BatRep: Domyoji 1615 Game #2

On Thursday, I took to the Domyoji battlefield a second time at the head of the Osaka Clan.  My opponent for this scrap was Peter from Grid based Game Wargaming blog.  Peter has already posted an excellent battle recap of our engagement.  Pop over to Peter's blog (Remote game report...) to read his account of the battle. Don't forget to return here! 

As a reminder, the armies drew up for battle as shown in the map below:

Initial deployments

Let's dive straight into the action to discover if I learned anything as Osaka Army CiC after my defeat to Richard (see BatRep: Battle among the Tombs).

Armies arrayed for battle.

The battle opens with Tokugawa (Peter) holding initiative.  Peter moves up Katsushige's Sonae on the right while lobbing arrows into the Osaka archers in the woods.  The archers are disordered from the volleys.  Tokugawa Center moves up to cover the flank of the Tokugawa Right advancing upon Emperor Ingyo's Tomb.

Armies advance.

Activating the Tokugawa Left, Peter cautiously advances Masamune to cover that flank.  Sensing an opportunity, the Osaka Right springs to life.  Kitigawa leads his foot Samurai in a charge into the enemy Ashigaru spearmen.  In the clash, the spearmen are thrown back suffering great losses.  Not wanting to pursue into an awaiting body of fresh foot Samurai, Kitigawa halts.  Wasting no time, Masamune's foot Samurai pitch into Kitigawa's disordered Samurai.  Kitigawa gives ground with Tokugawa Samurai following up in hot pursuit.  Unable to avoid the enemy pursuit, Kitigwa is caught and handled roughly a second time.  A retreat turns to rout as losses are very heavy for the Osaka Samurai.  

Kitigawa's Samurai attack...

and drive back the enemy.

Victory is fleeting.
Masamune's Samurai attack sending Kitgawa reeling back.

Masamune is not finished quite yet.  At the head of his Samurai cavalry, Masamune charges into Kitigawa's Teppo stationed at Ojin's Tomb.  The Teppo fail to get off a volley before the horsemen come crashing into them.  The Teppo are driven back as the horsemen thunder on.  Again, the unfortunate Teppo are caught and scattered by Masamune.  The entire Osaka Right has vanished!  

Masamune leads a charge...

forcing back the enemy.

In pursuit, the Osaka Teppo are vanquished!

Having seen his right quickly swept away, Osaka's CiC, Sanada, orders attacks in the center.  Ashigaru spear attack out of the battle line toward a body of enemy Ashigaru spear.  The enemy is driven back.  The Osaka spearmen do not pursue.  Near Emperor Ingyo's Tomb, on the Osaka Left, Katsushige leads his foot Samurai forward into the Osaka battle line.  Targeting Susukida's foot Samurai, Katsushige crashes into the enemy who are supported by spearmen while his Teppo soften up the enemy spearmen to his front.  Katsushige's attack is bloodily repulsed.  The Tokugawa are put to flight!  

Sanada's Ashigaru drive the enemy back!

Katsushige attacks...

Victorious only moments before in driving back the enemy, the body of Osaka spear finds itself somewhat isolated ahead of the main battle line.  Seizing this opportunity, the Tokugawa counterattack viciously.  Kitigawa's Ashigaru are driven back with great loss.  Tokugawa forces suffer mightily in the clash as well.  These Osaka Ashigaru are forced back upon their supports causing units behind to retire.  Being the only Kitigawa unit still combat effective, Ashigaru spearmen emerge from Emperor Ojin's Tomb to attack these, now wavering enemy Ashigaru. Tadaaki's Ashigaru fall back in the face of this attack.  Kitigawa's Ashigaru fail to pursue letting the wounded enemy slip away, again.   

and is bloodily repulsed while
Tadaaki's spearmen advance upon the exposed enemy.

Sanada's spearmen are drive back upon their supports.

Kitigawa attacks!

Having repulsed Katsushige's attack earlier, Susukida leads his own foot Samurai forward into battle against the now exposed right flank of Tadaaki's Teppo. Unable to stand up to the charging Samurai, the Teppo are put to flight.  Crashing back through their own lines, these Teppo carry away their supports.  Susukida chases the Teppo in hot pursuit.  Exhausted from their efforts, Susukida's Samurai are unable to extinguish the enemy.  Susukida retires to recover.  What an opportunity lost!  The battle lines are fracturing as combat begins to devolve into a series of local contests.

