Arsuf: Lionheart vs. Saladin

Following a series of harassing attacks by Saladin’s forces, battle was joined on the morning of 7 September 1191. Richard’s army successfully resisted attempts to disrupt its cohesion until the Hospitallers broke ranks and charged; Richard then commit- ted all his forces to the attack. He regrouped his army after its initial success, and led them to victory. The battle resulted in the coastal area of southern Palestine, including the port of Jaffa, returning to Christian control. This made the capture of Jerusalem an achievable proposition.

7 September 1191 AD

Saladin’s plan is to raid and loot the Crusader baggage trains, which is the best way to disrupt the Crusaders’ campaign. The Kurds and Egyptians are poised to strike in the northern part of the map. These divisions are lead by Shirkuk and Taqi. Saladin has the Mamluk Division in the center, while Gobkori leads the Syrians against the southern fl ank. The Crusader Army will become demoralized after the elimination of two of the baggage trains, so this is a target for the Muslims. Additionally, the Muslims gain 5 VP for each train that doesn’t make it to Arsuf by the end of the game. That could result in a total of 20 VP. On the other hand, the Crusaders gain 10 VP for each train that makes it to Arsuf. Either player can win an automatic victory. The Muslims, by destroying all four trains, and the Crusaders by safely passing all four trains to Arsuf. by E.R. Bickford AAR of Arsuf: Otherwise, the victory will be marginal Lionheart vs. Saladin essentially based on loss points. Production: Lise’ Patterson Overview of the Battle The Crusaders will try to learn from their past lessons (the battle of Hattin), © 2013 Decision Games This battle is part of the Third Crusade. and move slowly and methodi- The Crusaders have already captured cally, keeping tight formations. This Bakersfi eld, CA. Acre and have the intent of capturing will protect the baggage trains. Jerusalem. Thinking that he would Hopefully these will pass into Arsuf. need to capture Jaffa to make an attack Richard I is leading the forces in the on Jerusalem feasible, Richard the center. Henry and Robert de Sablé Lionhearted began a march down the are with the vanguard. Guy and coast from Acre. Richard’s counterpart Hugh command the rearguard. was Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, who was determined to prevent the capture of Jerusalem.

| AFTER ACTION REPORT | A1 Arsuf: Lionheart vs. Saladin

Turn 1 supplies to the city. On turn one, the mounted archers so they get one shot Crusader player focuses on advancing to disorder their attackers. Since the hit The Muslim player is the first player toward the city. Since the baggage number is a “one” it is not surprising throughout this game. Saladin con- moves only two hexes per turn, it that there is no effect. Shirkuk and his tinues with his ambush plan. On turn will take 8 of the 10 turns to get them Egyptian cavalry shock attack, and one, Gobkori brings the Syrian division there, even if unhindered. The trains both are repulsed and retreated. around the southern flank to cut the head for the road, which greatly Crusaders off from their intended facilitates (doubles) their movement. In the center, Tariq leads the Mamluks easy passage to Arsuf. Meanwhile, Unfortunately, this places them closer into the Crusader infantry. The Saladin and Tariq threaten Richard’s to danger from the Muslim army. archery fire has limited effect again, central position with the Mamluks. but two of the Mamluk formations In the north, Shirkuk and Taqi press Turn 2 become disrupted. The others charge. forward, but also are charged with These attacks are unsuccessful. Some protecting the Muslim camps. The On the north flank, Shirkuk decides of the Mamluks remain engaged, Crusaders collect 20 VP for entering that there is no sense waiting around. while others are forced to retreat. the camp during the course of the He launches into contact with the some On the southern flank, Gobkori game. There is no contact yet. of the mounted men from Jerusalem. leads the Syrian division against a Several of the light infantry fire formation of cavalry from Jerusalem. The Crusaders begin their movement their archery in defense. These light The Turcopole unit retreats before toward Arsuf. Although Arsuf is a infantry troops have a range of two combat, because it would have been ruined city, there still stood defensible which gives them a little advantage an auto elimination to do otherwise. walls and a port, hence, Richard’s over the Muslims. Unfortunately, plan to move his baggage trains and nothing hits. The Turcopole units are

A2 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | The Crusaders try to open up the southern flank. Henry and Robert de Sablé lead an attack. Unfortunately, the Syrian archers disrupt some of Robert‘s attacking formations. Not much prog- ress is made in opening up the road or the southern flank. Henry does manage a little success on the eastern side of the road. In the center, the Crusaders push back the Muslim forces to gain a little breathing room for the trains. The Muslims have lost three units this turn.

