2445BC Battle of UR

 Balulu the victorious leader of Larsa City now approaches the famous city of UR.

UR

I'll be filling in for the UR General Mesannepada. 

UR has 3 Regiments of Spear, one company of Bow and one company of Javelins.

This is reinforced by 2 Regiments of Spear and a company of Bow under Captain Elulu.

Larsa

Larsa is led by General Balulu 

Chariot sqdn, 3 Spear Regiments, 2 companies of Bow

Reinforced by a Chariot sqdn, 2 Regiments of Spear under Capt. Isbi

The Scenario

Neil Thomas's "Melee".

Theres a hill in the centre of the table and that is the sole objective. 

Ive added (as I always do) random terrain in zones that his map leaves bare.

Turn 1

UR is the obvious defender, and I have used  

Captain Elulu and his men as the initial defenders of the hill.

UR reinforcements on turns 3 and 5.

Larsa reinforcements on Turns 4 and 6

Please note I got over excited during the game and 

the reinforcements all arrived one turn late. 😀  

 Capt. Elulu with 1 Bow company, 2 Spear regiments 

get ready to defend the Hill and Objective.

Larsa sends Capt. Isbi and his force as the vanguard.

 A Chariot sqdn and 2 Regiments of Spear.  

The chariots out flank the position while peppering the Ur troops with javelins.

The UR Black flag Spears counter by refusing the flank.

The Chariots, full of Nobels, can't help themselves and charge up the hill. 

There are many casualties on both sides, but Chariots get the worst of it.

They take 5 casualties and are Shaken losing another during the recoil.

The Bow manage a hit! A big moment for this UR army. 😀

A general engagement of spears on the hill with a regiment winning each way. 

General Mesannepada arrives, a turn late, with the first UR reinforcements.

2 spear and a bow 

Big moment that affects the rest of the battle.

The Larsa Regiment manages to rout the Black Spear.

They also capture the Objective.

My bowmen sneak around and shoot the unshielded Larsa Spear from point blank range.

Managing zero casualties. 😄

The Nobels in the battle cars manage to rally.

But have suffered many casualties.

The mighty Blue Spear manage to pass their test and turn to face 

the enemy attempting to charge their flank.

They top this off by winning and becoming the sole occupiers of the hill.

The light Blue Larsa Regiment finally breaks and runs.

The race between the reinforcements is on.

Now it's all about gaining the initiative.

An even battle is won comfortably by The Larsa Regiment.

This may have great repercussions. 

It could not only lead to the defeat of the UR spear but also protect 

a number of mauled Larsa Regiments in reserve.

Meanwhile on the same left flank.

I have cunningly managed to get my javelin men in position to 

engage the Larsa Bow with close combat in the woods.

I'm confident this will lead to a glorious flanking move.

The javelinmen are fresh, with greater numbers and have better weapons for the close action.

The Larsa Bowmen put up a spirited defence and repel the Javelinmen.  

A disaster.

The UR Bow attempt to whittle down the Green Spear strength before they engage 

the UR Red spear again, but they block the arrows with their shields.

Surrounded, the UR Blue regiment can do no more, breaks and leaves the hill.

It's now up to the UR Green Regiment now to hold.

The UR Red Regiment is worn down to nothing and breaks.

The Green UR Regiment manages to strike the Larsa Red in the flank and disorder them.

Meanwhile the UR Bow surround them desperate to get the telling casualties to make them run.

And, oh my goodness, they do!

Suddenly it's really only the Larsa Chariots and the Green UR Regiment 

left to decide the Battle on this last turn.

Well, the Red Chariots were fresh and managed to win but not by enough 

and turn 12 finishes with UR still in possession of the Objective.

A most Pyric victory, if ever there was. 

Won by a losing Spear regiment recoiling onto the objective.

On turn 12.

While most of his army has fled or is fleeing the field. But at least UR is now safe. 

This was the biggest and bloodiest battle of the campaign so far 

with 17 units starting and only 9 surviving in any condition to continue.

 

Battle of Bir'a 2446BC

 The village of Bir'a lies halfway between Eridu and UR and it's there that the armies of Larsa and UR meet. Balulu, Ensi of Larsa, is full of confidence and has managed to conscript a well-balanced Army of One chariot Regiment, 3 Spear Regiments and 2 Skirmisher companies armed with Bow. 

I'm playing as Mesannepada of UR and have a slightly inferiour Army of 3 Spear Regiments, 2 Skirmisher companies using Javelins and 1 Bow armed Skirmisher company. 

Not using a Scenario for this battle, but instead my random Terrain chart plus 4 objectives.

One in the wooded area, one on each hill and one in the village of Bir'a.

There is the normal 2-hour limit. 

As per my solo rules I deployed and gave orders before the enemy is revealed.

