HOPLITES VS HUSCARLS

I could not help but think of the old military adage: “No plan survives contact with the enemy.”

At the beginning of this year, drawing inspiration from a post found on TMP around mid December of 2021 (please see, if you can, Russ Dunaway’s  [TMP moniker “Old Glory”] post on the Ancients Discussion Message Board: “Greek phalanx vs Viking sheild [sic] wall”), I decided to embark on a long-term solo project wherein I would stage half a dozen contests between Spartans and Vikings using a different set of rules for each battle/wargame. It was, or at least it seemed to me at the time—and here I will readily admit to a fair degree of subjectivity in this assessment—a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, as the year and the project progressed, my execution or follow through of the plan faltered and fumbled. By the later part of July, a grand total of two engagements had been played and reported upon. A third contest was started but then discontinued and dismantled as my attention was distracted by other ideas, my level of interest waned, and well, generally speaking, the “wheels came off.” To adapt the referenced military adage to this disappointing but not completely surprising development: “No solo wargamer’s plan survives contact with the obligations, the pressures, the surprises and the occasional small joys of daily life.” 

Hoping to redeem myself, if just a little bit, in the aging as well as critical eyes of that “ruggedly handsome”—ahem—individual I see every morning in the bathroom mirror as well as in the eyes of a broader and hopefully less judgmental readership, some nine months after I started this ahistorical adventure, I decided (figuratively, of course) to strap on my greaves, put on my helmet, and pick up my large round shield and long spear. In less colorful terms, the decision was made to continue with the counterfactual exercise but reign in my ambition and stage just one battle at a time. If the “wheels stayed on,” and if life did not get in the way, at least very much, then I could consider staging another contest with another set of rules. If things went well enough, then I might be able to finish the long-term project, well, at least a majority of it, as the IMPETVS scenario could not be counted as a completed wargame, and there remained a nagging question about putting together a To The Strongest! version of this scenario.

Re-Preparation

The paper and cardboard armies of Spartans and Vikings had been sitting quietly for several months. Retrieving them from their “storage space,” I was relieved to see that I did not have to dust them off, rebase them, or rebuild any units as no warping had occurred. Reviewing my “work,” I noted that these units were fabricated to represent 20-25 mm figures. For example, a unit of Spartan hoplites (heavy spearmen) was represented by 36 “figures” arranged in 3 ranks of 12 on a base or stand measuring 60 mm wide by 20 mm deep. (If memory serves, the normal number of actual miniatures for this type of stand or unit is 4.) It appeared that I had built each force for a “traditional” or typical 200-points per side L’Art de la Guerre (ADLG) contest. The Spartans had 3 commands or “corps,” each with its own leader; the Vikings also had 3 commands or groups, each having its own chieftain or leader. 

Orders of Battle

Borrowing a page from, but giving full credit to, the admired and prolific PHGamer (see, for just one example, https://philonancients.blogspot.com/2022/08/two-batches-of-byzantines.html), here is a detailed description of the opposing forces, commands, units, troop types and their corresponding point values.

Spartans (from the Classical Greek list, Number 60, on pages 112-113)

Division A /

Brilliant Commander - included with a unit of Elite Heavy Spearmen +03  

06 units of Hoplites (Elite Heavy Spearmen)                 +60

01 unit of Peltasts (Javelinmen - LMI)                         +07

01 unit of Skirmishers (light infantry - sling)                 +04

                                                +74

Division B /

Competent Commander - included with a unit of Elite Heavy Spearmen +00  

05 units of Hoplites (Heavy Spearmen)                         +40

01 unit of Hoplites (Elite Heavy Spearmen)                  +10

01 unit of Peltasts (Javelinmen - LMI)                         +07

01 unit of Skirmishers (light infantry - sling)                  +04

                                                +61

Division C /

Competent Commander - included with a unit of Elite Heavy Spearmen +00  

05 units of Hoplites (Heavy Spearmen)                         +40

01 unit of Hoplites (Elite Heavy Spearmen)                 +10

01 unit of Greek Horsemen (Mediocre Medium Cavalry)          +05

01 unit of Paphlagonians (Light Cavalry - javelin)                 +06

01 unit of Skirmishers (light infantry - javelin)                 +04

                                                +65

Vikings (from the Viking and Leidang list, Number 150, on pages 161-162)

