Slitherine

I am about to enter first my game using Battle Wagons. I have a BG of 4 battle wagons arranged two by two in 2 columns side by side. It appears that if the BG is attacked from either side the wagons on the opposite side can not aid their comrades on the threatened side. They can not engage in overhead shooting either in the Shooting Phase or the Impact Phase. They can not count as a second row "fighting two ranks deep" in the Melee Phase.

Thus, each battle wagon (while counting as two stands wide if fighting from their flank) will always be disadvantaged by never being able to count as two ranks deep.

Is that correct?

It seems the best way to deploy them is in a single line, maneuvering to present it's flank to the enemy as the enemy approaches. It also seems that for ease of maneuvering one might want them deployed in BG's of 2.

Any tactical advice would be welcome.

Thanks. Terry G.

Yes you are correct. There is no benefit from a second rank really.

Battle wagons are best used in a column, with the side facing to the enemy. In this way, a BG of 4 wagons can cover a width of 8 element frontages. They are quite good at blocking the enemy, particularly enemy mounted. And they can also put out quite a lot of shooting. And if they get broken in hand to had, the enemy does not pursue (bottom page 99). So their role can be to block an enemy avenue of approach. They enemy have to either go a different way or put in enough troops to take out the wagons, and the lack of pursuit means they can take longer to get back in the battle.

Thank you Graham. Upon further review I see most opponents shoot at battle wagons with a "-" POA which offsets the fact they get no second rank shooting. Also I failed to note that battle wagons melee with two dice per front rank base width which offsets the fact they don't get a second rank in the combat. So they are not as disadvantaged in shooting and combat as I had first thought.

Terry G.