The Javelin company on the right have occupied the village of Bir'a 

(yay one objective to me) with orders to defend it using skirmishing.

The other Javelins took the left flank with orders to capture the objective in the woods.

The Spears and Bows lined up to advance and capture the central hill.

However, Balulu had a few surprises. 

He assigned one of his Bow to capture the left Hill and then advance on Bir'a Village.

So, half the objectives for one Company of Bows.

He sent a Spear Regiment through the woods and then to out flank the central Hill. 

The Chariots, 2 Spear and the other Bow to capture the central Hill.

Larsa captures the first two objectives.

I feel like I might have a chance here and advance full speed towards the Hill.

The initial skirmishing is pretty even. Though Larsa does capture the objective.

But, as is his habit, Balulu managed to win the critical initiative.

His bow inflicts many casualties on my skirmishers. And his Spear climb the heights. 

In the background you can see the chariots peppering my left flank Spear with Javelins.  

With a "rush of blood" I charged up the hill at the enemy Spear.

Knowing they had the tactical advantage, but hoping Elan would make up for it.

I lost 4 to 1. A disaster.

Things suddenly look pretty bad with half the Army retiring Shaken.

The battered left-wing Spear manage to repel the enemy Chariots

and regain some order. Perhaps there is a small chance of recovery.

If the other Spear on the hill can win, if the javelins on the wings can hold out....

The Larsa Bow advance on Bir'a and inflict wounds on the defending javelins,

who rush out to close range where the bows now reduce them to half strength. 

Oh no.

My last hope. The Spear on the Hill can only manage a very bloody draw.

That was my last chance and I conceded. 

Game time 1hour.

Sumer Campaign Update 2446BC

 2446BC

Balulu of Larsa, flush with both success and Gold and having reduced His 

enemy Eridu to a Trading partner 

now has one more enemy left, the mighty City of UR. So Balulu raises his Army and marches east. 

Balulu makes no secret of it and Mesannepada of UR has plenty of time to recruit an Army to meet him.

They face off at the village of Bir'a

UR is a mighty City but Larsa has nearly twice the Gold reserves. So, I will play as UR.

Having managed to lose as both Umma and Eridu so far so let's hope I can do better for UR.

Battle of Mas

The army has retreated to the village of Mas just before Eridu City.

The Eridu army consists of 3 Spear Regiments, 2 companies of Bow Skirmishers 

and 2 Companies of Javelin Skirmishers.

The Scenario

There are two Objectives. One on the wooded hill to the southwest and one in the village of Mas.

I placed 2 javelin and a Bow on the hill and a Bow and the three Spear in the village.

Orders for all but the northern Bow is hold. The Bows order is to advance and engage. 

All forces are Rep 2.

Larsa Army is then deployed as below. I changed from the usual random deployment 

according to type because of this scenario.

Right flank is one Spear. Center skirmishers with bows and 3 Spear.

Left flank is one Spear and a Regiment of Guards with Two handed axes.

All are Rep 2 except the Guards Rep 3.

The center Eridu Bow advance to meet the enemy.

The Larsa forces move out.

The Right-wing Spear become disordered moving through the difficult terrain.

 

The bow on both sides exchange arrows at long range. 

They all miss!

The defenders rain arrows and javelins down on the advancing Heavy infantry.

I think the Spear on the left have already taken some casualties. 

The Larsa Centre is starting to open out into line.

The Spear have now taken 3 casualties

The bows advance to point blank and finally someone gets a hit!

Ensi Balulu keeps his Spear out of the disordering soft ground as they reach halfway.

Taking plenty of casualties and becoming Disordered the Spear still manage to 

chase the javelin skirmishes from the field.

Finding evasion too difficult the bowmen manage to evict the Larsa Guard from the hill!

The Bow then turn their attentions to the vulnerable Spear.

This leaves the javelin skirmishes to deal with the Guards. 

Which they fail to do.

The Guard easily deal with the skirmishers.

Meanwhile the Spear turn the tables on the bow. 

The Javelins manage the miracle Moral save!

The Bow have proved to be the equal of the disordered and battered Spear.

The Guard have routed the last of the Javelin. 

Under half strength, Disordered, Shaken, the Spear refuse to run

The Guard and the Bow are now facing off for the final show down for the Hill.

Both are Disordered but the Guard have taken many more casualties. 5 to 1

Just as things have become climactic down at the hill the Larsa main force has attacked the village.

They win both melees and with such little room the second  Eridu Spear routs. 

This effectively ends the Eridu defence of the village and the battle. 

I used my own rules, Two-Hour Ancients, for this game 

and they gave me a very enjoyable afternoon.

With the exception of the instant, one turn loss that is. 

This wraps it up for the Eridu resistance to the Larsa attack. 

I diced for the surrender conditions and

 Eridu must now act as an ally of Larsa.