Division 1 /

Competent Commander - with a unit of Elite Heavy Swordsmen +00  

01 unit of Huscarls (Elite Heavy Swordsmen - 2HW, Armor)         +13

01 unit of Huscarls (Elite Heavy Swordsmen - 2HW)                 +11

04 units of Viking Warriors (impetuous Medium Swordsmen)         +28

01 unit of Berserkers (impetuous & Elite Medium Swordsmen)         +09

                                                +61

Division 2 /

Competent Commander - with a unit of Elite Heavy Swordsmen +00  

01 unit of Huscarls (Elite Heavy Swordsmen - 2HW, Armor)         +13

01 unit of Huscarls (Elite Heavy Swordsmen - 2HW)                 +11

04 units of Viking Warriors (impetuous Medium Swordsmen)         +28

01 unit of Berserkers (impetuous & Elite Medium Swordsmen)         +09

01 unit of Viking Bowmen (light-medium infantry)         +07

                                                +68

Division 3 /

Competent Commander - with a unit of Elite Heavy Swordsmen +00  

01 unit of Huscarls (Elite Heavy Swordsmen - 2HW, Armor)         +13

01 unit of Huscarls (Elite Heavy Swordsmen - 2HW)                 +11

02 units of Viking Warriors (impetuous Medium Swordsmen)         +14

04 units of Irish Mercenaries (Medium Swordsmen)         +28

01 unit of Skirmishers (light infantry - javelin)                 +04

                                                +70

There would be no camps on my tabletop. Neither side would employ a flank march stratagem.  The idea was to stage a simple and straight-forward, if again admittedly ahistorical, battle between these two armies. The Spartans enjoyed a very slight advantage in that they had 25 units worth exactly 200 points compared to the 24 units and 199 points in the Viking force. Additionally, and perhaps even more of an advantage, the Spartans had two units of cavalry while the hairy, fierce, and tattooed men who sailed and rowed far and wide in long ships had none.  

Terrain & Deployment

For a change of pace, I thought I might follow the seven bullet-pointed steps listed under the ‘Set Up’ paragraph on page 66 of the rules. (Note: While I am aware that there is a pricey 4th Edition of these popular rules available, I made use of the 2014 or 3rd Edition. I have downloaded, printed, and studied the “Changes in Version 4” [May 2021] document, but decided not to incorporate these amendments and revisions into the planned engagement.) After reviewing the ‘Set Up’ procedures and processes, I changed my mind and decided to make use of the terrain provided on page 42 of Charles Grant’s excellent 1979 book, Wargame Tactics. This black and white diagram shows the nature of the landscape, the orientation of the opposing forces, as well as the ’preliminary dispositions and movements’ of the Athenians and Aetolians for the fictional battle of Korepsis Pass. For the purposes of this fictional battle, the Spartans would assume the role of the Athenians, and the Vikings would take the place of the Aetolians. 

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Pictures 2, 3, and 4 give the reader an idea of what the landscape looked like, of how I “recreated” the terrain used in Charles Grant’s original scenario staged approximately 40 years ago. I recall reading somewhere that the senior Charles Grant would play his miniature games of war on a table measuring 9 feet long by 7 feet deep. Obviously, the playing surface I used was much smaller. While I did consider placing various books and magazines under the green felt cloth to model the large hills seen on the original map, I thought this might prove somewhat problematic, as there would be gaps or pockets of air, for lack of a better description, that could collapse if a hand was placed incorrectly, and this would cause an “earthquake” for the employed representative counters. Consequently, I resorted to using different colors and sizes of yarn to create an impression of the slope of a hill and the edge of an expanse of woods. Picture 4 shows that one stretch of hills (gentle slopes, to be sure) were dotted with a patch of scrub as well as a small copse. These terrain features would have a possible impact on and or interfere with the Spartan right and Viking left. Picture 4 also shows a narrow hill with two smaller hills placed on top. A portion of this colored foam sheet hill is covered by trees (the loop of yarn). Pictures 2 and 3 give a better view of the size of these woods on the Spartan left and Viking right, as well as showing a portion of the hill that ran from long edge to long edge on this side of the fictional battlefield. 

With respect to deployments, the left side of Picture 3 shows the arrangement of the Vikings for the coming battle. On the lower left is the contingent with the Irish Mercenaries. In the center, where the commander of the army is with his Huscarls, this contingent of Vikings and supporting archers is a bit forward. To its left, at the top of the frame, is the third corps or contingent of Vikings. (Picture 1 offers an aerial view of at least part of these sectors.) Each command had 2 units of Huscarls, and each command had several more units of either Mercenaries or Viking Warriors. The right wing formation had a unit of skirmishers with javelins. The center, as mentioned, had some archers as well as a unit of Berserkers. The left wing also had a unit of Berserkers. 

On the Spartan side of the field, their left was “stacked” due to the nature of the ground. These 6 units of Hoplites were accompanied by a unit of slingers and a unit of peltasts. The center corps of Spartans also had some peltasts and slingers. The former were positioned on the right end of the Hoplite formation, next to the phalanx where the Spartan commander stood in the ranks with his men. The Spartan right contained more Hoplites as well as some skirmishers carrying javelins. This “division” also had 2 small units of cavalry attached to it. As the terrain in this sector was rather open, it made sense to have the mounted elements placed on this wing. 

