Skirmishing with Sumerians

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Perhaps the main attraction of a Sumerian army was that it was the first army list in the WRG army lists (3 volume set). Also, the four wheeled, four onager chariots were delightfully different, the Sumerians were the first highly organised society and Chariot Miniatures made some nice figures. I liked these particular figures as they had a simplicity which fitted well with the style of figures in Sumerian reliefs. So I embarked upon the building of yet another army.

Most of my Sumerian spearmen are mounted 8 figures to a base in two ranks. The first rank alternates spearmen with shield bearers whilst the second rank consists entirely of spearmen (note: my spear carriers do not have shields). This gives a pleasing effect, which I like to think is reminiscent of the Sumerian spearmen on the "Vulture Stela".

My Sumerian army never got very large because Chariot remodelled the figures which lost their original simplicity and became minor works of art. This caused a bit of a problem as most 7th Edition games at my local club grew from 1250 points a side to 1500 points and finally to 1600 points. I was able to expand my army to 1500 points but not beyond that.

The Army Back to Top

CinC in 4 onager HCh with JLS (LUGAL)

2x Sub General in HCh + 1 "Irr B" HCh 1 JLS (SANGU)

3x 2 "Irr B" 4 onager HCh 1 crew with JLS (GISH.GIGIR)

3x 8 "Irr C" LI JLS (sub units) (NIM)

16 "Reg B" LMI 2HCW, D (SHUB.LUGAL)

36 "Reg C/D" MI LTS, 1/3 Sh + A (ERIN.SUMMA)

36 "Reg C/D" MI LTS, 1/3 Sh (ERIN.SUMMA)

3x 24 "Reg C/D" MI LTS, 1/2 Sh (ERIN.SUMMA)

16 "Reg C/D" MI LTS, 1/2 Sh (ERIN.SUMMA)

2x 12 "Reg C" LI B (AGA.USH)

24 "Irr C" LI JLS (NIM)

2x 24 "Irr D" LI JLS (NIM)

2x 24 "Irr D" LI S (NIM)

Total 1,500 points. Scouting 42

Note: One unit of ERIN.SUMMA (spearmen) carries the NIN.GIRSU (army standard).

The main advantage the army has is size. You get a lot of figures. Opponents are always surprised at how many scouting points I have given that only my light infantry can scout (total of 168 figures)!

The army consists of three main types of troops: close order infantry with long spears; ungainly heavy chariots and large clumps of shieldless light infantry. Individually, all these types of troops are vulnerable. Used together they can overcome many of their vulnerabilities. For example, enemy infantry with heavy throwing weapons will devastate the ERIN.SUMMA but are worried by the GISH.GIGIR. Enemy cavalry, heavy chariots or knights can threaten the GISH.GIGIR but must also avoid the ERIN.SUMMA. The NIM & AGA.USH add much needed firepower and can survive in difficult terrain. Therefore, the army must deploy for and fight a combined arms’ battle. Do not deploy with chariots on the wings and spearmen in the centre. Instead, the battle line should consist of alternating units of GISH.GIGIR and ERIN.SUMMA. The NIM should screen the battle line, occupy rough ground and cover the flanks.

I tend to deploy the ERIN.SUMMA and GISH.GIGIR in columns in an attempt to improve my manoeuvrability. The NIM & AGA.USH form a screen and lurk in any difficult terrain. The main thing to avoid is rough going in the middle of a Sumerian battleline. This is virtually impassable to the spearmen and is impassable to the chariots.

Battle Plan Back to Top

My basic plan is to attack all along the line and try to overwhelm the enemy by weight of numbers. This like all good plans is simple in theory, but is much harder in practice. When playing against other chariot period armies the greatest threat is Greek Hoplites (HI LTS,JLS,Sh) who can cut both the GISH.GIGIR and ERIN.SUMMA to ribbons. When playing out of period the greatest threat is pikemen who, again, can deal with the GISH.GIGIR and ERIN.SUMMA.

The GISH.GIGIR with their supporting sub units of NIM can be surprisingly effective. They are a cause of unease and can deliver a highly effective impetuous charge. The NIM are helpful in a fight and provide added bulk to the unit. However, the NIM need to be detached before trying to catch enemy skirmishers.

The ERIN.SUMMA have two main uses. First, their solidity and staying power in a protracted melee. Second, to support the NIM against mounted opponents, as enemy mounted troops tend to try to avoid long spears like the plague.

The SHUB.LUGAL (Sumerian Guard) are extremely vulnerable and some of the least useful troops in the army. However, they have two redeeming qualities. They can fight in difficult terrain (as a last resort) and can skirmish with enemy close order foot. They are also excellent for attacking enemy units in the flank, but most of my opponents manage to avoid that!

The hordes of NIM (literally "flies") are primarily intended to be a nuisance to any opponent. The slingers and AGA.USH have a very useful missile capability which is particularly effective against cavalry. Enemy cavalry can normally avoid contact with my slow moving ERIN.SUMMA and GISH.GIGIR, so firepower is necessary to force them to close. The unenthusiastic javelin armed NIM tend to get the job of lurking in difficult terrain and, as a last resort, disputing the ownership of such terrain. This also keeps them from getting in the way of the rest of the army (they take up a lot of space and can not manoeuvre quickly).

Put it all together and you have a huge slow moving mass which can grind the enemy down and deliver the occasional nasty impetuous chariot charge. Perhaps the greatest problem the Sumerians face, leaving aside enemy pikes, is a lack of mobility and of good rough terrain troops.

Conclusion - Reality on the Table Top

The Sumerians have been successful more often than not. This is at least partly because they have never fought a Hellenistic pike army (no contest under 7th Edition). However, they are by no means my most effective army, in terms of winning, nor the army which is most fun to use. Yet they are more interesting that some of my armies, I like their look and they present me (and my opponents) with a rather different challenge from usual.

Afterwards - Sumerians & DBM Back to Top

The Sumerians retain their position as the first list in Book 1 and in general seem to be treated reasonably well. The GISH.GIGIR are Reg Kn(I) and my ERIN.SUMMA are half Reg Pk(X) and half Pk(I). These both seem reasonable interpretations to me. The GISH.GIGIR, who are theoretically shock troops, still have a very nasty time when faced by the ERIN.SUMMA - but Pk(X)/Pk(I) is the most suitable classification.

I am less happy about the interpretation of the earlier spearmen in cape with spear (see front cover of Book 1 of DBM army lists) as Reg Pk(I). This makes them even more dangerous to the chariots than the Pk(X)/Pk(I), and they would beat the Pk(X)/Pk(I) in a straight fight. More reasonable to me would be the classification of the early spearmen as Ax(I) or Ax(X). These would be vulnerable to the chariots and provide reason for the movement towards a closer order and Pk(X)/Pk(I) status.

Most troops in DBM are classed by function rather than armament. For example, those troops classed as Wb(F) or Ax(O) who were all lumped together under 7th (and earlier) Editions as "Irr C" LMI JLS,Sh. However, this excellent scheme breaks down for Psiloi. Thus all the Sumerian NIM armed with sling or bow become Ps(O), while those with javelins become Ps(I). This ignores the important element of motivation, which previous WRG rules covered by the use of morale classes. In particular, the classification of all the slingers as "Irr D" in the old lists felt right to me. Therefore, I would have liked to see, at least, an option to classify the sling armed NIM as Irr Ps(I).

Overall this army looks rather like its 7th Edition cousin; it is not going to be a world beater, but will present me and my opponents with a change from the familiar (if I can get enough ERIN.SUMMA together!).