Early Venetian Colonial, 1515, Book 3 (yes I know the army list is wrong – I didn’t read the notes when I did the list ok!)
1 x FC C-in-C, 2 x TC SubG
4 BG x 4b Gendarmes (Av, Hvy Armrd)
3 BG x 4b Stradiots (Av, Unarm)
1 BG x 4b Cavalry Xbow (Av)
1 BG x 4b Light Horse Xbow (Av)
2 BG x 6b Arquebusiers (MF, Av, Unarm)
1 BG x 8b Arquebusiers (LF, Av, Unarm)
1 BG x 8b Crossbowmen (MF, Pr, Unarm)
1 BG x 8b Crossbowmen (LF, Av, Unarm)
1 BG x 6b Greek Archers (LF, Av, Unarm)
1 BG x 8b Crossbowmen (LF, Pr, Unarm)
1 BG x 2b Medium Artillery
1 BG x 2b Light Artillery
794 points, 18 BG total
Bornu (Central Sudanese), 1515, Book 6
1 x GC C-in-C, 2 x TC SubG, 1 x Tuareg Ally TC
1 BG x 4b Lifida Cavalry (DH, Sup, Armrd, Lt Lance/Sword)
1 BG x 4b Cavalry (CV, Sup, Armrd, Lt Lance/Sword)
1 BG x 6b Cavalry (CV, Av, Armrd, Lt Lance/Sword)
2 BG x 4b Light Cavalry (LH, Av, Unarm, Javelin)
2 BG x 10b Spearmen (WR, Av, Unarm, Spear/Spear)
1 BG x 8b Archers (MF, Av, Unarm, Bow)
1 BG x 6b Archers (MF, Av, Unarm, Bow)
1 BG x 8b Javelinmen (LF, Av, Unarm, Javelin)
1 BG x 4b Arquebusiers (LF, Av, Unarm, Arquebus)
1 BG x 6b Guard (WR, Sup, Arm, Bow/Hvy Wpn/Hvy Wpn)
2 BG x 4b Tuareg Camelry (CM, Sup, Unarm, Lt Lance/Sword)
795 points, 14 BG total
The Bornu had the initiative and went for Agricultural. Various rough going terrain was on the table edges. One good hill was on the Venetian right and a vineyard in the Bornu left centre. The battle can roughly be divided into three parts. The Bornu put all their main cavalry on their left. In the centre was the guard, archers and spearmen. On their right was more archers and spearmen, the light horse and all the light foot on the far right to take terrain. Opposite the Bornu left, the Venetians deployed 2 BG of Gendarmes, the cavalry crossbowmen and 1 BG of Stradiots. In the centre, the Venetians had the artillery, arquebusiers and most of the light foot. Opposite the Bornu right, the Venetians had 2 more BG of Gendarmes, 2 BG Stradiots, 1 BG of light horse Crossbowmen. On the Venetian far left were the Greek archer light foot.
The Venetian plan was to slow the enemy centre down and attack with the mounted on both wings. The Bornu plan was simply to advance! On the Venetian left, their mounted quickly engaged the enemy with the Gendarmes & Stradiots blowing away the Bornu archers, spearmen and light cavalry. The spearmen held up well at first but lost cohesion. On the Venetian right, the big cavalry battle was on. 2 BG of Gendarmes took on the Bornu Lifida cavalry and both BG of Tuareg. The Tuareg were eventually broken down for no Venetian loss but the Lifida easily broke through their opponents. The Bornu superior cavalry made short work of the Venetian crossbowmen cavalry. The Bornu used their large average cavalry BG as a reserve and these filled the gap when the camels broke.
In the centre, the Venetian light foot and artillery peppered the advancing Bornu infantry but this had little effect. The Bornu guard advanced through the vineyard but this didn’t slow them down much. By the time, the Bornu centre had reached the enemy front line of arquebusiers; some Gendarmes on the Venetian left had managed to threaten the flank. However, the Venetian centre was also under severe pressure from the Bornu lifida cavalry who demolished some light and medium foot crossbowmen then took the camp. The Bornu camp was also lost, taken by Stradiots.
Shooting in the central sector was generally poor on both sides with few casualties. The Bornu guard managed to overwhelm some arquebusiers but then the Bornu line was flanked by Gendarmes. Although the spearmen held up well, supported by light cavalry, the Gendarmes proved to be too strong as 2 Bornu generals were lost in the same phase, one being the C-in-C. With that the Bornu army broke although the Venetians had lost 6.5 BG themselves.
Despite being only average, the Venetian Gendarmes proved to be too powerful for the Bornu, although one BG was lost quickly to the Bornu lifida. The game was close though.
Lessons learnt: Spearmen are good against cavalry and would have lasted longer with more luck. As they were classed as warriors the overlap advantage was still very useful. The shooting was poor all round and didn’t impact much on the game. Foot with bow against arquebus can be a good match especially if present in more numbers and at long range and superior. I didn’t think much at all of the camels despite being superior with a General. In the early period, I think many of the non-European armies have a good chance against many of the Europeans. In later periods, I think they will suffer from better enemy cavalry and firepower from protected shot. Next, I will try the Bornu against an early pike army.
Richard
