Weak Flank Scenario From Charles Grant's Book on Wargame Scenarios.

The Weak Flank (played 5 December 2020)

The "Weak Flank" scenario gives the defender either 1,750 or 2,000 points.  The attacker gets either 2,250 or 2,500.  Scott as the defender took 2,000 so I took 2,500 points of Belisarians.  The idea is for the attacker to come in on the weak right flank of the opponent who is focused on their enemy coming down the road in front of them.  The Sassanids took up a strong position on the hills.

 

 Scott's Sassanids deployed and ready for the Byzantine approach.

 

The Sassanid infantry deployed on the far right of their line was going to be a tough nut to crack for the Belisarians. 

 

The deployed Belisarians.

 

 One of the greatest tactical problems I faced was the fact that I had to untangle all of my cavalry. These scenarios sometimes make board space almost as great an enemy to your attack than your opponent does.

 

With Huns to the front I moved forward against the Sassanids.

One of my Kataphraktoi units had to turn to the hills to counter a bunch of Iranian horse archers. They shot up my expensive cavalry pretty well.

 

As I came forward Scott charged my leading Goth heavy cavalry & the blue Kataphraktoi in both the front & flank. Things looked grim for the Byzantines.

 

But! The superior training and weapon skill of Kataphraktoi enabled them to do some damage and their high leadership enabled them to hold their ground.

  

The Goths however were not as fortunate.....

  

Scott’s general leading a group of Clibanarii supported by a “light Clibanarii” unit pressed on my right.

 

The Goths broke & fled only be run down by the Sassanid Clibanarii w/the Army Standard. Thankfully the high leadership of the Kataphraktoi allowed them to be unaffected by the routing Goths.

   

Suddenly the Sassanids punched a hole in the center of the Byzantine army. Scott’s Clibanarii w/the Army Standard ran down the fleeing Goths!!!!

  

Meanwhile on Scott’s right flank I drove his skirmishers from the trees and, in combination w/one Hun unit destroyed them.

  

The red Kataphraktoi charged the Clibanarii w/Scott’s general while the Clibanarii w/the Army Standard crashed down on the remaining Goth heavy cavalry unit. I threw my Teapezitoi into his flank to try to break him, but no. The blue Kataphraktoi continued to hold their ground while the Skutatoi moved forward to join the melee.

  

I won the melee against Scott’s general and bounced out to avoid being hit in the side by the Sassanid infantry. Thank goodness for the Superior Byzantine Cavalry rule!

  

The Second unit of Goth heavy cavalry routed but the Trapezitoi held their ground & the Clibanarii w/the Army Standard turned to face them.

  

Scott’s “Light Clibanarii “ charged the Huns on my right flank & broke them. While the high leadership of my Kataphraktoi saved me from routing along with them, things were not looking good for the Belisarians at the end of this turn.....

 

My Skutatoi charged in to the side of the melee w/the depleted blue Kataphraktoi. 

 

 The green Clibanarii (bottom left) w/my general & army standard charged the side of Scott’s Clibanarii engaged w/ the Trapezitoi.

 

Again the red Kataphraktoi won the melee, did not break Scott’s general and bounced away to keep its flank from being exposed.

  

The Skutatoi destroyed the Iranian light cavalry & broke one of Scott’s infantry blocks. I pursued and ran them down!

 

My pursuit carried me into the open flank of his second infantry unit. By this point in the battle the tide began to turn away form the Sassanids & toward the Byzantines.

  

The battle hangs in the balance as the Belisarians claw their way back from the brink.......

 

I broke the flanked Sassanid infantry.

  

And broke the Clibanarii with the Army Standard.

  

Scott’s “Light Clibanarii” fought the red Kataphraktoi while his general’s Clibanarii prepared to meet my general and his Bucellarii.

 

General to general, Mano a Mano!!!!

  

The Belesarians came out on top & Scott’s general fled!!! 

The same turn that the Bucellarii broke the Sassanid general and his unit the red Kataphraktoi broke the light Clibanarii and Scott retired from the field. A pretty epic game that took almost four hours to play. Well worth the time invested. These armies are pretty evenly matched and provide really enjoyable games to play.