Biblical Dry Run - Egyptians v Hebrews

MY 10mm biblical project is very much a long-term one, but having made some progress with painting figures, it is time to get models onto the battlefield.

Accordingly my regular wargaming opponent and I will be matching my New Kingdom Egyptians against my Early Hebrews.

We will be using Neil Thomas's rules, unmodified, from Ancient & Medieval Wargaming.

My Egyptians - three units of chariots, one of Sherden, three of ordinary spearmen, one of marine spearmen, one of marine archers and one of ordinary archers

The bases are the recommended 40mm x 20mm, with each unit consisting of four bases.

But because I am using 10mm figures, rather than 15-20mm, the number of figures per base varies from those recommended in the rules, except for chariotry, which remains at one chariot per base.

Troops                                                                                           Figures per base

Close-Order* Infantry, Biblical Infantry, Close-Order Archers            6

Auxiliary Infantry, Close-Order Cavalry                                             4

Open-Order* Infantry, Open-Order Cavalry                                       3

Chariots                                                                                             1

*Thomas uses the terms Heavy and Light, but I prefer Close-Order and Open-Order as some troops he classifies as Heavy had light armour, despite fighting in close-order, eg Egyptian regular archers. 

Armies in Ancient & Medieval Wargaming consist of eight units, chosen from a list.

Egyptian List

Unit                                                                                                        Number

Chariots (Light, Bow, Elite)                                                                      1-3

Spearmen (Biblical Infantry, Light Armour, Average)                              2-4

Archers (Close-Order Infantry, Light Armour, Average)                          1-2

Sherden (Auxiliary Infantry, Medium Armour, Elite)                                0-1

One unit of spearmen may be upgraded to medium armour.

My Hebrews - two units of Gadite and Issachar javelins, two-and-a-half units of chariots, six units of auxiliary infantry and two units of Benjaminite slingers

Early Hebrew List

Unit                                                                                                                                   Number

Simeonites and Ephraimites (Auxiliary Infantry, Light Armour, Elite)                                1-2

Gadites and Issacharites (Open-Order Infantry, Javelin, Light Armour, Average)             1-2

Benjaminites (Open-order Infantry, Sling, Light Armour, Average)                                    1-2

Other Seven Tribes (Auxiliary Infantry, Light Armour, Average)                                        2-4

Chariots only become available to the Hebrew general from the time of King Solomon.

But we want to field an earlier army in order to use the special guerrilla-warfare rules - more about these later.

The two armies face off before the generals make their selections

As the guest, my regular wargaming opponent (he does not want his name used on this blog, so I will refer to him, if it becomes necessary to use a name, as Reg) gets to pick which army he will command, and he has made the interesting choice of the Hebrews.

We do not know what the terrain will be, except that Hebrews, under the guerrilla-warfare rules, will be able to add two pieces of rocky terrain.

Therefore in my army I am including Sherden, who are the Egyptians' only auxiliary option, as auxiliaries are not affected by rough ground.

My full army: three units of chariots, two of archers, two of spearmen (one formed of marines wearing medium armour) and one of Sherden.

We agreed we would make our choices secretly, and reveal them together.

Reg has gone for the Simeonites and Ephraimites, who form two units of elite auxiliary infantry, Gadite javelinmen, two units of Benjaminite slingers and three units from the other seven tribes, ie average auxiliary infantry.