NORMANS VS VIKINGS

We had a game of Hail Caesar at the club using my Normans and Vikings. Myself and Dave took the Vikings while Mick and Tom took the Normans.

The Normans.

The Vikings with mercenary cavalry.

The Viking left flank.

The Normans advance.

The mercenaries move to outflank the Normans using the hill to move unseen.

The Viking right flank advances.

The Viking archers advance ahead and move into range.

But before they are able to fire they are charged by a unit of Norman infantry. Although able to evade they decide to stand and fight.

They are defeated.

And forced to retreat.

But they are reengaged by the Norman infantry. Seeing this a second unit of Viking archers charges the infantry's flank.

The mercenaries move atop the hill and see the Norman cavalry's flank exposed.

One unit of archers is wiped out.

While the other retreats.

The Norman cavalry advance and the crossbowmen turn to cover their flank.

The Cavalry engages the viking infantry.

One unit is pushed back and the other engages.

A second unit of Viking infantry engages the cavalry's flank.

Norman and Viking infantry square up.

The Mercenaries attempt do charge the Norman cavalry flank but the Norman are able to turn in time.

After a ferocious fight the Normans are pushed back. 

But the mercs immediately reengage.

The Normans fighting the infantry fare no better also being pushed back.

They are also reengaged.

The Norman crossbowmen attempt to assist their cavalry by charging the mercenary flank.

The Norman right flank finally advances.

The fierce combat continues between the viking infantry and Norman cavalry.

But the Normans are again pushed back.

The mercenaries fare even better then their allies as they defeat their opponents and send them fleeing off the battlefield.

The mercs turn to face the now outmatched crossbowmen.

Who are forced to retreat.

A unit of Norman infantry are also routed.

As the Norman left flank crumbles the Vikings prepare to finish off the outnumbered Normans.

The mercenaries engage the remaining unit of Norman cavalry.

And the Normans are again pushed back.

The end is nigh for the Normans.




We called it a day at this point as the Normans were clearly heading for defeat.
A very enjoyable game,well for me and Dave anyway.


Thanks For Reading

Carl

Pre-dreadnought game Russia v Japan.

The lads at the club used these ships in a game the previous week and after expressing my disappointment at missing it they brought them back the following week.

The two fleets consist of pre dreadnought battleships and the Japanese ships are of particular interest as many were built here on the Tyne.

My mothers family was from the Elswick area of Newcastle and at the beginning of the last century most of the menfolk worked in the yards on the Tyne building mostly warships, many of which were for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The ship i chose to command was the 'Hatsuse', a Tyne built ship which, quite possibly, my relatives helped to build.

The Hatsuse

Completed on 18th January 1901 the ships main armament consisted of 4 12" guns mounted in 2 turrets. She displaced over 14000 tons.

She had a short but active career participating in actions against the Russian navy during the Russo-Japanese war as part of the 1st fleet under Admiral Togo. On 15th May 1904 as part of the fleet blockading Port Arthur she struck 2 mines the second of which set of her magazines sinking her with the loss of 335 of her crew.

Being prepared for launch at the Elswick works, Newcastle upon Tyne.


Th Russian fleet.

IJN Hatsuse

Th Japanese fleet

Japanese open fire

The Russians return fire

The discs are damage markers.

Japanese maneuver to bring rear turrets to bear.

More hits on the Japanese

and the Russians

Damage markers are beginning to appear next to ships.

These represent hits to the bridge.

Me, Darren and Carl survey the table during a particularly violent change in the wind state.

Most Russian ships are damaged now.

Naval Doctrine is rewritten as the Russian fleet forms triangle!

The fleets close to short range.

The Hatsuse at the bottom of the picture is the only undamaged ship.

Caught in crossfire this Japanese ship is taking serious damage.

Ships are now using torpedo attacks.

Crippled under the weight of fire this ship has also done great damage to the Russians.

Now under torpedo attack the Hatsuse is about to start taking damage.

This Japanese battleship need to take 59 damage point before it sinks and ended the game on 57!

The Hatsuse, also 59, ends on 12

All of these were hits on the Hatsuse.

The Hatsuse goes in for the kill needing a 20 to blow up the Russian ship,

and Darren obliged , the last throw of the game is the only 20.

Totaling up the damage points the Russians had 163 while the Japanese had 116, nearly half on one ship. A convincing win for the Japanese.

Thanks for looking.

Mick/Carl