Claymore, Edinburgh 6 August 2005
A Warhammer Ancient Battles game organised by Gripping Beast and Warhammer Historical.
Chris Stone (who did a lot of the painting) is still pondering how to deploy the Carthaginians
whilst Soapy has already almost finishing deploying the Romans with one hand.
Background.
Zama was the final great confrontation of the Second Punic War. Carthage had recalled Hannibal from Italy while simultaneously seeking terms with Rome. The peace talks broke down, and Hannibal's and Scipio's armies faced each other for a final confrontation.
The two great commanders met - for the first time - for a conference, and there is reason to suspect that they determined upon a set-piece battle to end the war. However, each of the two generals had stratagems in mind.
The Carthaginian army was drawn up in three lines. In front of the main lines were the skirmishers (Numidians, Moorish archers, and Balearic slingers) and about eighty elephants; however, the elephants had been hastily trained. Behind them were 12,000 Ligurian and Gallic mercenaries. A second line consisted of Punic citizens and Liby-Phoenician troops. Hannibal placed his 15,000 - 20,000 veterans in a third line. Covering the flanks were the cavalry: Punic horse on the right, and Numidians on the left.
The Roman battle array was also in three lines. Behind the velites were the lines of hastati, principes, and triarii, with gaps between the maniples to allow the enemy elephants to pass through. The Roman cavalry was on both wings: Romans and Italians on the left, Numidians under Massinissa on the right.
A view down the Roman line from the right flank, showing the Numidian allied army.
Army Strengths and compositions:
The numbers are debatable and fairly unclear.
Carthage
Hannibal : Perhaps 40,000 infantry, an uncertain number of cavalry, and 80 elephants.
Rome
Scipio: Perhaps 23,000 Roman infantry, 1,500 Roman cavalry, plus 4,000 or more Numidian cavalry and 6,000 Numidian infantry
Assumptions: The full order of battle is at roughly a 1:40 figure scale, except 1:10 for elephants.
Carthaginian Grand Totals: 8 elephant models, 964 infantry figures and 72 cavalry figures (11,843 pts, not including characters).
Carthaginian Characters: Army General and Army Standard Bearer, plus four subordinate generals.
The Carthaginian army arrayed for battle. Elephants and skirmishers to the front with three infantry lines behind.
Roman Grand Totals: 664 infantry figures and 148 cavalry figures (10,848 pts, not including characters).
Roman Characters: Army General (use Military Man as Scipo), plus Army Standard Bearer, a Cavalry Prefect, two Tribunes, and a Numidian General and Army Standard Bearer.
The Roman army arrayed in 3 lines showing the manipular formation. Velite skirmishers to the front.
Conclusion.
Although it was a protracted slogging match, it was ultimately a Roman victory. Scipio now proceeded to assault Carthage by land and sea, and peace terms were quickly dictated and agreed. Scipio and his army returned to Italy, where Scipio received the greatest triumph ever offered to a victorious Roman general, as well as the appellation “Africanus”. The seventeen-year war was over.
Andy Sherwell of Gripping Beast taking a picture of the game from behind the Carthaginian line. You can find more pictures of the game on the Gripping Beast website.
Details of the game.
Gripping Beast manufactured all the miniatures used in this game, and they organised all aspects of the construction and painting. The painting and modelling was performed by a cast of thousands, our thanks to you all! The rules and scenario are produced by Warhammer Historical Wargames, using the
Warhammer Ancient Battles rule set and the forthcoming
Hannibal and the Punic Wars supplement, authored by Allen Curtis.
