The army of Carthage painted by Aurelian Leclerc

The army of Carthage was one of the most important and largest one of the ancient world. At the maximum of their expansion Carthage controlled part of the North Africa, the southern Iberian Peninsula, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands.

Below the army painted by my mate Aurelian that he use to win SAGA tournaments

Thanks to this expansion the army was transformed from a body of citizen-soldiers to a multinational force composed of a combination of allies, citizens and foreign mercenary units.

The army was composed by a lot of foreign troops ... Libyans, Numidians, Iberian, Gauls and Greeks. 

Numidian light cavalry was one of the most known unit used by Punic generals ... 

Infantry was formed by native carthaginian hoplite largely replaced by mercenary by the time of the First Punic war. 

Iberian warriors serving Carthage and were divided between scutarii (heavy infantry) and caetratii (light infantry)

In 247 BC the Punic Senate appointed Hamilcar Barca as commander in chief of his army.  He led the Carthaginian forces in Sicily during the latter stages of the First Punic War. He led a kind of guerrilia war against Romans. After the war he came back to home where he fought during the Mercenary war ... even if is masterpeace was the expedition in Spain to expand Carthage territories.

Hamilcar was the leader of Barcid family  and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago.

Below his son Hannibal painted by Aurelian ...

Carthage army used a mix of chariots during first stage of his history ...

... and elephants during Hannibal age 

Battle of Cape Spartivento or Battle of Cape Teulada – Nimitz Sept 2023

Last week end my friends decided to play a naval battle using Nimitz. Nimitz is a Ww2 tabletop game of naval battles simulation written by Sam Mustafa. The rule system is perfect to lead entire fleets. It can be used for single battles at tactical level or for mini campaigns that could simulate more days of fight.

Cape Teulada battle is a typical Ww2 naval battle between English an Italian forces. 
On the night of November 17, 1940, an Italian force including two battleships (Vittorio Veneto and Giulio Cesare) and a number of supporting unis decided to intercept two British convoys en route to Malta. 

The Italian decision was born after the British attack to Taranto port. British forces destroyed some of Italian fleet battleships during a daring aerial assault. The Italian idea to keep the fleet and to adopt the “fleet in being” strategy is abandoned, and so Italian naval squadrons left the ports.

On November 17, the British were warned of Italian approach and immediately turned and returned to Gibraltar, launching their aircraft (two Blackburn Skuas and 12 Hawker Hurricanes) prematurely. One Skua and eight Hurricanes were lost at sea, as they ran out of fuel well before arriving at their destination, with the loss of seven airmen.
The British decided to organize a new convoy. It was organized with and increased support including ships from Gibraltar and Alexandria.

At 9,45 on November 27, an Italian airplane from the heavy cruiser Bolzano discovered the British forces. The British admiral, James Somerville, received the report of Italian squadron approach. Reinforces from Alexandria were not arrived, so he decided to go back but at 10,10 some men on HMS Ark Royal spot the reinforces. Somerville decided to keep the position. British organized their fleet in two forces while the Italian one in three groups. 

At 12:22, the lead groups of both forces came into range and the Italian ship, Fiume, opened fire at 23,500 metres (25,700 yd). Rapid fire between the two forces continued as the distance between them closed, but as the range shortened Italian firepower began to put pressure on the outgunned British. The arrival of the battleship HMS Ramillies on the British side helped to even the odds, but she was too slow to maintain formation and dropped out of battle after a few salvoes at 12:26. Four minutes later, Vice Admiral Angelo Iachino, commander of the Italian cruiser group, received orders to disengage, although the battle had swung slightly in their favour. Iachino ordered an increase in speed to 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), laid smoke and started to withdraw.

At this time the Italian destroyer Lanciere was hit and seriously damaged by HMS Manchester. Italian forces try to cover the Italian ship. At 12,22 a single 203 mm shell knocked out the Y turret fo HMS Berwick while at 12,35 a second shell destroyed the after breaker room and cut power to part of ship’s sections. The Italian ship Ascari caught the Lanciere and bring it in a safe position.  
At around 12:40, eleven Swordfish from Ark Royal attacked Vittorio Veneto with torpedoes, but did not score any hits.

