ADLG Later Carthaginian v Republican Roman

Tonight's game was another 25mm ADLG game featuring my 25mm Later Carthaginians against Ted's Republican Romans.

In a similar way to me Ted had not used his 25mm armies in years. His army was mostly composed of beautifully painted very old Minifig 'PB' range figures and was probably even older than my Carthaginians!

Initial deployment resulted in Massinissa commanding a strong force of cavalry and African Spearmen on the Carthaginian left facing a few Roman skirmishers and cavalry, Hannibal in the centre with two elephants and the Gallic warband facing a substantial force of Roman Legionaries and Mago on the Carthaginian left with a mixed cavalry and infantry Spanish force facing another force of Legionaries:

The Gaul's and Elephants rush forward to engage the Roman right flank composed of cavalry and Italian spearmen:

Massinissa leads the African Spearmen forward to support the right flank of the Gaul's. The Carthaginian cavalry remain in reserve:

On the right the Spanish light cavalry advance to delay the Romans:

The Roman cavalry fall back being unwilling to face the Elephants. Hannibal splits his command in two to reduce the risk of being outflanked by the advancing Legionaries before the African Spearmen arrive:

 On the right the Legions plod forward while the Allied Infantry clear the orchard:

Gallic warband and an elephant charge home against the Roman Italian Spearmen while the Carthaginian cavalry move up in support:

Massinissa continues to bring forward the African Spearmen while on the right the Spanish Scutarii fall back to gain time:

The remainder of the Gallic warband and the other Elephant attack the Legionaries. The African Spearmen haven't closed enough to support the attack yet:

Spanish cavalry attack the Italian Allied infantry as they emerge from the orchard:

The Italian Allied spearmen have been broken but the Roman cavalry are well placed to take on the pursuing Gallic warband. The remainder of Hannibal's force that charged into the Legionaries has held up well so far:

Carthaginian cavalry dash forward to engage the Roman cavalry:

On the right the Romans are closing on the Scutarii while the Spanish cavalry continue to battle against the Italian Allied infantry:

The African Spearmen are now looking rather isolated:

On the right the Spanish are starting to make inroads into the Romans, outflanking their line despite losing some Scutarii and cavalry:

On the left the Gallic warband and the elephant have been wiped out but the Carthaginian cavalry has hit the weakened Roman cavalry:

The last Carthaginian elephant has fallen. Hannibal commits the only remaining Gallic warband against some Triarii hoping to break through before the Legionaries can intervene:

On the right the Spanish continue to devastate the Roman flanks destroying more units:

The Roman cavalry are also collapsing on the left. The Roman army has now taken losses on the flanks while remaining solid in the centre. For the Carthaginians Hannibal's command has been wiped out in the centre:

The Romans charge home against the African Spearmen but fail to do much damage. A quick count up reveals that the Roman's have lost enough elements to break the army giving victory to the Carthaginians!

This was a hard fought battle which for a while I thought I'd lose. In an historically accurate manner the Roman centre ploughed through the Carthaginian centre with only a few losses but both Roman flanks collapsed. The Spanish on the right did especially well inflicting a lot of damage against superior Roman forces.

I have to say that Ted's army looked fantastic and the game was certainly a visual spectacle compared to 15mm games despite the small size of the armies compared to DBM or WRG 6th Edition. Hopefully the revival of 25mm gaming at the club will continue!