First Punic War AAR

[RufusTFirefly]

Very curious about what will happen, when Romans land in Africa.
 
There was not yet much information about what the Carthagiens do as most of their moves seem to be outside the recon abilities of Roman army.

[Grymme]

Season XVI - May 239 BC

Nothing much happens this round. Storms rage in the meditteranian sea but my fleets seem unharmed. I still loose a lot of supply, some 400.

Havent had a political disorder event either. Hmm.. bugs in the scenario?

In Sardinia my army advance and sight a large Carthaginian Phalanx with around 1500 men and 10-20 war elephants. My army is starting to suffer from lack of supplies. The HQ is moved to escape the naval blockade.

In Sicily there is a stalemate. I am not willing to attack all over the line right now so i just bombard the Carthaginian line with my siege engines killing some 250-500 men in the skirmishes.

My IV army embarks in the harbour of Ostia. So far it has 6 500 infantry, 500 cavalry and 1 500 officers (there will be a lot more infantry in the army eventually.

Three roman fleets converge on the single Carthaginian navy blockading Sardinia.

No screen this round.

Rufus. Thanks. Carthaginian moves are a mystery to me also. Half waiting to meet a huge 50 000+ army when i land in Africa.

[RufusTFirefly]

Storms seem to appear mainly in May. I would have expected the December to be the stormy season.
Does storm always effect the whole Mediterranian Sea or does it differ from region to region?

[Grymme]

It can potentially effect the entire region, but each hex is rolled for separatly. But as it seems they havent had much effect. I have beefed up the event in my latest update. I havent graded the chance of storms appearing by month, it would be cool, but the event is complex at it is.

(possible there is an effect of the editorcommand used to create the event that makes units with hemiolas immune to the storm).

[Grymme]

Season XVII - November 239 BC

The blockade of my armies on Sardinia is still on. Virtually all supply sent to Sardinia is captured.

The carthaginian navies responsible for the blockade has moved to follow up the move of my HQ. My troops are recieving no supply and will start to starve next round. Losses in combat is increased because of their weakness.

My transport fleet carrying IV Field army moves from Ostia down towards Sicily. New troops (mainly some 1 150 cavalry) are loaded up on a second transport fleet. They will be followed by some 1 200 infantry next round.

In Sardinia my troops try to enter the seemingly undefended city of Caralis. Suddenly they are ambushed and driven back. Losses amount so some 250 men for no kills.

In other skirmishes on Sardinia and Sicily losses for the romans amount to something like 1 450 men for 1 150 carthaginians.

Catastrophy strikes as Carthaginian raiders sink two transports with 1 500 men heading for Sardinia.

My navies take up position in the strait between Sardinia and Corsica to block out the carthaginian blockading navy.

[Grymme]

Season XVIII - May 238 BC


Short turn after my semester break.


Rumours abound that there is political disorder in the Carthaginian senate. Raiders kill a Carthaginian hemiola and some 500 infantry.

Nothing much happens during my season. My IV army is sadly loaded on a fleet that doesnt have any supply. Both the fleet and the army is in sorry affairs and will have to land in Sicily on the next season. The second fleet of the same army takes of from Ostia.

Skirmishes continue on Sicily. Elements of my I consular army forces carthaginian skirmishers to retreat in the mountains of Etna. Losses some 250 carthaginians and 450 romans.

In Sardinia my III army retreats a little because of the supply problems.

Production shifted to Hemiolas and supply.

No screenshot this season.

[Grymme]

Season XIX December 238BC

No special events during this round and no carthaginian movement at all.

A very quiet season.

My fleet that was carrying the invasion force lands in Syracuse. All syracusan production is diverted to supply for the invasion army and for the fleet. Luckily they didnt meet any carthage navies because it could have meant disaster.

Following it is a second fleet with a small infantry unit and a cavalry unit. Once they catch up with the fleet in Sicily both will move for Africa and Carthage.

Nothing else happens in Sardinia or Sicicly. I move some 2 000 men in reinforcements from rome to Syracuse and move 20 or so siege engines in toward the Carthage lines. Dont want to start any large offensives now before i see what happense in Africa.

Production shifted towards tiremes and supply.

No screenshot this season since almost nothing happened.

[Grymme]

Season XIX - June 237 BC


Nothing happens during the carthage round. No special events. What is the carthage player doing?

My IV army (the invasion army) puases to rest and recover readiness at Syracuse. Reinforcements are sent the continously. The second fleet transporting elements of the IV army stays at Messina and a third fleet is on its way. The units in Syracuse seem to have around 60 in readiness so they will go next round. Although i have no reason to believe that the carthage player will attack me anywhere there is a timelimit in the campaign (45 rounds). If i dont win within that timelimit it will be a draw. So most likely my fleet will continue next season.

Small skirmishes in Sardinia net a 100 carthaginian losses for 50 roman. A carthaginian scouting team is repulsed.


Screenshot shows situation in Sicily.

[Grymme]

Season XX - November 237 BC

No special events. I am loosing a lot of supply which makes me suspect Carthaginian raiders. A fleet is searching the islands around Lipara without results.

II fleets in Sicily take of with the first invasionwave consisting of some 15 150 infantry and 500 cavalry. Reinforcements will follow.

Another fleet is cruising out west of Sardinia and Corsica in an atempt to hurt carthaginian supply.

Nothing special happens on land. As a lot of supply is interdicted between Ostia and Sicily i am cautios about starting something big in Sicily. My forces just bombard and skirmish with carthaginian troops causing some 150 losses.

No changes in production. Still focusing on ships.

[Grymme]

Season XXI - May 236 BC

No special events. No special movement during Carthage round.

My invasionfleet sails past the islands south of Sicily and are closing in on the african navy.

Naval scouting reveals that 2 huge carthage navies are on the northern coast of Sicily so they will be out of reach for my invasion fleet. Next round will be S-Season.

Skirmishes and bombardment in Sicily provide some 450 carthaginians killed.


Production shifted a little towards officers.

[Grymme]

Season XXII - December 236 BC


During Carthages round our fleet positioned between Sicily and Sardinia rampages through the carthaginian supply lines sinking ships, destroying men and supply. Carthage sends 2 fleets to destroy the roman fleet. During the battle 40 roman ships are sinked and many more damaged for 30 carthaginian sunk.

The crippled roman fleet flees south, it will sacrifice itself to protect the invasion fleet.

Carthage has apparently landed siege engines on Sicily. They bombard roman trenchlines killing some 150 men. Roman siege engines strike back killing some 200 carthaginian men.

During my round i land the first invasion wave in africa. Tharsus is captured without resistance, see screenshot. Unfortunatly one fleet has lost all supply and is unable to make it for the coast imediatly. On the way to africa the small island Melita is captured.

[AttuWatcher]

Thanks for the AAR Grymme. It's helpful as I play Punic Wars and learn the AT system.

[Grymme]

Season XXIII - May 235 BC

Storms rage the meditteranian sea. All of my fleets are caught in the storm and loose a lot of readiness. Should the carthaginians strike now they would have playtime with the roman fleets.

My army has landed in Africa, unopposed, so far. I am also shipping in some reinforcements. But the invading army has lost a lot of readiness and will need to rest for a while.

Small skirmishes in Sicily cause some 400 carthaginian casualties.

To be honest i am thinking about calling it quits for this game soon. I dont know what Carthage is up to, but its pretty clear i am going to take this one home. (in stark contrast to the WWI game).




Screenshot shows the invading army and my various damaged fleets.