Turn 3

Shirkuk tries to recover his forces from disorder. Meanwhile, Taqi attempts to smash into the heavy infantry on the rear flank. His Egyptian cavalry manage to inflict a retreat result. Since the Crusaders have to pass through friendly units, they become disordered. Then Tariq attacks the center of the Crusader position. This yields mixed

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results. One of the Muslim units is Shirkuk’s units and it disintegrates. I strikes the western part of the caught in an attack without a clear None of the Crusaders recover during Muslim position. Saladin is pushed retreat path and is eliminated. The key reorganization, but one of the heavy back. Nablus engages Shirkuk in the area of the battlefield, which is develop- infantry formations does rally. rear. This has mixed results, but one ing, is the southern flank facing Arsuf. Egyptian formation is destroyed. Here, both Henry and Robert are facing Turn 4 Gobkori and the Syrian division. Most Turn 5 of Gobkori’s forces retreat after being On the south flank, the Syrians attack repulsed in combat. One unit is elimi- again. The archers have no effect Although Saladin’s Army has lost nated in an exchange result which also here but Gobkori successfully drives a lot of strength, they still have the wrecks a Crusader infantry formation. back Henry’s and Robert’s forces. Crusaders cut off from Arsuf and there Then both Saladin and Tariq strike is some hope of knocking out more In the van, Henry and Robert renew the southern position from the units. In the south, Gobkori launches their attacks on the enemy. The east. Miraculously, this pushes the another round of hit and run strikes Muslims are still blocking the approach Crusaders backwards into their central against Robert and Henry’s formations. to Arsuf. An exchange of archery area. Farther north, the Egyptians Most of the attacks are repulsed, volleys yields some success. In the end, strike Avesnes and Guy. Both are however. Next, Saladin and Tariq attack the Crusaders push the Muslims back, retreated toward the coastal road. In Richard in the center. Some of the partially opening the way to Arsuf. the north, Shirkuk gets an exchange Muslim archery volleys are effective. and takes out some of the Knights Although outnumbered, the Muslim In the center, Guy and the Poitevan Templar, while Nablus and the Knights forces gain some ground, but a Mamluk Knights attack the Muslim skirmishers. Hospitaller are driven southward. heavy cavalry unit is eliminated. These attempt a Karr-wa-farr (a feigned retreat to entice the Crusaders out of The Crusaders’ baggage train Taqi orders the Kurds to attack in the line) hoping to surround Guy’s knights. advances into a dangerous position. north. The archers are unsuccessful This fails, however, and the Muslim The Crusaders in the south perform on both sides, but an exchange result skirmishers retreat before combat. successful archery fire and disorder takes out some of the Crusaders’ Guy of Lusignan safely advances. some Muslim units. Both Henry and heavy infantry. The other attacks Farther north, Hugh attacks one of Robert gain ground. Then Richard in the north are successful. The

A4 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | Kurds use archers against a heavy infantry formation and then push it backwards in the shock attack.

The Crusaders now react. Henry and Robert attack the southern defensive position with charging knights. These are met by a hail of archery fire. Fortunately, none of Gobkori’s skirmishers have any effect; the Muslim cavalry figure retreat before combat is their best option. On the eastern flank, Saladin’s division holds fast. One Muslim unit is lost though. Guy, Avesnes and Hugh are engaged with Taqi in the north. The other attacks between Hugh and Shirkuk result in a couple of exchanges. Both sides are becoming weak in the north position, but the baggage trains are in the south by now. The Muslim player is also concerned with protecting his encampment.

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Loss results knock out two of the Syrian cavalry units. That hurts. Despite the rallying of units, the Muslim player has too many units in the dead pile.

The Crusaders see an opportunity to break things open to Arsuf. Robert de Sablé, Henry, and Richard I all charge the position with their knights. None of Gobkori’s Syrian archers disrupt the knights. Robert’s Templars crush the Syrian cavalry. Then Henry and the English knights take out a second cavalry formation. Richard also pushes forward as the Syrians retreat. However, the infantry on Richard’s left flank are repulsed and fall back.