Susukida attacks driving the enemy before him...

but falls back having put the enemy to flight.

State of the battle.

With holes opening up on the Tokugawa Right, Sanada refocuses on the enemy units still holding the Tokugawa Center.  Susukida's Ashigaru advance to contact with the enemy.  Defeated in melee, the enemy turns about and heads for the Ishigawa River!  Again, the Osaka fail to pursue!  Come on, guys!

Osaka spearmen drive the enemy back!

To steady his center, Tadamasa leads his Samurai cavalry forward from the ford.  Their target? Susukida's now exposed Samurai foot.  In the initial clash, Susukida is forced to retire back to the Osaka battle line.  Under orders to not pursue the fleeing enemy, Tadamasa's cavalry obey.  

Tadamasa forces Susushige back!

Even with Susukida's Samurai driven back and the Tokugawa Center looking more stabilized, Osaka spearmen attack from near Ojin's tomb and into the enemy.  Already weakened from fighting before, Tadaaki's lead Ashigaru spear are scattered.  Following up in pursuit, Kitigawa's Ashigaru crash into the rear of a second Tadaaki Ashigaru.  These spearmen are, likewise, dispatched.  One more pursuit will take these twice victorious Ashigaru into the last of Tadaaki's fleeing Ashigaru who find themselves trapped against the river.  Alas, a clean sweep of the Tokugawa Center is not to be.  The Osaka spearmen fail to pursue.  Success here could have spelled victory for the Osaka! 

Kitigawa attacks...

and attacks but cannot put the final stake into Tokugawa heart.

Seeing his center disappear and his army disintegrating, Tadamasa takes matters into his own hands.  Charging into Susukida's Samurai, the Osaka Samurai are forced back.  Following up in pursuit, Susukida and his Samurai are destroyed.  With Susukida dead on the field, Sanada brings his Samurai cavalry forward to plug the gap.  His attack against Tadamasa is repulsed!  Tadamasa does not counterattack.  As Tadamasa gives his Samurai horsemen a breather to recover, Sanada strikes again!  For Sanada, the result is the same.  He and his horsemen are repulsed and put to flight.  This time, Tadamasa pursues.  His pursuit carries him into the rear of the nearby Teppo.  These Teppo have no chance.  They are cutdown from the threat to their rear.  The loss of these Teppo is enough to push the Osaka Army over the breaking point.  Victory to the Tokugawa and Peter!  History repeats, itself, again.    

Tadamasa charges and cuts down Susukida.

Sanada counterattacks and is repulsed...

State of the battle.

Sanada redoubles his effort, but the result is the same!

Tadamama's pursuit carries him into enemy Teppo.
Teppo are dispatched with ease.

Osaka breaks!
Tokugawa victory!

Congratulations, Peter, on an outstanding victory!  That was a much closer contest than the Army Breakpoint Clocks show.  A quick glance at the Butcher's Bill illustrates the closeness of battle.  Both armies saw one leader fall.  Great game and a most enjoyable and satisfying contest.

Butcher's Bill

What did I learn from replaying the scenario at the head of the Osaka Army a second time?  Well, perhaps, not much since I fell to the wily Tokugawa again!  Peter ripped apart my right in astonishingly quick fashion.  At that point, I figured this might be a quick game.  That result was not to be, however.  My Osaka turned the battle around by putting to flight a large part of the Tokugawa Left and Center.  I came close, very close to taking the Tokugawa Army to its breaking point.  Close but not close enough.  I also need to learn how to condense my battle reports like Peter has done!

This game was filled with tension and drama as was Game #1 with Richard.  I walk away convinced that the Osaka can win this battle.  They came very close this time.  Game duration was about two hours.

Thanks, Peter, for an excellent game!  Great fun!

Andalusian Spearmen

On one on my recent digs through The Lead Pile, I turned up several blister packs of Artizan and Crusader Reconquista figures.  Most of these packs were likely picked up from a Caliver Books' order from a long time ago.  Anyway, with the Reconquista games still in mind from the beginning of the year, I figured why not push some of these figures into the painting queue.  Well, that is exactly what I did.