At 13:00, Vittorio Veneto opened fire from 27,000 metres (30,000 yd). Vittorio Veneto fired 19 rounds in seven salvoes from long range and that was enough for the now outgunned British cruisers, which turned back. In fact, as giant water-spouts erupted around Berwick and Manchester, the British commadner ordered smoke, and his ships fled southeast to close with Renown. Both forces withdrew, the battle lasting a total of 54 minutes and causing little damage to either side.

In our game the Italian fleet demaged some English unit and intercepted the convoys. At the end it was an Italian victory 57 points vs 47.

Studio Tomahawk'Jugula review

In the last weeks my club mates played some matches using Jugula ... a Studio Tomahawk rule system set in Roman Empire. Jugula is a bit different respect other "classical" wargame because you will be a "Lanista" in stead of a commarders, generals and so on.

The lanista was, essentially, an entrepreneur who traded in gladiators and rented them to the organizer (editor or munerarius) of the gladiatorial show (munera) drawing his own profit which did not diminish even if the gladiator died during the fight. 

Normally the lanista was an ex gladiator assisted in his activity by the doctores (or magistri). Skilled veterans freed from the status of gladiator who, having concluded thier activity, had been awarded the rudis (a wooden sword).

The lanista is the focus of the game ... this is the reason for which, in this game, the rules managing combat in the arena are all about decisions, rather than hit, move and blade types. Jugula allows the players to manage the development of their own gladiators. Combat area in a square grid ... not very different respect a chess board. 

Jugula uses a card system that, during the arena fights, allows the lanista to control and manage his gladiators. During the game the player has to choose the correct cards but also the correct way to use them. A card can uses: for movement, for increase your popularity (called Vox Populi that can give some bonus combat and increase the size of your card hand), for combat, for draw other cards, for use card's ability or for a kind of upgrade (Prima Jugula card).

The player has a team of 4 gladiators (famila). Every gladiator has his stat (movement, combat, skills and so on) and card. The player can choose from: Murmillo, Scissor, Hoplomachus, Provocator, Secutor, Crupellarius (heavy) and Veles, Tharaex, Retiarius, Sagittarius, Dimachaerius, Laquearius (light).

Generally you cannot attack and move in the same. You get bonuses for attacking the flank or the rear but you must choose your movement carrefully because you can attack only the three squares immediately to miniature's front

The combat is easy: your gladiator's attack factors (plus modifiers) against opponent's defence. Modifiers could be: the drawing card value you and your opponent must put on the table or Vox Populi for example.

Four points win the game. An enemy's gladiator wounded: 1 point. An enemy's gladiator killed: 2 points.

You can play it in a campaign version. Every players (Lanisti) spent money to train gladiators, to hire mercanaries, to sell or to buy new minis and so on. The lanista goal is to gain glory and to win the game.

The game is easy to play and funny. In our club we started a campaign that is rich of interesting and amusing combats 

Maxi Napoleonic scenario - Black Powder June 17, 2023

Last week end my mates organized a Black Powder game using a “maxi” table. Around 3,000 miniatures … table 480 x 150 cm … 16 Army Corps … 12 players.

It was not an historical scenario but it is inspired a post Lipsia battle ... around 1813. The idea was to create an event in which players could play a Napoleonic battle for fun with a great number of minis. The French are retreating and the Emperor is ill. 

All minis are 15mm. The Obj of the battle is easy: the Emperor, aboard his carriage, must cross the whole camp using the road on the edge of the French side. The Allies want to take him alive

For the first two turns of game the Emperor and the Guard has significant problems to move even if they can count on a 9 of discipline.

On the French right, two Corps face a Bavarian and Austrian one. The French launch their cavalry against Austrian units but they are not able to create an hole. 

A detail of a Barian unit approaching to the field and ...

... a French cavalry unit

On the French left, the Poles keep the Prussian troops at a distance. The Prussians continue to hammer the French line with rifle and cannon but the Poles hold the line.

The Old and the Young Guard are on the way

On the center Russian Corp try to create an hole and capture Emperor’s carriage but a fresh Napoletan force block them avoiding a catastrophic event.

A detail of a Cossack unit ... 

After 5 turns the French on the right break … Swiss troops try to support this battle side but they arrive too late.

At the 11th turn the Guard arrives launching the cavalry against the first Austrian unit that try to block the Emperor. 

The match end with an Allies victory. 

Unfortunately, Guard's sacrifice is not able to avoid French army break. The Emperor is captured and sent to his exile to Elba island.