Siege fails, Saracen relief force defeated
Our campaign begins with the northern-most of the Crusader armies attacking the town of Turbessel. As we were down to 2-a-side the forces were cut to 2500 and the table to 8 feet. The scenario selected for the relief force battle was Kill! So the side routing the most was the winner.
The Crusaders fielded; 4*Regt heavy cavalry, 2*Troops light cavalry, 2*Regt crossbows, 1*Horde spearmen, 1*Regt heavy warriors, 2*General. Their erstwhile Byzantine allies fielded; 2*Regt spearmen, 1*Regt bowmen, 1*Troop skirmisher, 1*Troop light cavalry, 2*Regt lance & bow cavalry, 1*General.
The Saracens mustered; 1*Horde spearmen, 1*Regt heavy spearmen, 2*Regt bowmen, 2*Troops skirmishers, 1*Regt warriors, 2*Regt cavalry, 2*Regt lance & bow cavalry, 2*Troops light cavalry, 2*Regt horse archers, 2*Regt Mamluks, and 2*General.
For this campaign we have introduced a new troop-type of Lance & Bow Cavalry to cater for the heavy cavalry used by both the Arabs and the Byzantines of this type. They are costed at 160 points for a Regiment.
Unit
|
Sp
|
Me
|
Ra
|
De
|
Att
|
Ne
|
Special
|
Lance
& Bow (Trp)
|
8
|
5+
|
5+
|
4+
|
7
|
10/12
|
Short
Bow, Nimble
|
Lance
& Bow (Regt)
|
8
|
5+
|
5+
|
4+
|
14
|
13/15
|
The Saracens deployed second and so tended to match the Crusaders unit-for-unit, with a strong infantry centre.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz8d4BGxD-BZCoc3F3-D9JWaPOS-btxBrlEjPsSZDgBs3rHPYnAs6Yh0JV7JVf_YK1S8QNWSkXgYkdszlntM_gz1WIW0cpg6JTiZw2ZGdEJ4rceRDzvJXZSeGfjclkN10VV_saCRSRXc/s400/IMG_3059.JPG) |
Saracen left |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNtxcYg9TQx25tp5Oe5lqk-tEHFcisQ97xkjKq5NO3eWFIsrnRjtGmA6FYnrZ2GIcrA4w4yMjCRWBfqmeleGC-YaZ7ij0sdvfzNAV_Mw8DyOYJR_CCovDKUo7c5D01b5YMB4CxfB9LWE/s400/IMG_3060.JPG) |
Archers hold part of the centre |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXeDHX3KOiskjvUZvC3gyjmVp4zYTF0SWdjQsSHFQMcSKDlWVwJFoKg5dFQmzwe2umFYe47uNcGkj9S1wdtEK8Cb4TevgbvmvyYvKM5m_LIzIy75yP8vWVRE5GksSg7aABeS3TwY2bes/s400/IMG_3061.JPG) |
Mamluks on the Saracen right |
The Crusaders deployed with the Byzantines on the right, supported by a unit of knights. This would be the main assault for the Christians. The centre was occupied by infantry with more knights on their left.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGgAqII1iDg2TO0An4hXC_8XwyVVCO1Kk4EkleM3v7z7Q1zbm09I65eXeisDWC3zTpao3zBc83OhLrfiih2fLAbddDKaT88RYn-lZUH4ZSpdzybTuEcS8NzJBx7U9hzocfhUjMfCMJa0/s400/IMG_3062.JPG) |
The Byzantines |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4cZYpVKMkcaLmn4-Q7e3aA3qA0GbcMC6XBrGe2qXRhZTMxhT82DMQ2-CvvcOFn-BJ3Dd2H7actN3GkL1OAf_rIwwKnP7rNU2qDKKhBxRVv8HsruYoQqIoJClztKeC8Qknzkmryk-Y5c/s400/IMG_3063.JPG) |
Crusader infantry in the centre |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Dm3wRdfTSKtN2tshcSvY3dexopNqG-Yl228YglmtZK3mzHdtIfWHZXAkd3gEdb3zok1EqUb9Kas3-2vdm3e00cy-ffm6X4ha2sEzX0m91VVJi3A2_3zeNNUK_DJy2cC2yRaHT2CPP0I/s400/IMG_3064.JPG) |
All mounted Crusader left |
The opening moves saw a slow advance by the knights and light cavalry on the Crusaders left, whilst the Byzantines focused on shooting-up the Saracens opposite them. Supported by the crossbows they quickly dispatched a couple of the mounted units opposing them
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AMNKpKKpf7moAY8IyJ0IPKkvM9g_Zw03a137ylRgnpEsoIEjsvlTA9FEHE0KbB6rMvi1nX7G_RDjJeZ0pJq-bYCXS7nZNdVq_CcwoMHJD8nMyJaFfwTEh2XNjVNKzUiBvZHRcAFFqLg/s400/IMG_3066.JPG) |
Crusader left slowly edges ahead |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfE-5d4W4ccxwJ4Y7MOPRSHlw_xW9gf9j05ozMtyazcuGLqHm79ljz6FGEviOP4OpQV18_jTC_g4D1YunaQZb_Xq2IuDcd_X7odbliD9oU_Z26QoGlzJDgC1JHd3jljsPIUp1myOZz5Nk/s400/IMG_3067.JPG) |
Byzantines focus their fire |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1rddq6bfUCLh-iyZyEXVg7Rcp54Hxth-C4RIU9OkLgVCjKs3PRaSMNT3Jt_5l2a5IdoFydwcobredjVFkpLh2gMA0lnf68gG7c4fMGbVYRciwl3i9U1QeAdvCzxlqpLokHg8qOGE82A/s400/IMG_3069.JPG) |
Looking good for the eastern Christians. |
Whilst the Byzantines made good progress on the right, their Crusader allies became involved in a charge / counter charge battle with the main Saracen cavalry force. Things swung to-and-fro with honours pretty even and the Saracens managing a few flank charges.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJakY-eI8z0x_dMOnOuUqP5cdE4cRqK6HgoyT8Exn6NEAk5K2e2sPAMOQndX8M3F0jgkIaSUI9s36vMJlAf71ob8G0wHKyo_Hb4bhTWT7i1MfL0erSiAH8OgE6QGvY__-nCesK6OOWps/s400/IMG_3070.JPG) |
Crusaders are flanked-ouch |
Centrally the Saracen infantry attempted to put pressure on the Crusaders but were subjected to a barrage from the crossbows that allowed the spearmen to follow-up and push back the Arabs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit921asIATR6OEK8iOzi4iiZzsZtIanX8YgcZ7QVSaxk3xsafOxzwoBO8DL6ejvRFhwly8M9Q-YIn2kIdYUAOUfxsfT3W5ipjWwWPYdjK9u7PUicpzZexRhHM_w-8Y3TN-HfxskgmKqMU/s400/IMG_3072.JPG) |
Crusader spearmen clear the wood |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJww3pe8YWMfftiAC4qzYJmQXDdJW8z7XT-nERLCPkdgCRg42lh6VYqZSudpC07jJ-5YZ_xOErIRrHSueceNrWqH-UCkcoEsdIcawNgJAC9hu7QZlGEdcogh81Sjcu5WEzqUdBIQdO_0/s400/IMG_3073.JPG) |
Crusader missile troops lay down fire |
In KOW when the end comes it pretty brutal and about 4 moves in the Saracens suffered a collapse across the line, with about half the army routed. We did nt bother with a final tally but it was clear the Crusaders has achieved a resounding win.
Our post-game analysis was that the Crusaders although mostly slower has been able to time their charges better and so gain a decisive advantage on the enemy.