Army Commander - Scipio (Excellent)
Scipio's army is said to have not exceeded a total of 35,000 men which included 10,000 Numidians. His Hastati are said to have numbered 4,000 to 5,000 men which would imply that either he had no "Allied" portions of the legions or that a portion of them had been re-armed with pilum. It is our opinion that Scipio commanded Romans and that his infantry consisted of four "Roman" portions of the legion as outlined in HANNIBAL 3.21.
It is possible that the Pricipes could have been re-armed with pilum by this time and players may opt to have both their Hastati and Pricipes armed with pilum, the Triarii retaining the long spear.
The Legions
As stated above, the Roman player's infantry will consist of four Major Units of legionnaires. Each of the four major units will consist of:
Ten tactical units of Roman infantry as outlined in Hannibal 2.2 and are
organized into major units as described in Hannibal 3.21
Each such Major Unit is commanded by one Major Unit Commander.
The above Major Units give a total of 16,800 Roman infantry in the army.
The Right Flank
The right flank was commanded by Massinissa (Sub-Commander: Good) and consisted of Numidian Forces. These Numidian forces have the same morale grades as the Numidians in Hannibal's army (Hannibal 2.1411) except as listed below:
Major Unit 1.
4 tactical units of Numidian Lt. Cavalry each at 8 figures.
One Major Unit Commander
Major Unit 2.
4 tactical units of Numidian Lt. Cavalry each at 8 figures.
One Major Unit Commander.
Major Unit 3.
6 tactical units of African Lt. Infantry each unit at 16
figures.
One Major Unit Commander.
Tactical Unit Specifications for the African Light Infantry are: Weapons Class: 4 0avelins) Defense Class: Lt. Infantry Morale Grade: 76 Mounting: Lt. Infantry
The Left Flank
These forces were the Roman and Roman Allied cavalry and were commanded by Laelius (Sub-Commander: Good).
Major Unit 1.
2 tactical units of Roman unarmored cavalry each unit at 5 figures.
One Major Unit Commander.
Major Unit 2 and Major Unit 3
EACH consist of: two tactical units of Allied cavalry (Light Cavalry or
Unarmored Cavalry at the Roman players option), each unit of 5 figures, and one
Major Unit Commander. The above Allied Cavalry is organized per HANNIBAL 2.29
and 3.23.
If the Roman players opt to utilize his Allied cavalry as Unarmored Cavalry, then the following tactical unit specifications will apply: Weapons Class: 4 0avelins) Defense Class: Unarmored Cavalry Morale Grade: 72 Base Mounting: Unarmored Cavalry Allowed the same formations as Roman cavalry
The above forces constitute the army of Scipio at Zama and total 28,400 men to Hannibal's 36,720 men, plus elephants. Scipio may of course utilize "Scipio's Formation" as outlined in Hannibal 3.23. It is recommended that 3 players constitute the Roman side, one each as Scipio, Massinissa, and Laelius.
OPTIONAL RULE FOR ELEPHANTS
Hannibal's elephants did indeed 'panic' at this battle as is described by Livy with his usual flavorful writing, "...when from the Roman side the horns and trumpets blared out, and so tremendous a cheer was raised that the elephants panicked and turned against their own men .......
To incorporate this event, players may wish to have all elephant units that attempt to charge into melee test morale twice istead of the normal once, per rule 12.93 and 12.94 in ANCIENT EMPIRES. If the elephant unit fails the first test, it panics as usual. If the first test is successful, then a second test is made and if it is successful, then play proceeds as normal. It is fails the second test, the panic situation develops and play proceeds as normal.
Hannibal was in a must win situation. If he could defeat Scipio, Carthage would be able to continue the war or would have perhaps been in a very good position to sue for peace. Rome would have very probably accepted a negotiated peace had Scipio been destroyed and this could have drastically altered history's course as we know it.
As it was, everything went wrong for Hannibal. His elephants panicked and tore into his own lines, stripping his left wing of cavalry. His first line withdrew and disrupted his second line, his best, which allowed Scipio to take advantage of their disorder by the use of flank and frontal assault. Finally, when Scipio's cavalry returned to the field after pursuing the defeated Carthaginian cavalry, the result was Hannibal's complete and utter destruction. Both Livy and Polybius list Hannibal's dead at 20,000.
Hannibal's military career was at an end. - Good Luck!
Battle of Zama Scipio vs. Hannibal
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