Summary of the Engagement

As per usual, the preliminary moves of this engagement were focused on moving the various commands and trying to eke out some kind of advantage in what was going to be a head-to-head fight. Coincidentally, both the Spartan and Viking center “divisions” rolled very good command points dice and were able to jog or quick-march ahead of their friends on the flanks. Archers and slingers began exchanging missiles shortly after, but nerves seem to affecting their aim or their ability to roll a high die when needed. 

The first melees and first blood spilled on the day took place on Turn 3. A few impetuous units from the Viking center threw themselves at the closing ranks of Spartan Hoplites. Observing that some Greek cavalry were trying to work their way around a flank, two units of Vikings from the left command peeled off from the main formation and started moving to counter these horsemen. The mounted Greeks did not like the look of the approaching Warriors, so they turned around and retreated. Over on the Spartan left, the slingers still could not hit the broadside of a sacred temple, and a unit of peltasts shifted left towards the woods. In the confused combats that ensued, the Hoplites took a hit, but their professionalism as well as supports (and some very good dice rolls) permitted them to knock out two units of Vikings and cause damage to another unit. 

Picture 5 / On the Viking right wing, the command roll has produced a 3 after doing the addition and division. The inclusion of the coins is a “playing aid” I saw a number of years ago when I was at a Convention and purposefully observed the small ADLG tournament. Evidently, after determining the command points (or pips), players would use coins or other devices to track their commands. The pennies represent the 3 command points determined by the simple math; the nickel indicates the free command point available to the commander.  

Picture 6 / The opposing centers are well within missile range. However, nerves or wind, or poor manufacturing of arrow feathers and sling stones resulted in neither side scoring hits against the targeted formation. One would imagine that there were some verbal missiles exchanged as well!

Picture 7 / Taken above the Spartan right and Viking left, this photo shows the advance of both armies. The center commands are drawing ever closer. Perhaps I should point out that for the Spartan formations, I placed the commanders on the far right of the line, embedded with those hoplites. ( I recall reading somewhere that in Greek hoplite formations, the commanders/generals were usually stationed on the right of the line.) For the Vikings, the commanders were with Huscarls and positioned in the approximate center of the formation. I thought this arrangement was fairly historical. 

Picture 8 / A snapshot showing the state of the Viking right early on in the contest. The tags identifying the terrain features are visible. The edge of the large woods will soon interfere or at least hamper the progress of the Irish Mercenaries on the right of this Viking command. 

Picture 9 / The Viking center and its commander are not having good luck today . . . The roll for command points is the worst one can get. The command and control problems are multiplied since impetuous troops are hard to control. The appropriate pages of the rule book were consulted as was the FAQ for 3rd Edition and the “Changes for 4th Edition.” Finding nothing specific in either source, I moved the Berserkers into contact with the Spartan Hoplites and army commander, and moved two units of Viking Warriors on the right into contact with a pair of Spartan Hoplite formations. Of course, after the melee was resolved (see other photos), I looked over the section on Uncontrolled Charges. Here then, was my first rule mistake and misapplication of the wargame. I should have committed the Vikings Warriors on the left as well, and I should have penalized all of the charging units for being in a comparative state of disorder when executing the attack.

Picture 10 / The first melees of the battle . . . The Berserkers and Warriors have charged in, but two of the three attackers have been repulsed. Instead of using small markers for this scenario, I thought I would try colored dice to track unit status. The green dice indicate 1 point of cohesion has been lost. The yellow die shows that 2 points of cohesion have been lost. The white and black dice are the combat modifier (front or first die) and the actual melee roll (back or second dice). In the center, the Vikings have outscored the Spartans 6-4. Normally, that would produce just 1 cohesion point in casualties, but since the Vikings are impetuous (just on this first turn of combat), they inflict another point of damage, thus the yellow die. 

Picture 11 / Another view of the first combats, this time from the Spartan point of view. The Vikings are in a bit of trouble as the Spartans have supporting units which will add to their basic melee factor. 

Over the next couple of turns, the fighting developed all across the battlefield. In fact, the action was general, chaotic and bloody. Casualty markers were placed on many a unit, and more than several units were removed from the field after reaching their respective breaking points. It appeared that the Vikings were on the losing end of the contest for they had lost two units on their right and four had routed in the center. Additionally, the Viking army commander was among those lost in the savage fighting in this part of the field. A careful count, however, determined that it was the Spartans who were doing most of the bleeding and dying. That same count informed that this was a true battle of attrition. In terms of disordered units, dead commanders and routed/destroyed units, the Spartans were at 21 of their 25 army break point total, while the Vikings were at 18 points out of a limit of 24. 

