Plataea (DBM Order of battle)

 

The third Greek command (the Megarans and others) had retreated as far as Plataea by the time the battle started. It starts off table and enters on a die roll.

 

Main sources are Herodotus for the Greeks (he gives the numbers as 50,000 Hoplites and 25,000 Light Troops, including cavalry) - he gives the Persian numbers as 300,000! Dupuy reckons about 100,000 Persians and 80,000 Greeks, which is more plausible.

 

The battle started after the Greeks tried a night retreat from the ridge of hills overlooking the Asopus river during which the three parts of the army became hopelessly separated. Mardonius, seeing his chance, attacked. During the previous 8 days, the armies had stared at each other until Persian cavalry raiding eventually made it hard for the Greeks to get water, forcing them to try and withdraw.

 

Troop name Troop Type Elem Cost

(EE)

-----------------------------------------------

 

Persians

 

Main Command (Mardonius - Persians)

CinC Reg Cv(0) 1 28ap

Persian Cavalry Irr Cv(O) 6 42ap

Skythian Cavalry Irr LH (F) 7 28ap

Immortals Reg Bw(X/S) 6 42ap

Sparabara foot Irr Bw(X/O) 6 27ap

Kaspian Archers Irr Ps(O) 8(4) 16ap

30 183ap

Demoralised after losing 10 elements

 

Sub-command (Theban allies)

Sub-general Reg Cv(O) 1 28ap

Theban Hoplites Irr Sp(I) 6 24ap

Paphlagonians Irr Ax(O) 7 21ap

Mysians Irr Ps(S) 8(4) 24ap

18 97ap

Demoralised after losing 6 elements

 

Sub-command

Sub-general Reg Cv(O) 1 28ap

Persian Cavalry Irr Cv(O) 5 35ap

Light Horse Irr LH(O) 6 30ap

Skirmishers Irr Ps(O) 6(3) 12ap

Parthian Archers Irr Bw(O) 2 8ap

18 113ap

Demoralised after losing 6 elements

 

Total army size 393ap

 

 

Greeks

 

Main command (Pausanias - Spartans & Thesallians)

CinC Reg Sp(S) 1 27ap

Spartans Reg Sp(S) 7 49ap

Thessalian Nobles Irr Cv(O) 3 21ap

Thessalian Cavalry Irr LH(O) 5 25ap

Thracians Irr Ax(S) 4 16ap

Helots & Messenians Irr Ps(I) 10(5) 10ap

25 148ap

Demoralised after losing 8.5 elements

 

Sub-command (Athenians and other Greeks)

Sub general Irr Sp(O) 1 14ap

Athenians/other Hopl Irr Sp(O) 15 60ap

Athenian archers Reg Ps(O) 6(3) 12ap

19 86ap

Demoralised after losing 6.5 elements

 

Sub-command (Megarans and others)

Sub-general Irr Sp(O) 1 14ap

Hoplites Irr Sp(O) 11 44ap

Skirmishers Irr Ps(O) 6(3) 12ap

15 70ap

Demoralised after losing 5 elements

This command starts off the table (in Plataea) and can enter in the Greek bound if the Greek CinC rolls LESS than the current turn number on 2d6. (i.e. there is a 1 in 36 chance of it coming on in the third move)

It enters in column along the road from Plataea

 

Total army size 304ap

 

 

PLATAEA Wargame layout

<--- City of Plataea is off this corner somewhere

 

The hills do not count as rough going, but give a combat advantage if upslope