The dozen figures formed up today are a body of Andulasian spearmen from Artizan Designs.  Fine sculpts and easy to field.  When will the Reconquista see action back on the table?  I do not know but next time these spearmen may just take to the field.

A second installment of the Battle Among the Tombs is up for later this week.  Should be fun to refight the scenario and see if I can improve upon my results.  I have yet to see which army my opponent will choose.  After this, one-to-one battle is in the books, I may schedule a multiplayer game and see how that goes.  

Activity on the painting front has slowed (OK, even slower than before!) as I undertake a rebasing of my growing Wars of the Roses collection.  Details on that task another time!  In addition to the rebasing of the WotR project, idle time has been spent sticking together more Perry WotR figures.

Holy Moly!  This post showed up in the blogroll almost immediately!

BatRep: Battle Among the Tombs

Background

The Battle of Dōmyōji, fought on 05 June 1615, was one of the decisive engagements of the Summer Campaign of the Siege of Osaka. The battle began as a delayed, fog-shrouded clash near Komatsuyama and ended with the Osaka army withdrawing toward Osaka Castle after losing key commanders.  Dōmyōji is remembered because it shows the last major efforts of the Toyotomi defenders to use terrain, timing, and local counterattacks to blunt Tokugawa superiority. The battle also foreshadowed the end of the Osaka campaign.  The defenders could still fight hard and inflict losses, but once key commanders fell, they could no longer hold the approaches indefinitely.

The Osaka Army's goal is to hold for a limited number of turns, inflict losses, and then disengage in good order.  Tokugawa’s goal is to break through the river line and destroy enough of the Osaka force to prevent an orderly withdrawal.  The battle begins with the Tokugawa Army already across the Ishigawa River.  Driven off Komatsuyama heights and back across the river, the Osaka Army awaits near the Imperial tombs. 

Initial deployments

The Tokugawa Army (led by Richard) has four commands.  The four Sonae are denoted by blue and green VBU dice to distinguish between each command.  The Osaka Army (led by me) has three commands.  Osaka Sonae are shown with red and black VBU dice.  

The Battle

The battle opens with the Tokugawa Army advancing on the right toward Ingyo's tomb.  Osaka Army counters by moving up Susukida's Sonae to cover the left of Sanada's exposed Teppo.  The large blue die shows the activation of Katsushige's Sonae.  Tokugawa continues a general advance toward the enemy as the two battle lines begin to form up.

The armies close...

as the battle lines form up.

With the enemy now within striking distance, Katsushige leads an attack with his Samurai against Susukida.  The target of this attack is the enemy Samurai but they are supported by Ashigaru spearmen.  Katsushige's attack is repulsed and the Samurai spearmen retreat out of the Tokugawa battle line.  

Not wasting an opportunity, Susukida counterattacks in pursuit of the retreating Tokugawa Samurai.  Pursuit brings the Samurai into contact with Katsushige's now exposed teppo.  Firing as the enemy closes upon them, the teppo wreak heavy damage upon the enemy as they come in.  Seeing the destruction thrown out by this body of determined troops, the Osaka Samurai retire before they actually can close with the enemy.  Osaka archers in the woods cut down many Tokugawa archers as they approach the tomb.

Katsushige repulsed!

Susukida pursues...

but is stopped cold by enemy firepower...

and head back to where they began!

View down the battle lines.

Susukida refuses to give up so easily after his Samurai are repulsed.  He sends forward the Ashigaru spear to dispatch with those pesky teppo.  The Ashigaru handle the job that the Samurai could not.  The enemy teppo are scattered and put to flight.  Flushed with success, the Ashigaru pursue as expected.  What is unexpected is that these spearmen crash into Tadamasa's Samurai cavalry as the horsemen move up from the ford.  Tadamasa's horsemen manhandle the Ashigaru driving them back in a succession of retreats and pursuits.  As the Ashigaru finally stop, having rejoined the Osaka battle line, Tadamasa's Samurai stops the pursuit.      

Teppo destroyed!

The hunter...

becomes the hunted!

Is all quiet on the Tokugawa Left?  No!

