Uriah’s Bronze Age Army Lists

Uriah’s Bronze Age Army Lists
For Chariot Rampant

As part of my Bronze Age project I had to make some decisions about army lists, simply on the basis of the composition of the armies I want to raise.  This entailed some background reading but there is a surprising amount of supposition involved in the accepted “history.”  I based my troop types on Stillman and Tallis, and in my defence so has everyone else, however I am following Spalinger for the composition of the 19th and 20th dynasty and its opponents.  

The New Kingdom had three distinct military phases.  It seems clear that the 18th dynasty warfare of the revolt against the Hyksos that founded the New Kingdom, was based on marine warfare on the Nile, with the use of warships and professional crews.  A second period, moving into the 19th dynasty and the Imperial expansion into Nubia, Palestine and Syria, would have seen chariot warfare becoming the focus, and a radical change in the logistics required.

Finally the desperate 20th dynasty struggle against the Sea Peoples which the Egyptians alone in the Near East seem to have weathered, saw the contraction of Egypt’s power among its neighbours.  It has been argued by Cline, Drew and others that the Egyptians began a reliance on mercenary foot soldiers, but this is not as clear cut from the documented evidence, and I give the option to use a slightly different form for 20th Dynasty armies.

In some areas I've cheated, for example it seems clear that the Shassu Bedouin, and Sheklesh “Sea Peoples” tribe are one and the same, Rohl certainly thinks  so, yet I've gone with the traditional view, and indeed my Sea Peoples are a composite of tribes, just to get the “look.”  In any event the idea of, and misleading name for the Sea Peoples, were essentially made up by a nineteenth century French Egyptologist.  When it comes down to it a lot of Egyptology was created in similar imaginative circumstances.

I also cheated with the Hittites, essentially using the Canaanites but adding some additional Spearmen.  Maryannu chariots and their crews were pretty much ubiquitous, even the Egyptians using “asiatic” mercenaries, so I feel justified in using my Chariot stock to create separate armies. Old Ramesses in his chariot, accompanied by his pet Lion is pretty much distinctive, but the rest are pretty damn similar.

As a wargamer I also consulted the wisdom of Filbarrka the zorca-expert, and his DBA and DBM army lists, condensing the flavour if not sometimes the reality of an army.  (War wagons for the Sea people baggage.  Really?) From this I adopted a seven group format for all armies, mainly because my table won't handle more than that, and it does introduce some level of balance.  If I decide that I don't like it I can always go back to points.  The six armies I am gathering are outlined below, although several are amalgamated from core forces of three chariots and 24 or so foot.

Retinues in Lion Rampant are up to 24 points.  If I want to use even point armies rather than a mandatory seven groups the following rules are used.  No more than four units of any one type can be chosen.  Retinues must comprise seven groups. (or 24 points, if I decide I prefer that method)

Bronze Age Retinues

1 Samuel 18: 'The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines,

All Retinues are built from the following units.

Chariots @4

Spearmen @4

Bowmen @4

Skirmishers @2

Fierce Foot @4

Slave levy types@1

Retinues are up to 24 points.  No more than four units of any one type can be chosen.

Troop types

Samuel 2:11 15 "Set Uriah the Hittite in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him”

Maryannu Chariots @4 points.

Comprising three chariot models each with two crew and two chariot runners.  12 figures.

Almost solely armed with bows, and a very large arrow supply, chariotry uses distance bow fire to whittle down opponents.  Their speed means that they are often able to avoid charges by enemy, shooting as they retire, or to aggressively counter charge chariotry or foot skirmishers, threading them, reforming and charging back through.

Attack    7+                AV   5+

Move     5+                DV   6

Shoot     6+               SV/Range   5+/12”

Courage 5+              Max Move    12”

Armour   3                Special Rules:  Skirmish.  Evade.  Counter-         .                                charge chariots or skirmishers.

Upgrade to Heavier Chariot, Spear armed @5 points.  Shoot 6”, AV4+  DV5+

Elite Maryannu @5 points

3 chariots, 6 runners is 12 figures.

Elite Household troops, Egyptian Shar, Guards, Elite bow armed chariotry.

Attack    5+                AV   3+

Move     5+                DV   5

Shoot     6+               SV/Range   5+/12”

Courage 3+              Max Move    12”

Armour   4                Special Rules:  Skirmish.  Evade.  Counter-         .                                charge chariots or skirmishers.

Upgrade to Elite Heavier Chariot, Spear armed @6 points.  Shoot 6”, AV4+  DV5+

Foot Spearmen @4 Points  Units of 12

Often armoured, equipped with spear and shield, able to form a ‘wall of spears.’  May be upgraded to Expert representing troops such as elite picked foot guards.

Attack    6+               AV   5+

Move     5+               DV   4

Shoot                       SV/Range  

Courage 4+              Max Move    6”

Armour   3                Special Rules:  Wall of Spears

Upgrade to Expert hand to hand@ 2 points more, no wall of spears, AV becomes 4+ Represents elite axe men.

Downgrade to Levy Spears@1 point less. No shields, DV5, Armour 2.

