First Punic War AAR

[Grymme]

Pre-game information

After many atempts i hope that i have gotten my scenario "the First Punic War" ready.

I am currently fighting a game against Bombur. I am playing Rome. He is playing Carthage.

Restricted HQ option is on. (HQs can only be created in the capitals)
Skirmishers option is on. (it is possible to produce skirmishers, a weak infantry/with a little artillery capacity)
Mountain and desert attrition is on. (forces in mountains and desert can loose strenght)

For the rules of the scenario see the mod thread in the mod section or check out the scenariopage on my webpage. Scenario is downloadable from the webpage.

Here is the mod thread
tm.asp?m=2110382

Here is the starting situation. Rome basicly controls mainland italy up the Pisae/Ariminium line (parallel to the north of Corsics). In Sicily Rome controls the northeastern corner through their allies the Mamertines.

Syracuse who is an AI ally of Carthage controls southeastern Sicily.

Carthage controls the rest of Sicily. Sardinia and Corsica. Africa and has two allied cities (Genoa and Massilia) in northern italy.

At the start of the game i have 2 consular armies. One around the straights of Messina is headed by Claudius Caudex and another one northwest of Rome controlled by Fulvius Flaccus. Each army has 2 legions, I also have 2 medium sized navies. I recieve 46 manpower/round. Producing 1 unit generally cost 1 manpower.

Game lasts for 45 seasons (rounds).

Bombur: You are welcome to post here also if you would like to.

Screenshot of the whole map.

[Grymme]

I Season - January 246 BC (engine cant handle BC so these numbers will be screwed up)

No special events occure during this season.

I start loading up the I Consular Army around Messina to ship them over to Sicily. II Consular Army moves out of the mountains since staying there will cost attrition (it has already suffered some).

Garrison in Tarantum is strenghtened a little. The scenario has no trucks or any other landcap movement. So all strategic transfer goes by sea. Otherwise the armies have to walk. This makes control of the sea very important.

Currently the production is foccused on ships and some infantry.


Screenshot shows the situation around the Messina strait.

[Grymme]

II Season - June 246

There is drought in the Meditteranian area. Supply cost for this round is something like 3-600 % of the normal. Also there are storms at sea. My II Fleet looses a lot of readiness but thankfully no ships.

On my second season my I Consular army ships parts over to Sicily. My allied Mamertines go on the offensive and capturen Tyndaris. Also a huge Syracusan force is sighted to the south. More parts of I Consular army loaded up.

III and IV fleets formed.

II Consular army spread over italy.


Here is the production screen. Note that production of supply is only 1/6th of what it could potentially be because of the drought. Hopefully it will not last.

Production focused on officers, hemiola and some infantry.


Screenshot shows production at start of season 2 (with drought).

[Grymme]

Season III -December 246

Thankfully the drought has seized. There are also no storms in the meditteranian area. So our supply coffins are once again plentifull.

During the Carthage round a Syracusan army made an assault on Messina. Thankfully the city held even though the defending legions suffered large casualties (around 1700 men). The devius Syracusans only suffered 500 men in losses.

Also a Syracusan navy moved in close to the Messina strait.

During my round i decided to form a III Consular Army (because of the HQ restriction option this can only be done in Rome). Partly because i need more tactical flexibility and partly because i got acces to a new leader in Valerius Maximus. I gave his army a core of officers, but recruitment of men had to be left for the next season.

II Consular Army remain garrisoned the Roman coastline while more parts of I Consular army (including its HQ) is shipped over to Sicily. Garrisons on Sicily is strenghtened through shiptransfers.

Also my fledgling navy decide to attack the syracusan navy. In a large naval battle the Syracusan navy looses some 40 tiremes with little losses for the romans (40 % of their total strenght).

Production for next round is upped to recruit some 4 350 men (mostly plain infantry, some scouts and officers. This is actually 2 000 more than the total available manpower each season, so some reserves have to be called in. Roman reserves in manpower are still ok though.

Because of the sensitive nature of military operations the screenshot will show the situation aróund sicily at the start of the season (scouts report a large syracusan army south of Messina).

[Grymme]

Season IV - June 245 BC

Bombur has promised not to look at the AAR so i will post a little more detailed screenshot.

No special events this round. During the Carthage Syracuse round the Syracusans assault Tyndaris (the city in Sicily with the gray coloured garrison). My allied Mamertines manage to fight them back but loose almost half the garrison (some
1 000 men). Supply losses are huge because of the Syracusan fleet ravaging the Messina strait.