Masamune brings up his sonae on the left near Emperor Ojin's tomb.  In a combined arms attack, Masamune's teppo soften up the enemy teppo before leading his Samurai cavalry in a charge.  The enemy is battered and forced back but the Samurai do not pursue.  In an effort to stabilize the deteriorating situation, Kitikawa leads his Samurai foot into Masamune's Samurai foot.  The result is not what Kitikawa hoped.  His Samurai are beaten and retreat in disarray.  Kitikawa's attack is not without merit, though.  Having inflicted some pain on the enemy Samurai, Kitigawa's Ashigaru spearmen are sent forward.  The Tokugawa Samurai have seen enough and are driven back beyond the Tokugawa battle line.  The Osaka Ashigaru follow up in hot pursuit.   

Tokugawa cavalry drive away enemy teppo...

but the Osaka counterattack, fail, and try again.

Finally, Masamune's Samurai are driven off!

Having caught its breath, Masamune's body of cavalry plows back into the enemy teppo.  This time, the outcome is never in doubt.  What remains of the enemy are cut down mercilessly.

Masamune charges...

and the enemy breaks!

At this point in the battle, the honors look about even.  Appearances are fleeting and it all is about to unravel for the Osaka Army.  Returning to the Tokugawa Right, Katsushige leads his Samurai horsemen back into the Osaka line.  Even with support, Susukida's Samurai foot are pushed back.  His supporting Ashigaru follow suit.  Katsushige pursues, catching the retiring enemy.  Katsushige sees success again!  The enemy's orderly retrogrades turn into retreats.  The Osaka Left has collapsed!

Katsushige charges...

and charges again.
The enemy retreat in disarray.

Now, Tadaaki, leading his sonae of three Ashigaru spear in the center, attacks the Osaka line!

His rightmost spear unit goes in against the end of the Osaka line.  Without support, Sanada's Ashigaru are forced back.  The attackers pursue driving the enemy back again!  Seeing this success, Tadaaki pushes the next Ashigaru spear into the enemy.  Those spearmen see similar success.  A second unit of Osaka spearmen are pushed back and then put to flight in pursuit.  The entire Osaka Center is collapsing!  Tadaaki does not stop now.  His third Ashigaru unit crashes into the enemy.  Again, the enemy is driven back and then destroyed in pursuit.  The Osaka Center is wiped out!

Tadaaki attacks...

and attacks...

and attacks to break the Osaka Center!

In hot pursuit of the enemy, this body of Tokugawa spearmen collide into Sanada's cavalry.  The Ashigaru are beaten badly and are put to flight.  In perhaps a last-ditch effort to stabilize the center, Sanada pursues with his cavalry even though his horsemen have suffered losses.  Pursuit carries him into rough ground facing enemy teppo.  The teppo deliver a devastating volley into the horsemen and many fall to the ground.  With fewer horsemen to carry on the charge and hindered by the rough terrain, Sanada's charge is stopped.  His body of Samurai horsemen are scattered.  Sanada is lucky to escape with his life.

Sanada drives off the enemy spearmen...

and sets off in hot pursuit.

Sanada's Samurai are cut down in dramatic fashion. 

With the Osaka right and Center basically gone, Susukida makes a desperate attack against Tadamasa's cavalry.  The result is as expected.  Susukida's spearmen are repulsed.  To encourage the Osaka Army to quit the field, Tokugawa Ashigaru emerges from the woods to attack and destroy one more Osaka unit.  That is all of the convincing that Sanada needs to retire from the field.

Last ditch effort...

gains nothing!

With the Osaka Army Breakpoint clock reduced to zero, Sanada and the remnants of the Osaka Army withdraw back to Osaka castle.  An historical outcome.

Osaka Army breaks!

Victory to the Tokugawa Army and Richard!  Well played!  With a breakpoint differential of '6', the Tokugawa Army narrowly misses attaining a Major Victory.  If either of the Imperial tombs had been in Tokugawa hands, a Major Victory would have been awarded.

Time runs out for the Osaka Army.

Osaka Army collapses.

What an exciting contest!  Early on, I thought my Osaka might see success.  As proven soon thereafter, those thoughts were both premature and fleeting.  Game duration was a little over two hours playing time.

Richard is a tough and canny opponent.  His attack in the center quite literally tore the Osaka Center to shreds.  Congratulations, Richard, on delivering a convincing victory for the Tokugawa Army.  To read Richard's battle account, please visit, Dōmyōji, The Battle Among the Tombs.

Thank you, Richard, for a great game!