Battle Report- Poseidon's Warriors: Battle off Cyprus

This is the continuing recreation of the Ionian Revolt.  The Ionian Revolt was a revolt against the Persian Empire by the Ionian Greeks and their allies prior to the Greco-Persian War.  It took place from 499 to 493 BCE.  It was a land and sea affair, so I am using a combination of Poseidon's Warriors and Men of Bronze to re-create the campaign.  Both are from the Osprey Wargaming Series.  In addition, Men of Bronze has a specific supplement for the conflict called The Ionian Revolt. 

The Ionians were assisted by the Greek cities of Athens and Eretria, who sent 20 Triremes to aid them.  Together, the Greeks managed to attack the Persian provincial capital at Sardis.  They were initially successful, and pushed the Persian Garrison into the Citadel.  However, they were unable to take the city.  Eventually, the lower city caught fire and the Greeks had to withdraw with their booty. 

In the attack, a nearby shrine to Cybele was destroyed.  This incensed the local people against the Greeks.  When the Persian Garrison emerged, the local populace flocked to their banner against the Greeks.  The Persians pursued the Greeks and caught up to them outside Ephesus.  The Greeks were brought to battle there, and defeated.

Despite the loss, the Ionian Revolt spread.  The Ionians managed to gain the support of the Carians, and many other cities in the region.  They all rose up against the Persians.  The island of Cyprus also decided to rise up.  All the cities except for one decided to rebel.  The other cities laid siege to the lone loyalist city.  However, the Persians sent aid tot he island, supported by a Phoenician fleet.  The rebels reached out to the Ionians for help.  They also responded with a fleet and an army.  

Today, we are going to be fighting the Naval engagement that occurred off the coast of Cyprus.  Supposedly, this Naval battle was fought at the same time as a land battle against the Persian army.  The Greeks won at Sea, but lost on land.  This battle took place in 497 BCE, and we only know the outcome from Herodotus.

Once we get the results of the sea battle, we will also be playing the land battle using the scenario in The Ionian Revolt supplement for Men of Bronze.   

Forces:

Persians

1 Slow Trireme unit with admiral and elite troops

4 Slow Trireme units     

Ionians

1 Fast Trireme with Admiral and 

1 Fast Trireme

3 Slow Triremes

Set-up:

This battle will take place on a 6x4 table.  The Western short edge will be the coast off of Salamis.  The Persians will be coming from the South with the Ionians coming from the North.  

The Phoenician Fleet of the Persians

Both fleets have deployed for a standard engagement, with the Ionians having their Fast Triremes on the left edge furthest out to sea.  The two sides spread out across the ocean by Squadron. 

The Ionian Greeks from the North

Mission: 

This will be a straight up battle, with both sides looking to sink the opposing fleet.  The basic scenario is found in the main rulebook. 

Instead of my normal turn-by-turn breakdown, I am going to try to break the game down into the Maneuver Phase, the Battle Phase, and the End Game section.  Something a bit different to ease the load of book keeping, and to avoid me taking too much time typing during the actual game! 

Maneuver Phase

The Ionian Fast Triremes broke to the East and rowed as fast as they could to create separation and to try to get around the flank of the Persians, while the Ionian slow Triremes tried to anchor them in place by moving forward.  

The Phoenicians started out aggressively moving forward, but then began to adopt a more defensive "bow" shaped formation as the Ionian plan evolved. 

Battle Phase

The battle gets started proper with the Persian admiral's squadron peppering the Greek 3rd Squadron with arrows.  Causing some damage.  The return fire causes the Admirals ship to lose its Archers and an oar bank!  

The Persian admiral's squadron rushes forward, but misjudges the distance and comes up short on a Ram!  This leaves them dangerously exposed.  Reduced archer fire damages one of the Greek Triremes.

The Ionian Greeks charge forward, and 1 Trireme from the 3rd Squadron smashed into and through a Phoenician vessel from the Persian Admiral's squadron, causing the  Persian ship to sink rapidly.  First blood to the Greeks!

The initial ramming of the main battle lines is relatively even with the Greeks losing 6 to the Persian 5 triremes.  However, it looks like the Fast Triremes have managed to get behind the Persian lines.  

End Game

The Fast Trireme's land heavy on the Persian flank.  They strike and sink three Phoenician ships quickly and easily.  However, it maybe too little too late as the Persian ships smash the Ionian main line into flotsam.  

With half of their ships sunk, the Greeks turn and sail away, using their superior speed to escape. 

 Conclusion

The Persians lost 12 ships to the Ionians losing 3.  However, the Greeks lost the all important Morale check at the end of the game.  Both of the fleet's admirals survived but the Persian admiral was a bit worse for wear.  An ahistorical finish! 

As the Persian commander, I just got there "the firstest with the mostest".  I thought my blundered initial attack would be the death of me, but it managed to draw in the Ionians to an attack, when they may have been better suited staying back 1 turn longer to time the flank attack better.  My blunt force approach worked out this time. 

In the last game, I had some challenges tracking individual ship damage.  However, I used my big, stand-up white board this time, and that made tracking it much easier.  Losing oar banks from shooting ended up being important in this battle.  This is a quick and easy game to set-up and play.    

During the Battle for Cyprus on land, some Cypriote units "changed sides" which led to a Persian victory.  Thanks to the victory in the sea battle, we will change the target number for desertion to make it more likely Cypriote troops will turn on their Ionian allies.  The benefit for the Persians winning this encounter at sea.  Since the land and sea battle supposedly took place at the same time, I can see some of the land forces decided to switch sides once the Ionian fleet fled.    

 

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