Legion and Galley: Generic Transport Fleet

Here's the latest: a transport fleet. These 4 vessels represent troop or supply transports for either side - and really stands for a much larger fleet. Each vessel will be able to carry up to 2 light infantry stands (velites) or 1 stand of any other type. 

Transport ships will have 1 strength point only. If carrying troops, they may attempt a boarding action...

As I was typing this up, I thought it just as well to add a couple more transports to allow the movement of 6-unit armies. Note, by the way, that the Populares have 8 (4 Legionary, 2 Auxilia, 1 Heavy Cavalry, and 1 Velites) and the Optimates 9 (the same plus one Light Horse) units from which to choose their 6 for battle. 

As Gaius Curio has to make the choice before leaving Capua, he has with him:
4 Legionary units @3SP = 12SP
1 Cavalry unit = 2SP
1 Velites (light infantry) = 2SP

Note that there are no separate individual command figures. They stand - and fall - with one of the legionary units, which count as 'elite'.

The army of Gaius Curio transported from Capua, via Syracuse,
to North Africa. The galley fleet escorts the transports.

As one of the early moves, the Populares Army commanded by Gaius Curio will have to be transported from Capua, via Syracuse, into North Africa. And that thought at once set me off making two more of these things. At one unit per transport, a 6-unit army may be sent off. Of course, they will be accompanied by the galley fleet...

A closer view of the 5th and 6th transport vessels. I have 
not added the swan's neck to the poop deck...

The underside of the transports will be numbered 1-6, with the idea of allocating units to ships. If ever a laden transport ship is lost at sea, we'll know which land unit went with it...

The fleet upon my 3x3 naval battle board

To be continued: Opening moves, and the (land) battle of Massilia.

Legion and Galley

 

Mark Cordone's 'Hoplite' strategic game, including as it does a naval aspect, was enough to distract me from the naval projects I had already going. It led to my building rival fleets of galleys, which might be those of historical Athens and Sparta, or perhaps of the imaginary Ionian Thalassocracy against Opforia. But, as i don't have any Greek armies, methought to translate the whole concept a few centuries and to another part of the Mediterranean Sea.

So lets have a Roman Civil War: The Optimates (the 'Best') against the Populares (supporters of the People). 

Above, the rival fleets have grown to 8 vessels apiece. The latest units are slightly larger than the original dozen. The nearer row is that of the Populares.

Red shield legionaries and 'star shield' auxiliaries and light troops of the Populares.

White shield legionaries and the green and blue shields of the light troops belong to the Optimates.

A tentative strategic map, with the Populares centred around Italy and Rome. The Optimates have armies in Africa, Spain and Gallia Narbonensus.

This little article is by way of a foreshadowing. I'll be reverting  back for the time being to my Jono's World navies for the next posting or two.

Forgotten Army Party 4: DBA Romans.

While I'm on the topic - more or less - we might as well have a bit of a look at my Airfix Romans.  Thes have been modified and organised for DBA and/or HoTT.  First of all - dust off the box lid...

...and open.  As you can see: quite a bit of modification led to this array.

Below, Legio I.  Four heavy infantry with red shields.

Legio II, White shields.  The bases have been 'flocked' with coarse sand from the beach, with baling twine scrub grass.

Below: the legions in line.  These units from the core of this Roman army.

After that, the troops got modified quite a but.  The four elements following received pin javelins and round thumb-tack slields, and so became Auxilia.  You will see that the pins have been thrust through the hands of the figures.  Then the ends were flattened into spear-points.  The shields are unpainted except for the 'bosses'

Below: blue shield velites - javelin-armed light infantry.

The velites got the same tratment as the Auxilia - pin javelins and thumbtack shield pushed through their left armes.

Roman light horseI'm not sure about the horses - they look like Atlantic horses to me, possibly from the American Civil War set.  The lower half of the riders were ACW Airfix '7th cavalry' painted as though bare-legges, with high sandals.

Roman heavy horse.

Below is my 'first attempt' as a Roman ballista.  It is rather too large for a field piece really...

... and the frame for the horse-hair torsion 'springs' for the arms of the weapon I'm considering redoing instead of the casings shown.  But overall, I wasn't too unhappy with this early attempt to scratchbuild artillery.  The handles of the windlass or winch were made from a wheel with the rim and most of the spokes removed.

The bolt is simply a short mail, or brad, with the jolt end cut off, and paper stabilising fletches added at the blunt end.  I think the guy standing at the back

Overall this army comprises:
8 elements Heavy Foot (Blades)
4 elements of Light-heavies (Auxilia)
2 elements of Velites (Psiloi)
1 element of Light Horse (Light Horse)
2 elements of Heavy horse (Cavalry)
1 element of Artillery (Artillery).
If playing HoTT, I can add a huge Roman soldier figure as Mithras, or Mars, as a 'God' figure.