More Canaanites

MY Pendraken order, as well as giving me enough figures for four units of Canaanite open-order javelinmen, has allowed me to create another unit of Canaanite biblical infantry.

As usual with my 10mm figures, they are best viewed from a distance

I now have six units of specifically Canaanite biblical infantry, and four of open-order javelinmen

Under Neil Thomas's biblical rules in Ancient & Medieval Wargaming, a Canaanite/Philistine army has 2-4 units of chariots (light, bow-armed, elite), 2-4 of spearmen (biblical infantry, light protection, levy), 2-4 units of skirmishers (javelinmen, light protection, open order, levy) and 0-1 of archers (light protection, open order, levy).

A Philistine army has an extra option: up to one unit of guards (biblical infantry, medium armour, average).

"The list is designed to cover states operating in what is now Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria," Thomas states.

He adds: "It can also be used for the armies of the Mitanni, and even the Hammurabic Babylonian armies."

The latter get an addition to their list: 1-2 units of close-order archers (light protection, levy).

My biblical forces now total:

Close-order infantry 17

Open-order archers 15.5

Close-order archers 4

Chariots 12

Camels 9

Open-order slingers 6

Auxiliaries 7

Open-order javelinmen 7

Close-order cavalry 2

Open-order cavalry 12

Close-order infantry with spears and bows 3

Point Taken

WHILE carrying out my biblical stocktake a few weeks ago, I noticed I was somewhat short of open-order javelinmen, having just three units.

Since a Canaanite/Philistine army requires at least two such units under Neil Thomas's rules in Ancient & Medieval Wargaming, and can have as many as four, action was needed.

I accordingly sent an order to Pendraken, which, among its many virtues, is a fast turnaround.

Four new units of light javelinmen

They have joined units of close-order biblical infantry in the Canaanite box

Revised unit totals.

Close-order infantry 16

Open-order archers 15.5

Close-order archers 4

Chariots 12

Camels 9

Open-order slingers 6

Auxiliaries 7

Open-order javelinmen 7

Close-order cavalry 2

Open-order cavalry 12

Close-order infantry with spears and bows 3

First Canaanites Painted

I FOUND it difficult sourcing suitable Canaanite infantry for my biblical project, until I came across Pendraken's Great Fyrd Anglo-Saxons from the company's 10mm Dark Ages range.

The spearmen, suitably painted, would clearly make ideal Canaanites, and so I ordered four packs of 30 figures.

The order arrived in one large pack, but unfortunately there were only 119 figures.

However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as I made up the shortfall with a leftover Assyrian standard-bearer.

His distinctive appearance, having scale-bronze body armour, will come in handy should I need to designate one unit as of superior quality to its brethren.

The 'Assyrian' is in the front row of the unit on the extreme left

I have been steadily painting figures for my project, but I have been doing it largely without a specific plan, painting more-or-less what takes my fancy.

So I reckon it is time to go through what I have ... and what I still need.

(to be continued)

Biblical Update - Canaanites & Philistines

NEIL Thomas's Canaanite and Philistine list in Ancient & Medieval Wargaming covers "states operating in what is now Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria."

He goes on to add the Mitanni, in what is now Iraq, "and even the Hammurabic Babylonian empire."

CHARIOTS bow-armed light chariots, elite 2-4 units

SPEARMEN biblical infantry, light protection, levy 2-4 units

SKIRMISHERS javelin-armed open-order infantry, light protection, levy 2-4 units

ARCHERS open-order bowmen, light protection, levy 0-1 unit

The Philistines are allowed an extra troop type:

GUARDS biblical infantry, medium protection, average 0-1 unit

The Babylonians also receive a compulsory extra:

ARCHERS close-order bowmen, light protection, levy 1-2 units

I do not have much to say about this list at present, except that an argument can be made for upgrading the Philistine guards to elite.

Open-order archers were an integral part of many biblical armies