Invasion of Crete

[The Mad Skylord]

Forces

Army Legio VI 5'940 men 200 Cavalry Navy 10 Quinqueremes 10 Triremes

Landing Zone

Red Circle = Landing location

Landing Orders

Having departed from the lowest point of Greece, the Roman troops and fleet make for the quickest possible crossing of the Sea. The general plan is to land far away from major towns - Crete is owned by the Pirates, so they are likely to dwell in the towns and cities - and put the main army ashore before they can be challenged by any pirate ships. The Romans will attempt to put the Legio VI ashore at night - to minimize the risks of being seen. The Roman Fleet will travel with the loaded Quinqueremes in the centre of the formation - to protect the Legion should the enemy engage during the crossing.

Army Movements once landed

Legio VI will set up a fortified encampment and put out sentry posts. The cavalry will then split in half, to scout the surrounding area for Cretan troops and to screen the Roman encampment to prevent night attacks."

Navy Movements once Roman army has landed

The Roman fleet will land the army and then make their way into the bay to the west. They will scout the bay for pirates, and engage once approximate strength is known - if they are not vastly outnumbered."

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Romans are engaged by a naval fleet after the landing occurs. The exact strength of the enemy is unknown.

[The Mad Skylord]

OOC: The army is landed? Excellent.

Naval Orders

1)The Triremes - the ramming ships - will advance into the enemy formation in a wedge, driving through them. 2)They will be followed by the Quinqueremes, who will then begin to use their onboard artillery to bombard the enemy ships. 3)The Quinqueremes will also attempt to board any ships not too damaged by combat. 4)Any surrendering ships are to be captured, and the inhabitants put in chains. 5)The Romans will not attempt to pursue the fleeing enemy."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Ground Forces

Epifania: +1 sea battles, +1 land battles +1 survival 9,000 Infantry

Naval Forces

Akakios: +2 seat battles, +1 survival 19 Liburna 7 Quinquireme 8 Trireme 7 Hexareme 1,000 Infantry

ooc: need naval orders immediately. The pirates know the Roman forces are 20 Quinqueremes and 15 Triremes. They also know the land forces are about one legion strong.

[The Mad Skylord]

OOC: Naval Orders are in the post above. If the terrain relatively normal? Just flat and treeless?

[Pontifex Maximus]

ooc: For your ground forces? You landed them on the tip of a mountainous peninsula far from any towns.

[Rhapture]

Pirates

seeing the Romans are trapped in a bay, the pirates send the liburna in the center with the hexareme split on the flanks.

The quinquiremes and triremes hold back.

the liburna will head straight for the romans but turn back before they can be rammed, attempting to draw them out so they can use their numerical advantage.

If the romans come, the Hexes will close on the flank attempting to force the Romans together and then board. The trims and quins will then go full speed into the oncoming Romans to ram and disable.

If the romans dont come out of the bay, The liburna will use their speed and manuverability to turn the Romans onto the rocks or sandbars of the bay. The trirs and biremes following behind to engage ships that get turned around by chasing liburna.
And the Hexs cleaning up any romans that try to flee

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Battle of Crete: Sea battle

With the battle joined the pirates soon gained the advantage. the Roman fleet lacked any sort of marines to follow up on any successes they had. As a result, the ramming, boarding, and ranged capabilities of the pirates ultimately carried the day. The Roman tactic of advancing into the center of the pirate fleet would have been sound if thy had any possible was of following up on successes. As it stood, however, any pirate ships that were not sunk served as a staging point for grapples off the side which would inevitably lead to Roman losses.

The Romans lose 10 Quinruieremes and 5 Liburna sunk, 3 Quinruieremes captured by the pirates, and the rest escape. The Pirates lose 8 liburna, 2 trireme, and one quinquereme. The Roman ground forces are effectively cut off from the naval forces.

Result: Roman defeat

[The Mad Skylord]

The Roman army advances to the town of Polyrrhenia - to the West. The cavalry is thrown out as scouts to prevent enemy ambush.

Approximately 15-20 miles to travel.

[Pontifex Maximus]

ooc: need orders from the Cretan pirate ground forces before I can continue here.

[Rhapture]

See the advance, the pirate Epifania sets up his men across the narrow path towards the town, with a white flag up offering terms to the Romans.

[Rhapture]

The pirates send out ships to keep watch on the Roman movements...

[The Mad Skylord]

A rider rides out to treat.

[Rhapture]

The pirate chief Epifania offers the Romans safe passage if they surrender their arms and armor, give up their war chest, and give up their legionary standard and give up Proconsul Iulus to be ransomed.

[The Mad Skylord]

Ooc:Changing orders

The rider just looks at the Pirate chief, raises his kilt and pisses at his feet. Before riding back to the army.

[The Mad Skylord]

Battle Orders

5'940 men 200 cavalry 1)The Romans will form a triple line formation. 2)The sea will guard the Roman right and the mountains will guard the Roman left. 3)The first and second lines of the formation will engage, occasionally switching out to let the other rest. 4)The third line of the formation will be held as a reserve - they will be sent forwards to attack when the enemy begins to falter, or when the first two lines begin to be pushed back. 5)The Romans will use their heavy pila to destroy shields and their light pila to kill. 6)The narrow path will prevent the Romans being enveloped, but the reserve keeps a watch on the mountains for pirates brave enough to climb around. 7)The cavalry will be held back, when the enemy routes they will charge and cut them down. 8)There will be 4 Cohorts in the first line, 4 Cohorts in the Second Line and 4 Cohorts in the Third Line. Commanders: Gnaeus Julius Iulus Carnifex - Legate of the Legio VI +3 Battles

[Pontifex Maximus]

Phase 1: The Romans advance against the pirates on the beaches. Given their tactical formation, they will have the equivalent of two rolls for the attack.

Romans: 20
Pirates: 16

700 Pirates killed
350 Legionaries killed

Phase 2: The Roman second line attacks the Pirates

Roman: 12
Pirates: 9

900 Pirates killed
450 Romans killed

Phase 3: The pirates begin an ambush from the cliffs, having evaded detection.

Roman: 16
Pirates: 19

150 Pirates killed
300 Romans killed

Rout Phase: The rout phase begins when the pirate center breaks. The Roman reserve struggles to turn back the Cretan ambush but without anything to capitalize on, the ambushing forces opt to retire, preserving their numbers, instead of letting the other Roman infantry turn to face them. In the meantime the Roman cavalry surge forth and engage the enemy.

50 Roman cavalry killed
540 Pirates killed.

Post-battle rolls
Death roll for Iulus: 18, he survives
Half the Roman dead will be considered wounded, and will be unable to fight for 3 days. They will rejoin the legions after that. This is considered a moderate Roman victory that hinged on the front two ranks performing very well. The Cretan ambush would have carried the day if the center had not taken so many casualties and eventually broken.

[The Mad Skylord]

Remaining Troops

Legio VI 4840 men fit to fight 550 wounded 150 cavalry fit to fight 25 wounded

The Legio VI continues to advance on Polyrrhenia. The remaining cavalry is sent ahead to screen for any potential ambushes. The wounded troops are placed in the centre of the formation.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The cavalry is ambushed by several hundred pirates several miles down the road

[The Mad Skylord]

They attempt to retreat. The infantry continues adcancing swiftly to Polytthenia. They march in full armour and in square formation, ready for enemy attack.