DBA - Pre-feudal Scots v Anglo-Danish

This was another 36-element-a-side Big Battle DBA game. The sides were Pre-feudal Scots with Orkney Viking allies against Anglo-Danes with Welsh allies. Each main force had two DBA armies, which could be divided into two commands (of 6 & 18, 9 & 15 or 12 & 12 elements) and the allies one DBA army. The forces were:

Pre-feudal Scots III/45
2 x 3Cv (generals)
2 x 2LH
4 x 4Wb
4 x 3Wb
12 x 3Sp
4 x 2Ps

Viking allies III/40
1 x 4Bd (general)
10 x 4Bd
1 x 3Bw

Anglo-Danish III/71
2 x 4Bd (gerneral)
4 x 4Bd
16 x 4Sp
2 x 2Ps

Welsh allies III/19
1 x 3Wb (general)
9 x 3Wb
2 x 2Ps

The picture below is the view from the Scots side of the table The Scots plan was to hold off the Anglo-Danes in the centre with massed spears, refuse their right flank and hold the bad going there with light infantry and the Galwegian warbands, and use the Vikings on the left as the attacking wing. The Anglo-Danes placed their Welsh allies on their left to contest the bad going, had a strong centre including most of the huscarls, and a right mainly of spearmen.

It seemed to be going well for the Scots as the Vikings advanced and the Saxons opposite got a succession of rolls of 1 and 2 for pips. However the Saxons did manage to deploy fully before the Vikings charged in and a tough slogging match began. In the centre (below) the Scots held back and forced the Danes to advance to contact.

On their right the Scots got the best of the fighting as the Welsh were unable to get rid of the persistent javelinmen, and the Scots readied their light cavalry to move through a gap that appeared to be opening up between the Anglo-Danish centre and left (see picture below).

On the Scots left the Vikings, too hemmed in to make their advantage in numbers count, did not make a lot of progress and the fighting went back and forth with neither side getting the upper hand. (Below.)

It looked like the Scots might get a breakthrough on their right as the Welsh struggled against the Galwegians and the Scots cavalry threatened (below). In the centre, however, the Danish huscarls made count their slight advantage of being Blades against Spears who did not get their second rank and wore down the Scots spearmen until the Scots broke. As this was the command of the Scots commander-in-chief that was it - game over.

Good work again by Mr. G- P- commanding the Anglo-Danes. With hindsight the Scots, who had the advantage of setting up second, should have used the Vikings against the huscarls in the centre where Blades against Blades would have cancelled out and used their Spears against the English Spears. There was also plenty space round the Anglo-Danish left for the Scots cavalry to outflank the Welsh but instead the cavalry stood in reserve waiting to exploit a breakthrough which never happened. Not very good work by the Scots commander - okay, me.