A few sessions ago we went back to the Dark Ages and the least well know of the Trilogy of 1066 Invasion of Britain battles, the Battle of Fulford Gate! We used Impetus II to play this scenario! George and Rolf controlled the Vikings whilst Maurice and I handled the Anglo Saxons. The full scenario details are included.
The Anglo Saxon Leaders Morcar and Edwin...
The Armies...
Viking Army (VD 22/34)
Tostig Godwinson AKA George (VD 11) King Hardrada AKA Rolf (VD 11)
1 x Hird 1 x Huscarl
2 x Irish 3 x Hird
2 x Raiders 1 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B)
2 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B) 1 x Skirmish Javelin
1 x Skirmish Javelin
4 x Huscarl
2 x Hird 3 x Selected Fryd
3 x Selected Fryd 2 x Greater Fryd
1 x Greater Fryd 2 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B)
1 x Skirmish Bowman SB (B) 1 x Skirmish Javelin
Deployment Picture
Tabletop
180cm x 120cm
River Ouse is at one short edge with a Swamp on its bank
A Swamp on the other short edge
A Road across the table centre long edge to long edge
Stream, Germany Beck across the table short edge, swamp to the River Ouse
Fords at the Road crossing and 2 BWs from the Swamp on Stream
Fords can be crossed without Disorder
The River Ouse can not be entered by Units
The Stream and Swamp Disorder Units
Unit Bases are 12cm
Anglo Saxons to Left
Earl Edwin deployed between the River and the Road
Earl Morcar deployed between the Road and the Swamp
Vikings to the Right
King Hardrada deployed between the River and the Road
Tostig Godwinson deployed between the River and the Road
Anglo Saxons Win a Major Victory breaking the Viking army with at least ONE Unit South of the Germany Beck
Vikings Win a Marginal Victory breaking the Anglo-Saxon army
Vikings Win a Major Victory breaking the Anglo Saxons army with at least ONE Unit North of the Germany Beck
Shield Wall if used as a reaction requires a test and will FAIL on a roll of ‘1’, no shield walls allowed on first turn of close combat/melee (not shooting) in the game.
Breakpoints is by Army only.
Anglo Saxon Army Break Point Value is 16
Viking Army Break Point value before Reinforcements is 12
Viking Army Break Point value before once Reinforced is 18
Vikings may only form Groups of like named Units ie. Raiders, Irish etc
Vikings Units must advance northward at least 1 full move each of the first 3 turns, they need not attack
The Vikings initial Huscarl Unit may not attack until the other Huscarl Reinforcements arrive, it may advance northwards but not into the ZOC of an Anglo-Saxon Unit, it defends normally it can form a shield wall if attacked and it can’t pursue if successful in combat
The AAR...
The Leaders of Anglo Saxons seeing the Vikings deploying toward the Fulford from the south decided to take the initiative and attack them across the Germany Beck before they were fully organised! Meanwhile King Hardrada moved his army north to the Germany Beck there he planned to halt and await his heavily armoured Huscarls who were still unloading from the Viking long boats to the south, but his plans were thrown into chaos when a Viking scout signalled that the enemy were attacking across the stream!
Earl Edwin with his strong force astride the River Ouse had taken the lead and advanced quickly to come to grips with the invaders south of the stream, meanwhile Earl Morcar manoeuvred to pin the Vikings right while Edwin used his superior numbers to break through!
The Vikings skirmishers drew first blood dispersing most of Edwin's archers drawing the Anglo Saxons supporting Greater Fyrd forward into combat with Tostig's superior fighters this led to high losses amongst the Fyrd!
Morcar's Warriors eagerly pushed across the Germany Beck and hammered King Hardrada's Vikings! A series of close combats ensued that favoured the Anglo Saxons and they slowly ground down the Vikings facing them. The men from the North were pushed to the limit and within a whisker of breaking as Morcar's axe wielding fighter took out many Vikings!
Despite Morcar’s successes the Battle was at this point being decided on the Anglo Saxons Left as Tostig decisively defeated Earl Edwin's poorer quality Fyrd with his Raiders and Irishmen. He then turned his men to strike at Morcar’s flank and support King Hardrada’s beleaguered forces.
With his flank in peril Earl Morcar launched a final grand charge to break through King Hardrada's thinning shield wall, unfortunately this attack was unsuccessful, this failure plus the arrival from the Viking boats of Hardrada's Huscarls ensured a victory for the invaders! The Anglo Saxons were broken and fled from the field!
Some Pictures...
The opposing armies face off Anglo Saxons to the left and Vikings to the right!
Earl Edwin...
The Anglo Saxon right advances...
...as does its left!
King Hardrada's Vikings prepare to accept combat with the oncoming Anglo Saxons.
Tostig's Command holds off the advancing Fyrd at a frightful cost.
Hardrada's men take heavy losses from the Anglo Saxons of Earl Edwin and fall back from the Germany Beck.
Morcar's weaker forces begin to crumble before hammer blows from the Viking right wing!
Earl Morcar's last effective force of Fyrd try to support the left flank of earl Edwin's rampaging men...
The Fyrd on the extreme right of the Anglo Saxons line advance!
Viking reinforcements arrive just in the nick of time to save King Hardrada's Army!
The Anglo Saxons remaining units fall back as the fresh Viking Huscarls advance, the battle is over!
Comments...
A near run thing indeed, the Anglo Saxons stronger right (Maurice) did very well and were a Unit away from breaking the initial Viking force! Once the Viking reinforcements arrived the game was up for the Anglo Saxons (as it was historically)! The scenario played out well, the Anglo Saxons have two options; the short game trying to break the Vikings early (which we tried) or the long game hope to break the Vikings defending the Germany Beck and try for minor victory. Again Impetus rules worked great! We really enjoyed playing it hopefully others may give this a try and let us know how it plays out for them!
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