- Inscription on the Victory Stele of Utu-Hengal(~2100 BC)
This battle report features the Gutians with their army of Warbands, Raiders ,Bow Levy, and Skirmishers, against the massed Pikemen and assorted light troops of the Akkadian Empire. The miniatures and terrain are 15mm and almost all are Eureka brand.
THE FIRST BATTLE, IN WHICH THE DOG-LIKE CUNNING OF THE GUTIANS FAILS TO PRESERVE THEM FROM THE WRATH OF THE AKKADIANS
I took command of the Akkadians for the first battle and Stephen took the Gutians.
The battlefield had three terrain pieces. One was a hill on the flank which had no effect on play. The others were a a village and gentle hill which were more towards the center. However, the troops passed over/through this terrain before combat started so they also had no significant effect.
The Gutians Deployed for Battle. The Warbands are in front with Bow Levy behind. The Gutian General and his best fighters (two stands of Raiders) are at the far end of the line. Gutian light troops are already in the ruined Village. Behind them a detail of warriors plunders a settlement and carries away prisoners.
The Akkadian pikemen care not that Naram-Sin angered the chief god Enlil by plundering Enlil's temple in Nippur, causing the gods to bring down the Gutians as a curse upon Akkad; they desire only to close with the enemy!
Both armies close rapidly. The Akkadian general sees the Gutian leader moving to overwhelm the weaker right flank of the Akkadian and moves quickly to the right flank to counter them.
The Gutians react to the sight of the thundering hooves of the onagers of Akkadian general by shortening their line and moving up Bow Levy to counter. But the Akkadian general's advance was a feint! He plans to win this battle on the other flank where his light troops are advancing.
The Gutians rush into contact all along the line. Their first attacks on the Akkadian left flank are wildly successful and soon the four units of Pikes are destroyed. The Akkadian general almost despairs and himself curses Naram-Sin for the blasphemy that brought this plague in human form upon their land.
The outcome is different in the center and the left flank. The pikemen keep their formation and make short work of the undisciplined barbarians.
The Gutians are mad with battle rage and rush at the Akkadian general.
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The Akkadian general buys time for the rest of his army by launching a quick counterattack. The fighting is inconclusive, but no matter. The main fight is elsewhere.
Having routed the first line, the Akkadians attack the second line and rout them too.
Soon all that is left is the Gutian general, who dies fighting. They battle is over.
After Action Review
Stephen almost won the game in the first few turns of combat by destroying four pike units and a Bow Levy. The Gutians are +3 vs. Infantry but shatter Pike units, meaning the final combat score only has to exceed the enemies to destroy it rather than the usual requirement of doubling the score. But the Pike units get the benefit of fighting in two ranks so their combat factor is +6. Plus once there was a hole in the line the Akkadians were overlapped bringing their combat score down to +5. I only won the game because I was able to overcome the other Gutian flank and center with the rest of the Pikes, some Raiders, and my light troops.
THE SECOND BATTLE, IN WHICH ENLIL SHOWS FORGIVENESS FOR THE BLASPHEMY OF NARAM-SIN BY DESTROYING THE WICKEDNESS OF GUTIUM
We switched seats and I took command of the Gutians. Stephen had the Akkadians.
We had a tactics discussion after the first battle and developed an idea. I deployed with Bow Levy in the center against the Akkadian pikemen. Warbands were in the second line. The idea was that the Bow Levy units, if destroyed, would cause the Akkadians to advance into the gap, setting up the second line of Warbands to fight them with a double overlap. This would be +3 to +4 with the possibility of shattering the Pike units. Plus the Pikes do not get the benefit of the second rank against the Bow Levy so that is +2 (Bow Levy) vs +3 (Pikes) which is not a terrible matchup. In any case, I though this might give me enough time for the Raiders and other light troops to destroy an Akkadian flank and start rolling them up.
The two lines await their commander's signal to advance.
Oh Great Anu give us strength to again drive away these Gutians, beasts in human form!
This was the opening I was looking for; the Akkadians destroyed the Bow Levy and were attacked with double overlaps by the Gutian Warbands.
Meanwhile, The Gutian left flank advanced to try to overwhelm the rest of the Akkadian army. Victory would soon be mine!
It was all a giant failure and the Gutians were soundly defeated in the next two turns! I think the Akkadians lost a single stand.
After Action Review
These two games were great fun. Stephen is a good player and these games were a surprising challenge. I think we are on to something with the "Bow Levy in front and Warband behind" concept. It would probably work better if I had delayed contact with the main line in order to give the troops on the flank a chance to do their work.