArt

Roman Army all options




Blades & Auxillia


General & Cavalry
Allied Psiloi & Light Horse
Roman Artillery & Syrian Bowmen
Roman Generals - Cavalry & Blade
Roman Blade General up close