II Consular army is still garrisoned on the western coast around Rome.

Newly formed III consular army is fleshed out with a unit of some 2 000 infantrymen and another unit of 550 cavalry. A transport fleet of Hemiolas is anchored of the port of Rome (dont remember the name). In a season or two i will start a campaign against Sardinia or Corsica.

In Sicily My army in Messina fall in the back of the Syracusan army who is almost wholly consisting of cavalry. After fierce fighting the Syracusans retreat with some 1500 losses. Roman losses are similar.

The rest of the Syracusan fleet in the Messina strait is utterly crushed in a second battle. Some 20 roman tiremes go down with them.

Another fast squadron of tiremes is sent to catch Carthage merchants traveling between Sicily and Africa.

Still havent seen any movements of the Carthage forces. Strange since Carthage has more than twice the size of the Roman navy at the start. Maybe he is busy raising War elephants´:)

Production is slightly switched toward PP and some ships. Producing some 2 500 (50) infantry and cavalry 20-30 (2-3) ships and 15PPs.


Screenshot shows movements in Sicily.

[Grymme]

Season V - December 245

No special events during this season.

During Carthages round a weak Carthage phalanx was assaulting Tyndaris. The Mamartines beat them back causing some 850 losses to 500 own. My small tireme raiding fleet was destroyed by a huge 500+ tireme carthage fleet.

During my round III Consular army (now consisting of 2 roman legionary elements and some cavalry embarks for an unknown destination. Hopefully it will invade Sardinia or Corsica next season.

In Sicily I consular army fights a second battle against the Syracusans and yet again beat them back. Losses amount to some 1 900 men for the syracusans and around 1 000 men for the romans. The Syracusans run back into the mountains and the road to Tyndaris is free of enemies. Almost all of the army is now landed in Syracuse except for a small cavalry element. This includs a strong reinforcement for Tyndaris.

Production is again shifted a little for ships. This round producting some 250 officers, 1 050 Auxilliary infantry, 1 850 infantry, 200 scouts and 100 skirmishers. Also producing 20 hemiola, 10 Quintireme and 10 tireme. Some 11 political points and 2 000 supply.

No map this round.

[RufusTFirefly]

Nice AAR. But I am waiting for the attack of the Carthage units [;)]

[Grymme]

Hi Rufus.

Thanks. If you read the last season AAR closely you will see that the Carthage army probably is somewhere in the mountain west of Tyndaris. But in this scenario regular infantry doesnt have any recon points (you need scouts, skirmishers or cavalry for that). So i cannot see them.

Traveling in Italy now. Will resume gaming and AAR in a couple of days.

[Grymme]

Season VI - June 244 BC

There is drought in the meditteranian area. Also storms are raging at sea. No roman ships are sunk though since most fleets are in port or shallow water.

Scouts report a small Carthagenian force moving in the mountains around Tyndaris. Syracusans blood themselves pointlessly in a serious of attacks on Tyndaris loosing some 1 350 men for virtually no roman losses.

During the Roman turn things start to heat up.

In a series of landings the III Consular army invades on different locations in Korsica. Three cities imediatly surrender without resistance. No sighting of enemy forces.

[Grymme]

Cont.

In a series of pitched battles the Syracusan siege of Messina is finally brooken. Losses are light on the roman side with something like 200 men lost. Syracusan losses amount to around 1 000 men. The syracusan army retreats in disorder and the head scouts can almost spot Hiero among his officers but the enemy dictator eludes his roman enemies.

[Grymme]

Season VII - November 244 BC

Nothing much happened during the enemies seasons. Syracusans routed an unit of auxilliary cavalry, causing some 400 in losses for 100 own.

In Corsica my III consular army conquered the last of the four towns on the Island. Although they dont produce units each town produces 0,5 manpower each round. Owning Corsica will let me recruit ca 100 men more each round and the same loss for Carthage. After the conquest the majority of III army units are loaded back up on their ships.

Some newbuild raiders are sent out to hunt down Carthage shipping.

In Sicily Carthage is still suspiciusly absent. I do not know what Bomburs plan is. I guess he must have a huge army somewhere. My II Consular army is still driving back the Syracusans. In a series of skirmishes syracusans are once again driven back to the river.

