Mitannian Maryannu 2

 

Here are some 15mm Mitannian Maryannu that I've just finished painting. The figures are by Gladiator Miniatures and Old Glory 15s. The Old Glory 15s two horse chariots don't come with a yoke for the horses so I had to make some out of wire and glue them on. The Gladiator Miniatures crew are a very tight fit in the chariot and I swapped some of the unarmoured horses, for horses with barding when I made the order. These will be opponents for my 15mm Hittites and New Kingdom Egyptians. 

I painted some 28mm Wargames Foundry Mitanni a few years ago, see this post:

https://bucellarii.blogspot.com/2018/07/mitannian-maryannu.html

I do prefer the bigger figures with my worsening eyesight but the price of Foundry chariots are 18 to 22 pounds each now! Fortunately I already have quite a few Foundry and Warlord/Cutting Edge chariots and recently bought some of the excellent Magister Militum Mitanni chariots, great value with a pack of five chariots for about 27 pounds! Eventually I'd like to refight the Battle of Megiddo.

The Landing - Lion Rampant A Viking in the Sun Game

 

Muslim defenders on the left, Byzantine attackers on the right

Opposite end

Abd Allah leads his cavalry and infantry

Muslim archers

Muslim Fierce Foot, archers and light infantry

Byzantine skirmishers, Varangians, spearmen & archers

Forces advance

Muslim Fierce Foot attack skirmishers

On Wednesday morning I played a solo Lion Rampant A Viking in the Sun game out in the shed. The scenario was The Landing (p.80.) in Sicily with the Muslim defenders led by Abd Allah fighting the Byzantine attackers led by Harald Hardrada. The aim for the Byzantines and Varangians under Harald was basically to exit the northern edge of the table with as many units as possible. 

This proved to be a tough scenario for the attackers in my game. Only the Varangians under Harald escaped to fight another day and only one unit of Muslim Fierce Foot was destroyed. It was a comprehensive victory for the Muslims with five Byzantine units destroyed, two of these nearly made it off the table. 

Muslim Fierce Foot retreat battered

Byzantine spearmen charge

Spearmen retreat battered, Varangians make a break for it

Muslim heavy cavalry charge the Varangians

Their attack is beaten off

They charge again into the spearmen

The spearmen break - Muslims win

Lion Rampant A Viking in the Sun Supplement

 

Yesterday in the mail I got the new Lion Rampant A Viking in the Sun supplement from Northstar. This was eagerly awaited as it covers the Mediterranean adventures of Harald Hardrada and I really enjoyed the previous one, Lion Rampant The Crusader States. I quickly read it cover to cover. Like it's predecessor, Lion Rampant A Viking in the Sun, is beautifully illustrated, it has four main chapters covering Harald and his World, New Upgrades and Optional Rules, Army Lists and Campaigns. 

A second edition of the Lion Rampant rules is due to be published by Osprey in 2022 but the core rules are still the same. The Army Lists covers The Varangian Guard, Byzantines, Southern Italian Principalities, Normans and Muslim Powers of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. The chapter on Campaigns includes three scenarios based on Harald's campaigns in the Holy Land, Sicily and Southern Italy. Again highly recommended, there's a lot of fun gaming to be had with this supplement.

Below are some Almoravid Moor archers that I've just finished painting, the figures are by Artizan Designs. I will use these for my Muslim force in Sicily against Harald with the Varangian Guard and Byzantines in my planned solo game of Scenario 2.1 The Landing (p.80), an amphibious operation. Hopefully I will play that sometime next week.

Hatti versus Alisaya Chariots Rampant Game

 

Hittites left, Cypriots right

Hittite left flank

Hittite centre

Hittite right flank

Cypriot left flank

Cypriot centre

Cypriot right flank

Forces advance

On Sunday morning out in the shed, we played a Chariots Rampant game with the invading forces of Hatti taking on the defending forces of Alisaya (Cyprus). The Cypriot forces were Later Mycenaeans. Two Hittite kings, Tudhaliya IV(1237-1209 BC) and Suppiluliuma II (1207-? BC) actually campaigned in Cyprus, most probably to secure grain supplies, see Trevor Bryce's book Warriors of Anatolia pp.238-239 and pp.258-263 for details. The Hittites had the early advantage in the game but in the end both sides suffered heavy casualties, with something of a Pyrrhic victory for the Hittites.

Chariots exchange missile fire

Cypriot chariots retreat

Cypriot spearmen charge in the centre

Cypriot chariots suffer casualties

Hittite firing is effective

More casualties for the Cypriots

Hittites continue firing on their left flank

Heavy casualties for both sides but the Hittites win

Greek Light Cavalry

Here are a few photos of some Greek light cavalry that I've just finished painting. These are from the Victrix plastic set Greek Light Cavalry. 

Yesterday we went on a walk from Casuarina Sands to Kambah Pool. National Parks and Reserves in the ACT have just been opened up with the easing of lockdown restrictions, so it was good to go for a walk and stretch the legs. It's been a very wet spring here and the Murumbidgee River was in full flood.

Cotter bridge with the river in flood

Flood debris piled high