In the northern area of the battlefield, the Duke of Burgundy launches an attack to threaten the Muslim camp. The position is still defended by Taqi and Shirkuk’s Kurds. The French and Norman knights charge the Muslim Turn 6 Tariq and Saladin attempt to maneuver position. Archers fling their arrows around the Crusaders’ southern flank. to no avail. A large body of Kurd and On the north flank, Shirkuk and Taqi This is only partly successful. At the Egyptian units are wiped out. One of both decide to fall back to regroup. least, the Muslim units break contact the Crusaders’ heavy infantry units These formations head eastward with the enemy. In the south, Gobkori succumbs as well. Things are begin- toward the Muslim Camp. There are no attempts some desperate attacks. The ning to look bleak for the Muslims. engagements over there. Meanwhile die rolling is poor and two Attacker

A6 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | Turn 7

In the northern section of the map, Shirkuk is trying to preserve his force (and himself). Taqi decides to take on a few of the Crusader infantry. Two attacks are launched. These are both successful, but only manage to push the infantry back. The Muslim position is no better off for it. In the southern battlefield, Saladin’s division attempts to gain position. Richard’s knights are parried. Gobkori attacks with his Syrian cavalry and punches a hole in the Crusader vanguard. The baggage trains are in plain sight now, but can Gobkori get there to loot anything? The Muslim player rallies another unit from the dead pile.

Henry and the English Knights attack Gobkori and his Syrian formation. The attack dislodges the Muslims. Gobkori falls back and the baggage is safe again. The Egyptian cavalry are eliminated troops which fall back. The Egyptian Turn 8 on Richard’s left flank. Although the cavalry to the west are hit by Guy and Muslim player has lost a lot of men, the his Norman Knights. This Muslim cav- Both Taqi and Shirkuk fall back Crusaders haven’t got into Arsuf yet. alry unit is surrounded and destroyed. farther toward the Muslim camp. It On the northern part of the battlefield, doesn’t look like the Crusaders are Avesnes strikes a group of Kurdish planning to raid it though. In the

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the Norman Knights. Hugh has more success as the Muslim units retire. The Crusaders fail their rally die roll.

Turn 9

Both Shirkuk and Taqi move toward the Muslim camp, pulling the Crusaders’ troops toward the base. There is no contact so no fighting. Near Arsuf, the Mamluk Division, led by Saladin, redoubles its defensive efforts. The Mamluks attack and force one of the Poitevan Knights back in retreat and then take out the knights on the Crusaders’ right flank.

The Crusaders push back. Near Arsuf, Richard I and Henry launch another attack. This has the effect of pushing the Mamluk forces back toward the ruins of Arsuf. There is no real progress and it looks like the baggage will not make it to the fortress today. If that is the case, it will yield 20 VP to the Muslims. But will that be enough to counter the Muslim losses? In the north, Hugh and Guy wipe out more of the Kurdish and Egyptian Divisions. The Crusaders fail their rally die roll again.

Turn 10

Taqi and Shirkuk resume their delaying action toward the Muslim camp. It seems as though this delay- ing tactic has worked. The camp likely will be safe until the Crusaders break off. In the south, near the ruins of Arsuf, Saladin redoubles his efforts. One of the Knights Templar formations is eliminated, while other attacks force the Crusaders to retreat. The Muslims fail to rally.

Richard launches some attacks near Arsuf. Not much ground is gained, but the Muslims suffer terrific losses. Hugh and Guy attack in the north near the Muslim camp. They will not get south, Saladin deploys the Mamluk The Crusaders are running out of time. into the camp today, however. Taqi Division to prevent the Crusaders Henry attacks along the main roadway and Shirkuk order the archers to fire from getting into the Arsuf fortress. leading to Arsuf. He has measured but nothing hits. The knights charge. The Mamluk attacks go well. Although success and the Muslim units fall Taqi is killed and his formation is no Crusader units are destroyed, back. On the eastern side of the road, eliminated. Then Shirkuk is hit and his they are pushed back and one suffers Richard’s divisions closes in. Most of forces are destroyed as well. Somehow disorder. There are no attacks in the the Muslim cavalry are pushed away Shirkuk escapes the wrath of the northern portion of the battlefield. but one unit is destroyed as its retreat knights. The Crusaders make their path is cut off. On the north battlefield, last rally attempt and fail yet again. Guy is repulsed as he charges with

A8 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | Summary & Analysis

This is the end of the game. All of the baggage trains are safe, but they haven’t made it to Arsuf. This gives the Muslim player 20 VP. The Crusaders never really got to the Muslim camp so there goes 20 VP that could have been taken by them. Unfortunately for them, the Muslims have lost 101 strength points (plus 5 VP for the death of Taqi). Yikes! The Crusaders score 106 VP for this. The Crusaders have suffered only 30 strength point losses. Added to the 20 VP for the safety of the four baggage wagons, the Crusaders still have a 2-1 VP advantage, so I would say they won. According to the rules it would be only a marginal victory.

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