Battle of Tel Nebi Mend 1274BCE

Thursday saw Hittites and Egyptians take to the field of battle in a clash with my frequent Australian nemesis, Peter.  Peter commands the Hittite Army.  I command the Egyptian Army.  Peter already posted a battle report of our tabletop exploits so be sure to visit his blog report at Chariots left, right, and center.  His battle report is very entertaining causing me to reconsider publishing an account of my own.  Still, I forge ahead with the battle from the Egyptian, slightly biased, perspective.

Initial battle lines

Egyptian Army readies for battle...

while the Hittite Army does the same.

As Pharaoh’s Army marches north through Canaan on his annual campaigning against the Hittites, the Pharaoh’s wing is stopped at the narrow passage between Lake Homs and Tel Nebi Mend. The heights of Tel Nebi Mend control passage of the ground falling away to the marshy banks of the lake. Seizing the high ground is imperative as it controls the road north as well as provide a source of water. Both armies must control the heights while attempting to destroy the enemy.

Recognizing the importance of the high ground at Tel Nebi Mend, the Hittite King seizes the initiative.  His army moves smartly toward the rough, rocky outcropping.  The two Hittite chariots on the left of the Hittite battle line begin to work their way around the end of the tel.  In response, Pharaoh pushes his army up to counter the King's advances.  On the Hittite Right, the King pushes his army forward with a chariot leading the way skirting the impassable rocky ground to its left.  Dust clouds kicked up by the bodies of chariots begin to envelop the battlefield.  

Hittites move to take the high ground.

Pharaoh counters.

Hittite Right marches forward.

Overall dispositions in early phase of battle.

The Hittites strike first!

The lead chariot on the Hittite Left bears down on the exposed Egyptian skirmishers.  The skirmishers quickly head for the rear.  Not wanting to over-extend itself, the chariot waits for his companion to join.

Perhaps to buy time for the Egyptian Army to come up, the Egyptian chariot moving up to support the retreating skirmishers attacks.  In possibly a rash move, the Egyptian attacks the enemy body of chariots, unsupported.  The enemy, however, has support.  In a quick clash the Egyptian chariot is sent packing to the rear.  Fortunately, a second Egyptian chariot arrives to cover the retreat.  Still, the pursuing Hittite catches his prey.  In the melee, the Hittite is driven off.  That was close!  In all of this confusion, the King orders his foot infantry to take the high ground in strength.  

Egyptian skirmishers evade!

Egyptian attack is repulsed.

The victorious Hittite pursues the fleeing Egyptian chariot.

But the Hittite's attack is blunted and he is driven off.

With combats swirling on the left, 
the remaining combatants await their turn.
The King heads toward the action out on the left.

With the battle seemingly in check on the Hittite Left, for now, battle focus shifts to the Hittite right.

Seeing the Egyptians bring up a chariot from their left behind a skirmisher screen, the Hittites slip into action.  Hittite skirmishers manage to disorder the Egyptian chariot as it moves out into the open.  Skirting the palm forest, the Hittite chariot on the far right strikes.  The first enemy in its path are skirmishers covering the movement of an Egyptian chariot.  Quickly scattering the skirmishers, the Hittite hits the Egyptian chariot.  Likely surprised by the sudden appearance of the enemy, the Egyptian retreats after a quick clash.  

Hittite chariot attacks on the right.

Enemy skirmishers are overrun...

and the Egyptian chariot is attacked.

As the Egyptian chariot heads to the rear, an Egyptian bow unit is uncovered.  The Hittite chases the fleeing chariot and smacks into the bowmen.  Failing to get off a volley of arrows as the enemy closes, the Egyptian bowmen buckle and run to the rear.  Continuing its pursuit, the Hittite rattles on.  The pursuit carries it into the rear of the enemy chariot, chased off only moments before.  This time, however, the situation is different.  The Egyptian has support.  Nearing exhaustion from its efforts, the Hittite chariot fails to break through.  Instead, it is repulsed and turns about to retire into the distance.  

The Egyptian chariot is put to flight.
The Hittite pursues.

Egyptian archers are put to flight.
The Hittite pursues.