During the Viking half of the next game turn (Game Turn 6), enough pressure and sufficient damage was inflicted on the Spartans to push them to their determined army breakpoint. The Hoplites and their accompanying troops had been flanked (on both wings) and had been outfought by the Northmen. That the Spartans had made the Vikings pay dearly for the victory was, I guess, some consolation. 

Picture 12 / Away from the action in the center of the field, the “Spartan” cavalry on the far right have turned tail and withdrawn when some Viking Warriors moved in their direction and started cursing, yelling or otherwise gesticulating in a menacing way at the Greek troopers. 

Picture 13 / To protect the right flank of their Hoplite brothers, the Greek Medium Cavalry wheels around and attacks twice its number of Viking Warriors. The dice tell the quick and tragic tale of the sacrificed horsemen. 

Picture 14 / A general view of the Spartan center as well as part of the Spartan left. The line of Hoplites remains intact if damaged, 4 units have suffered casualties from fighting the Vikings. In contrast, the Viking center has been essentially destroyed; only the archers and a couple of infantry units are left. 

Picture 15 / The desperate fighting in the center continues. Here, the Viking army commander is rendered “hors de combat” by a very weakened unit of Hoplites that has support on both flanks. The really good die roll helped a lot, too! 

Picture 16 / The local battle over on the Spartan right/Viking left. Here, the end of the Hoplite line has been overlapped or flanked. Though the Spartans put up a stubborn fight, the commander of this corps/wing was struck down in the chaotic melee versus the Huscarls and Warriors. This command loss noted by the placement of the red die showing a 1. 

Picture 17 / The contest of attrition over on the Spartan right. Their commander has fallen after helping withstand the flank attack, casualties are mounting, but the survivors fight on, frustrating the Huscarls and Warriors. After a couple of charges which saw them bouncing off the steady shields or dying on the leveled spears of the Hoplites, the Berserkers roll very well against the Spartans and inflict the loss of 2 cohesion points. 

Picture 18 / A snapshot of the center, after what was left of the Huscarls (not much, that’s for sure!) were able to hold off greater numbers and even rout a unit of Hoplites in a desperate melee. Greek light-medium infantry are managing to hold off a group of Vikings in another bloody contest just to the right of the Spartan army commander and his men. 

Picture 19 / Meanwhile, over on the Spartan left, the slingers have been chased off the hill. A parting shot inflicted a little bit of damage on the Irish Mercenaries. On the hill and the flat ground, the Spartans are fully engaged. Once again, the dice seem to favor the Vikings, and once again, a phalanx of Hoplites finds itself fighting to the front as well as flank.

Comments

The Vikings had won again. In the four scenarios staged thus far, the score was now 2 to 1, with one discontinued contest marked with an asterisk. This battle had been a Pyrrhic victory, however. This seems to be the usual result with many ADLG wargames. Of course, this is an assertion based on the reading of more than several battle reports posted by PHGamer as well as dozens of colorful narratives produced by the creative, popular, and even more prolific wargamer/blogger Madaxeman. (Please see

https://www.madaxeman.com/match_reports_index.php.) Based on my reading of ancient and medieval military history, I question the historical accuracy of this typical result. It seems to me that most battles saw the losing side suffer substantially more losses, especially during the retreat or rout. Then again, this “historical regularity” can be very difficult to replicate with a set of miniature wargaming rules. 

Some time having elapsed since my last ADLG engagement, I did not have a great deal of trouble re-acclimating myself to the rules or reorienting myself to the various procedures and processes. That said, I do acknowledge that I stumbled a little with respect to the correct use and ruling of impetuous troops and the resolution of furious charges. These mistakes did not seem to affect the outcome of the battle, however. On further reflection, there was nothing “fancy” about the fictional engagement. Both sides made a general advance; the commands of each side basically paired off with its opposition. That Spartans and Vikings were involved, the comparative lack of missile troops or ineffectiveness of those that were present was not considered unusual. Again, based on my reading and understanding of various reference materials, Spartans and Vikings were melee-oriented forces; they did not rely on “stand off and shoot” or “hit and run” tactics. 

Compared to the Armati and Hail Caesar scenarios, this solo wargame played rather quickly; only six turns were needed to determine a victor. For the time required and for the clarity of the rules (again, admitting there was an error or two), this was an enjoyable exercise. The result left me wondering, though. Would an army of Vikings really be able to beat an army of Spartans? 

Stipulating the my opinion or reasoning is influenced by movies and streaming television programs, I can agree that an attack by a Viking “warband” would be impressive, terrifying, and perhaps irresistible. The long axes, spears, swords wielded with great ferocity would be very hard to withstand. However, I confess that I have trouble seeing an orderly phalanx of Spartan Hoplites, conditioned by years of training, their large shields locked in place and their long spears presenting a veritable hedgerow of deadly points, being torn asunder by such an impetuous charge.