Production is heavily shifted towards siege units building 4 units of siege engines. Also building some tiremes, quintiremes and a lot of officers (ca 400). Roman armies suffer a shortage of trained officers.


________________________
Screenshot shows production this season.

[Grymme]

Season VIII - may 243 BC

Storms rage the meditteranian. I still havent had any ships sunk. Im not sure the event works as is now.

Carthage moves up a large phalanx outside Tyndaris. Scouts report the unit to contain some 2 500 - 3 500 infantry. (the grey 129 point unit left of Tyndaris). Nothing much else happened. Also my raiders have started to sink some Carthage shipping.

During my round i embark my III field army in northern Sardinia. My raiders move in to close down the sealines between Sardinia and the rest of the Carthage empire.

My siege engines together with some 500 fresh officers embark on a fleet moving to Sicily.

In Sicily my I Consular army slaughter large parts of the Syracusan army. The road to Syracuse seem to be open. Unless the Carthaginians do something to stop the advance.

Production shifted to cavalry. Producing some 500 auxiliary cavalry and 250 cavalry and to infantry producing more than 1 500 infantry.

[Grymme]

Season IX - December 243 BC

During the Carthage and Syracusan seasons not much happened. Predictably the Carthaginians hunted down my raiding fleet and destroyed it, but not without losses for themselves.

Syracusans counterattacked in the mountains south of Messina very ineffectually. Some 1 500 men died on the syracusan side for only 400 romans.

At the start of my season i recieve Cornelius Scipio in Rome.

My III army in Sardinia have taken Tibula and Olbia on the norhthern part of the Island and are marching south.

In Sicily my auxilliary infantry are crossing the river and closing in on Syracuse, which seem to be defenseless for some reason. Skirmishers skirmish with Carthage units, to no effect. Cornelius Scipio is shipped to Messina together with some 1 000 cavalry and auxilliary cavalry. Also my siege engines are sent the same way.

I am saving up PP to construct tiremes with corpus. I have 39PP saved and need 50.

My armies are getting large and i am having to start shifting production massivly towards supply.

Here is a screenshot of losses so far.

[Grymme]

Season X - May 242 BC

Storms rage the meditteranian sea. Two of my largest fleet loose some readiness as a result. But no ships (as far as i can see).

Roman naval shipyards discover that they can put an Corvus on tiremes to make them more effective.

In Sardinia my forces advance without any resistance. Where are the Carthaginian armies?

In Sicily my I Consular army moves into Syracusa which in the end was more or less undefended. Siege engines land in Tyndaris to harass the Carthaginians outside the city.

Reinforcements (including Cornelius Scipio sent down towards the Army HQ).

South of Sicily a large Carthaginian fleet (some 100 tireme) is discovered (purple fleet). My fleet does not have strenght to handle it itself so retreats, but my second fleet is sent to the rescue. Hopefully i will strike next season.

[Grymme]

Season XI - December 242 BC

Things are heating up. Carthage tries to mount an surprise assault on Tyndaris. A 3 000 man strong force together with war elephants asault the city. The attackers loose almost 50 % casualties while only inflicting some 500 casualties on the defenderts.

A weak Carthaginian force is rumored to move around in Sardinia.

Also a Carthaginian navy is sighted north of Sicily.

During my round the III Propreator Army is moved to spot the enemy in Sardinia. Scouts report it seems to consist only of some 400 infantry.

In Sicily elements of the I Consular Army mounts a counter offensive against the Carthaginians besieging Tyndaris. Most of them are killed, with small losses for our forces. The War elephants escape though. Army commander Cornelius Scipio is joined with his army HQ.

The Syracusan forces rally around Enna. Roman forces around Syracuse beat them back further and the city of Netum south of Syracuse is captured.

2 roman fleets converge on the lone Carthaginian fleet. A sea battle is initiated, but with little damage to both sides. The roman admirals fear what the mighty Carthaginian navy might do next.

Production remains a mix of ships, cavalry, officers and infantry.

--------------------
A side note. It seems the Syracuse AI doesnt have the sense to defend Syracuse. Anyone know what settings should be selected to ensure this. Also a suggestion for AT2 would be the possibility for the editing of each AI power separatly.

[Grymme]

Season XII - May 241 BC

Storms rage the meditteranian sea. The two fleets imediatly to the north of Sicily loose some readiness, but no ships. The Carthaginians much to my surprise decide not to attack my two fleets and the one carthagian fleet in contact flees before surprised roman eyes.

