Death in the marshes

Today's game was an ambush scenario in 16th century Japan.

A group of Samurai are leading a force of Ashigaru to a castle to join an army intending to attack the local Ikko-Ikki.
On their journey, they have to cross a small bridge crossing a marsh.

Suddenly - from all around, the cry 'Namu Amida Butsu' (Hail to Amida Buddha) erupts, as an Ikko-Ikki raiding force, which has been waiting in ambush, breaks cover....

The Samurai march innocently towards the bridge..

..From all around, fierce Warrior monks and their adherants appear! 

Another party appears on the far side of the bridge... 

..and another on the other flank! 

 On the hill overlooking the bridge, dozens more advance.

 This force splits to attack either side of the bridge.

 At the front of the column, Yumi and Tippo armed Ikko-Ikki close to lethal range.

 Yama-Bushi attack from the other side.

The lightly equipped Samurai at the front run forward to escape the jaws of death!

 At the rear of the column, the Samurai must react hastily!

..and form a makeshift defensive line.... 

- calling as many men from the bridge to support them as they can! 

 A line of Sohei closes on the line. 

 The Samurai on the bridge come under fire.

..but only one man is lightly wounded. 

 The Ikko-Ikki at the column rear begin to make contact and disrupt the defensive line.

 At the column front, the Samurai, having drawn off a third of the ambushing force, turns and prepares to sell his life dearly.

 A small group of missile troops turns behind the house, rapidly loading.

 As the Sohei approach the line at the rear, the Tippo men fire to little effect.

 Nearer the bridge, the Ikko-Ikki are already fighting ferociously. 

 At the very rear of the column, some Naginata men outflank the attacking Sohei.

..but the rest smash in to the defensive line. 

 The fighting is bloody! - and brutal! 

 The flanking Naginata men begin to get the edge in their battle..

 ..despite a group of peasants coming to the Sohei's aid.

 In the main line, the fighting breaks up into a series of individual duels.

 

 On the bridge, the Samurai's missile troops turn and shoot... 

 ..a group of Ikko-Ikki Tippo men threatening their flank.

At the column front the Sohei smash in. 

 One group loses one of their number to the flank ambush, but turn and attack their tormentors!

 As night begins to fall, both sides break off, casualties are heavy on both sides.

 At the column front the Samurai beats a grateful retreat before his force is wiped out!

 Some men pay the ultimate cost of covering the withdrawal, and die with honour.

So the battle ended, the Ikko-Ikki force having achieved its objective of breaking up and disrupting the Samurai force.

If the Samurai commander had used his greater mobility and raced over the bridge instead of standing, leaving a small force of Samurai to defend the far end, perhaps with shooting troops in support, forcing the Ikko-Ikki to fight across the bridge though, who knows?

Samurai - Lawrence, Ian, Phil and myself

Ikko-Ikki- run by the rules solo system.

I had a good sleep when I got home after this game - sometime it feels like you actually fought in the battle yourself!!!!

(The rules used are downloadable from Tyneside Wargames Club downloads page