Strategically Evading Elephants

....and then we rolled a  ....  ran out of time!!

Having chastised the Sassanids the Tibetan Traders moved back into Indian to check the Gupta Hindus for health and hygiene compliance with a view to franchise options.

But in the planning stages for this game we had a change of heart and opted for a campaign strategic approach and to leave the battle tactics to more opportunistic forces.  A (winning) draw was deemed a good outcome, rather than risking a loss as we really needed the potential bonus points for the following week when we would take our one remaining campaign 'life' into a sudden death (for the Tibetans) game.

A surprisingly usable battlefield for the Tibetans

Terrain was selected as an experiment, to see how a maximum sized 2FE Marsh could be successfully deployed to split an enemy force.   

As in past battles with the Hindus, if we could neutralise the elephants then our cataphracts would take care of everything else.  Cavalry was taken to be an elephant holding force and fast light horse to out flank the enemy.

Table layout suited a plan of withholding the centre to entice them to advance and double e envelope them thereafter.  A light horse screen was to deploy centrally then exit (probably) stage right, the cavalry behind the Lh was to U-turn and move rearward further drawing the Hindus in and exposing their flanks.  Artillery was sited using a psiloi filled marsh as cover to shoot crosswise on the table and maximise the chances of killing elephants.

Tibetans open the trap - Hindus take the bait.

Despite having an unreliable (internal) ally, the Guptas took the bait.  Into the centre they came, the cavalry evaded, further onward they came until their right flank was taking artillery shots.  

As the artillery can choose it's targets I eventually had the option to target an elephant general.  The general lost, I called the death and .... "HUH!!???!?!!" said Anna-Toni Guptha (in a voice that only he/she can manage) - "Huh!!??!!   

"That'll be a dead general, thanks!"

When informed that ArtS quick-kills El, it was discovered that this was a point unknown to the Chief Gupta Guide.  "Ohhhh" he said (again in a voice only he can muster) "Ohhhh....mutter, mutter".  Without their general the command was pretty much out of the battle thereafter.

Tibetan right wing in full control.  Hindus keep advancing.

On our right wing we massed our light horse and bottled up the allied Gok Turk superior light horse between the wooded hill and enclosed fields and waited for the main Hindu centre to pass and expose itself.  The other ally became reliable after a few attempts which wasn't perfect but didn't change our plan.  A small group of LhF were dispatched to go over the WH on that flank and deal to the baggage and attack the Hindu centre from the rear.  This prompted the Goks to attack into the 3/4 encircling reception committee where they were annihilated.

In the centre, our cavalry eventually turned to fight, poorly as it turned out. 

The final position taking - Fighting about to commence.

I was somewhat peeved at the CvO's inability to stall the ElO (& iBdF) as my calculations said a general falling back was to be expected although Anthony's judicious use of overlaps did shorten the odds a bit and the dice were unkind. The unfortunate rolls saw a few holes open up with elephants breaking through but with the higher PiPs available and support from other commands the situation was contained and the flank attacks were started in earnest.  

Clearly it was only a matter of time before the Hindus broke.

I wasted some valuable game time trying to get a battle winning rear attack on an elephant general but the measurements just wouldn't quite reach regardless of which elements were moved first to make room.  And in trying so hard for the kill I missed seeing the option to actually flank attack said general and turn him into a bad position (with a sudden death dice roll).

So as the clock ran down, we pushed ahead as fast as we could because the Hindus had
a) a generalless shattererted command where the Tibetan light horse were into the baggage and had direct access to (the somewhat distant) enemy forces' rear
b) a generalless disheartened command
c) a disteartened CinC's command but still with effective El.
d) a command with casualties but more importantly with Tibetans in immeadiate reach of serveral element rears' including their general's

Saved by the Bell!!  Hindus effectively surrounded and Tibetans closing in from two quarter in their rear.

But there wasn't quite enough time, it expired and the Hindu's 40% plus casualties & two dead generals hit them with a huge 10 penalty points against the 9ME (7 elements) the Tibetans had lost (out of 73) for an overall difference  of 8 - but giving a rather meagre 15-10 result.

Next game it's back to the Kush for a final "do or die" effort to take the King of the Table position from those gastronoically challenged Hepthalites.