Nothing much happens during Carthage round. The small corps in Sardinia haves a skirmish with my cavalry in the Sardinian mountain. Losses are some 50-200 men on both sides.

Carthage fleets move in around Sardinia, on to Corsica.

During my round i make an costly assault on the Carthage position outside Tyndaris. I loose some 1 000 men to 400 carthaginians. I also try to assault the Syracusan stronghold of Enna but the assault fail with some 1 100 in losses for the romans. Losses for the syracusans are less than 300 men. In the south i capture Herolus after skirmishes with weak Syracusan forces occupiying the city.

All fleets at sea recieve some reinforcements. Reinforcements in infantry and cavalry shipped to Sicily from Rome. No reinforcements shipped to Sardinia because of the Carthage blockade of the Island.

No change in production.

No screenshot this round.

[Grymme]

Season XIII - December 241 BC

Nothing much happens during the Carthage round. Carthage fleets are still up north between Sardinia and Corsica. Supply losses from Ostia to Sardinia are large.

Senator A. Atilius Caitinus arrive in Rome.

In Sicicly the assault on Enna continues. Syracusans still hold out. Losses around 900 men for Romans and 500 men for the Syracusans.

Dicator Hiero of Syracuse is dead! He and his staff was caught by roman legionnaries outside Enna and slaughtered.

Carthage forces outside Tyndaris is beaten out of the mountains and into the plains. Scouts reveal a second Carthage phalanx in the mountains. The scouts also confirm that this phalanx contain war elephants.

Roman fleets converge to go on the offensive against carthage and move into the strait between Sicily and Sardinia.

A large roman draught summon men from all over the republic. Production is shifted massivly towards infantry, cavalry and groups of siege engines. Some 4 000 infantry, 1 000 cavalry and 2 battalions of siege engines are called into arms.

Screenshot shows the situation for the III Army in Sardinia. Take note of the Carthage navy in the north.

[Grymme]

A second screenshot shows the situation in Sicily on season XIII

The romans are fighting the carthaginians in the north and Syracuse in the south. Syracusans are holding out in Enna and Camarina in the uttermost south. They are leaderless now.

Note the roman navies in the Sicily-Sardinia strait.

[Grymme]

Season XIV - May 240 BC

In the Carthage round the Carthaginians make a headlong assault on my army outside Tyndaris. The untrained Carthaginian militia panics in front of my seasoned veterans. Carthage looses some 1 450 men and 10 War Elephants for less than 400 in roman losses.

On the Sea 4 Carthaginian navies converge on a single roman navy. Surprisingly the romans outmanouvre the carthaginians and sink some 10 tiremes for no own losses. this even though there were some 400 carthaginian ships for less than a 150 roman. Some ships (10 or so) were equipped with the new corvus.

Also the Syracusans manage an unexpected deep into Roman grounds moving up close to Syracuse.

During my round 3 roman navies converge on some stragglers from a carthaginian navy and sink another 50 ships.

Enna is stormed with some losses for the romans (500 men). Cephalodium also.

Carthaginian raiders sink a transport with siege engines sinking 10 engines and 20 hemiolas.

In Sardinia I try to Assault Uselis but with no result. Losses on the roman side is around 500 men.

[Grymme]

Season XV - December 240 BC

Nothing much happens during the Carthage round. My raiders sink a shiptransport filled with War elephants. Carthaginian raiders sink almost 400 supply or 20 % of my production.

On Sardinia my III fielf army marches in another empty city.

My I Consular Army on Sicily crushes the last Syracuse armed elements and capture their last stronghold Camarina.

A weak screening force of Carthaginians can be spotted al through the sicilian mountains.

The senate decides on a new strategy. Rather than a headlong collision with the Carthage forces on Sicily we will bring the war directly to Carthage. An invasion is ordered. This will require the forming of a IV field Army. One is formed in Rome. But it will need units also. I have plenty of infantry waiting in reserve there but the forming of units require massive PP spending. Also i withdraw my navies towards Ostia to pick up the new army,

My general disposition is
I Consular army fighting in Sicily
II Consular army on garrisson duty in Italy
III Field Preator army fighting in Sardinia
IV Field Army forming in Rome and Ostia.

Garrisons in Corsica and Italy.

Production is shifted towards PP and infantry. No other units produced.