Finally, the Hittite is stopped!

Hittite chariot on its way to the rear.

Not relinquishing initiative yet, the Hittite chariot in the center swings around the end of the rocky outcropping and strikes the enemy.  Battered by Egyptian archery on the approach, the Hittite chariot is weakened before crashing into the enemy's chariot.  In a lengthy dogfight, the Hittite is finally driven off in great disorder.  Seeing his enemy off, the Egyptian pursues.  Following the fleeing Hittite, the Egyptian is repelled by the determined archery of the bowmen to the front.  With all of his chariotry on the left in disarray, Pharaoh, himself, moves up to stabilize the situation.   

The Hittite attacks!

The Hittite is repulsed.
In pursuit, the Egyptian comes
under heavy archery fire and retires.

Pharaoh moves up to sort the mess.

Returning to the action on the Egyptian Right, having seen off his compatriot's pursuer, the Egyptian chariot counterattacks.  The fleeing Hittite chariot is caught and quickly dispatched.  Even though the Hittite Left is now exposed, the remaining Hittite chariot chooses to attack rather than maneuver into a more defensive position.  Hugging the rocky ground around Tel Nebi Mend, the Hittite attacks a line of bowmen.  In the following exchange of missile fire, the Hittite is forced to veer off and head for its own battle line.

Fleeing Hittite is caught and destroyed.

Hugging the rocks, the Hittite attacks!

Under a hail of arrows, 

the Hittite chariot is forced to retire.

Situation as the battle reaches a climax.

The King directs the refusal of the Hittite Left, as the King moves up to offer encouragement and direction.  The Hittite Right stands solidly awaiting orders to advance.  With the enemy holding the vital high ground, Pharaoh must devise an alternative plan of action.

Egyptians look up to the enemy positioned on the heights. 

Hittite Left is refused...

but an Egyptian chariot lays in wait upon the enemy left.

Hittite Right stands firm.

Seizing the moment, the Egyptian chariot situated upon the Hittite Left attacks.  His target is the retreating enemy chariot.  Catching the enemy in flank, the chariot is dispatched but his work is not done!  In pursuit, the chariot crashes into a supporting enemy spear.  The spearmen cannot withstand the shock.  They are driven back!  The Egyptian follows up and hits them again.  This time, the enemy is sent reeling toward the rear.  

Unfortunately for the victorious Egyptian, glory is short lived.  Refusing to continue to pursue, it is attacked from the rear as the enemy rushes down from the heights.  Attacked vigorously from above, the chariot is destroyed.     

Hittite caught in flank and destroyed!

Pursuit carries the chariot into enemy spear.

The enemy is pushed back...

and then put to flight!

Pharaoh takes this moment to send his infantry to attack the heights.  The Hittite javelinmen are pushed back exposing (the now) rear-facing Hittite spear.  The spearmen are scattered and the entire Hittite force on the hill is ejected.  With the Hittite Left disintegrating, the King reacts.  Moving around the rocky hill, the King attacks!  Fortune is not with the King.  His attack is seen off by a hail of arrows.  To compound the seemingly dire situation, Pharaoh orders an attack into the Hittite Center.  One chariot is caught in flight leaving the baggage exposed.  Moments later, the Hittite baggage is overrun.    

Attacks and counterattacks across the battlefield.

Hittite chariot caught and dispatched.

Baggage overrun!

Wheeling about, the King makes one more attempt to destroy the Egyptian Right.  The unlucky King is defeated in another attack against the enemy at the base of Tel Nebi Mend.  Forced to retreat back toward the high ground, the King slows to negotiate the difficult ground.  He is caught from behind and killed.  The battle is over.

The Hittite King meets his demise.

Victory to Pharaoh!

While the end may have come suddenly, the fight was long, hard, and even.  Until the Hittite camp was taken and the King killed, the battle was not yet decided.

Peter put up a very good fight although his luck escaped him at times.  He did roll five 6s on five dice once, though.  Quite demoralizing as the recipient!  Great game full of interesting twists and turns with drama at every move.  Game lasted about three and a half hours.

Thank you, Peter!

Now, go off and read Peter's entertaining battle report.