Foot Levy @ 3 Points    Models per unit: 12
Levy generally poorly armoured spearmen fulfilling a very similar role to Foot Spearmen.  They usually lack shields and body armour, but like Foot Spearmen they can use their long spears to form a Wall of Spears for protection in close combat. Although they lack the staying power of Foot Spearmen, they are manoeuvrable and therefore well suited to taking objectives and holding them against light opposition. They are under threat from missile fire, which are able to shoot them down from a distance.
They may be upgraded to Expert in the same manner as Foot Spears, and they also have an option to upgrade to carry javelins, giving them a short range missile threat of their own.

Attack 6+                  Attack Value 5+
Move 5+                   Defence Value 4+
Shoot –                    Shoot Value –
Courage 4+             Maximum movement 8”
Armour 2                 Special rules Wall of Spears

SPECIAL RULES:
• Spear wall: There needs to be 6 or more models in unit to form a Wall of Spears. On a Move order, form the unit into a two rank formation based around a central model; a spear wall cannot form in Rough terrain or in cover, and it cannot move in this formation. Spear walls increase their Armour by 1 point.

Fierce Foot  @4 points  Units of 12

War bands such as the Sea Peoples, folk with a nasty outlook on life, Libyan Swordsmen, Nubian Club men,  Habiru Gibborim,  Achilles Myrmidons.

Attack    5+                AV   3+

Move     6+                DV   6

Shoot                        SV/Range   

Courage 4+              Max Move    8”

Armour   2                Special Rules:  Ferocious, Wild Charge, Counter charge vs foot, Fleet Footed.

Closed Ranked Bowmen @4  units of 12

Attack    7+                AV   6+

Move     6+                DV   5

Shoot     6+               SV/Range   5+/18”

Courage 5+              Max Move    6”

Armour   2                 Special Rules:  

Upgrade to Expert @2 points per unit.  SV becomes 4+

Downgrade to Levy bowmen @-1 point per unit, SV becomes 6+, Courage 6+.

Light Skirmishing Foot @2 Units of 6

Light archers operating as skirmishers, but also tribal skirmishers such as the Libyans relying on javelins and throw sticks rather than the bow.

Attack    7+                AV   6+

Move     5+                DV   6

Shoot     7+               SV/Range   5+/Javelin 6”, Bow 18”

Courage 5+              Max Move    8”

Armour   1                Special Rules:  Skirmish.  Evade.  Fleet footed.

              2 vs shooting

Upgrade to Chariot runners, trained Light Javelinmen, @1, AV5,  DV5  Courage 4.

The Egyptians

1 x  Elite Maryannu @5 points
1 x  Maryannu Chariots @4 points
2 x  Foot Spearmen @4 points
1 x  Closed Ranked Bowmen @4 points
2 x  Chariot runners, Elite Skirmishers @3 points
(Later Option) 1 x  Fierce Foot  @4 points Sherden guard to replace 1 chariot runner.
1 CinC in Chariot, 2 foot Generals for Sword and Spear.
27 or 28 points

The Libyans
1 x Fierce Foot  @4 points, Swordsmen
1 x Light Skirmishing Foot @2 points
3 x Light Skirmishing Bow @2 points

1 chariot General, 1 or 2 Sub-chiefs for Sword and Spear.

Either

2 x Light Skirmishing Bow @2 pointd

Or

1 x  Maryannu Chariots @4 points

1 x  Fierce Foot  @4 points
2 groups of Sea Peoples allied/mercenaries groups, under an allied chief.
16 or 20 points

The Sea Peoples

1 x  Maryannu Chariots @4 points

5 x groups of fierce foot,
     1 x  Fierce Foot  @4 points Sherden swordsmen
     1 x  Fierce Foot  @4 pointsPeleset
     1 x Fierce Foot  @4 points Sheklesh
     1 x Fierce Foot  @4 points Lukka
     1 x Fierce Foot  @4 points Weshwesh
     1 x Light Skirmishing Foot @2 Shassu javelinmen
1 Command Chariot, 2 allied Foot chieftains for Sword and Spear.
26 points

The Nubians
3 foot commanders
2 x  Fierce Foot  @4 points clubmen

2 x  Closed Ranked Bowmen @4 points
3 x  Light Skirmishing Bow @2 points

3 foot Generals for Sword and Spear.
22 points

The Canaanites
1 x  Maryannu Chariots @4 points Canaanite
1 x  Elite Maryannu @5 points Hittites
1 x  Maryannu Chariots @4 points Sea Peoples
1 x  Foot Levy @ 3 Points
1 x  Levy Close Bowmen @ 3 points
1 x  Chariot runners, Elite Skirmishers @3 points
1 x  Light Skirmishing Bow @2 points

1 chariot General, 2 foot chieftains for Sword and Spear.
24 points

Hittites
1 x  Elite Maryannu @5 points Hittites

1 x  Maryannu Chariots @4 points Canaanite vassals
1 x  Maryannu Chariots @4 points Sea Peoples vassals
1 x  Foot Levy @ 3 Points
1 x  Levy Close Bowmen @ 3 points
1 x  Chariot runners, Elite Skirmishers @3 points
1 x  Foot Spearmen @4 points.

(I'm cheating, this is exactly the same as the Canaanites, with no archer skirmishers but one additional spear group.)
26 points.