Early and Later Carthaginian, I/#61 and II/#32

Later Carthaginians in classical Hannibalistic formation: Gallic and Celt-Iberian warbands flanked by successively Spanish auxilia and Libyan spear. The near flank is composed of Numidian light horse, and the far by Gallic and Spanish heavy cavalry. A screen of Libyan psiloi and Spanish caetrati is thrown forward. All in all, there are 80 bases in the picture.

Later Carthaginian was my first DBA army, and also my first DBM army (1999).

Early Carthaginian is an easy morph from Later Carthaginian and it is a very different army to play. I had that army finished by the end of 2002, and used it (with little glory) at MiniCon2003. It can still be reasonably effective when used right.

Both armies have a multitude of colorful troop types. The Later one is a wargamer's haven of different tools to use against almost any opponent, and it can be used in several very different ways (though it has some shortcomings). Add to that a colorful history (who hasn't heard of Hannibal?) and you have an army that will see the table often.

Pictures

Link to pages containing specific elements:
| Generals  |  Campanian mercenaries  |  Chariots  |  Citizen cavalry  |  Gallic troops  |  Libyan subject troops  |  The Sacred band  |  Spanish troops  | 

General description of the other troop types

The Citizen levy

Never fielded stronger than around 8000 and lacking in training, the citizen levy nevertheless fought well on a number of occations throughout Carthage's history. Despite their lack of training, they are classed as rAx(O) or rSp(I).

Allied Numidians

Some Numidian light cavalry had been introduced at least by 300BC, and they were a large contingent in later armies. Some Numidian light infantry was also used. For a general of Hannibal's format, especially the light cavalry proved invaluable both in battle (as skirmishers, ambushers, to screen deployment and in pursuit) but also in a strategic sense (scouting, foraging, denying the enemy forage, provoking battle, raiding enemy territory).

Greek troops

Greek rSp(O) hoplites were used particularly in early armies, where they were regarded as superior to their own Libyan conscripts. Xantippos, a Spartan adventurer who ended up commanding the Carthaginian forces at Bagradas in 255BC, is the best known one. They can also furnish rAx(S) thureophoroi.

Elephants

From 262BC, Carthage had a corpse of elephants. This mainly consisted of the small now-extinct North African forest elephant, though some Indian elephants were imported. Up to 140 elephants were employed in any one battle. Usually the elephants were in the first line in the centre, ready to crush the opposing heavy infantry. At the Trebia, though, they were used against mounted on a flank. They could also be effective against camp fortifications. Because of the small size of the species, Carthaginian elephants are graded as El(I).

Generically om the armies

Later Carthaginian main problems:

• Has little punch excepting pricey and slightly brittle El(I) or Wb(F), which are cheap but excessively brittle and pose C&C problems

Early Carthaginian main problems:

• Some more Lh or Cv would be desirable.
• The foot is weak if you don't bring Wb(S), which are expensive and costly to control, yet reasonably effective

Whole army pictures

Early Carthaginian army with chariots, citizen cavalry, Campanian cavalry and Libyan spear-armed troops.

Another shot of the Early Carthaginian army

The Carthaginian armies have excellent tools for mastering all kinds of terrain on the wargaming table.

Hannibalic army deploying in soon-to-be-burning Roman fields.

Sources

"The Punic Wars", by Adrian Goldsworthy
"Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars", by Duncan Head
"Armies of the Carthaginian Wars 265-146 BC", by Terence Wise
"Hannibal", by Theodore Ayrault Dodge (well I didn't really use much info from it as I'm suspicious of it, but I feel it deserves mention)