Contacting Columns in the Flank

The following examples illustrate what happens when a line of elements contacts an enemy column of elements in the flank. At least one of the attacking elements must line up legally in front corner to front corner contact when moving to attack the column.

If the legally contacted elements in column cannot conform to an attacker without displacing other units in the column, these other elements also fall in behind the conforming element as a second rank. Remaining elements which do not have to conform are not in combat. The results will vary depending on base depths of the units in the column being flanked. The relevant section of the rules are quoted as follows:

CLOSE COMBAT (page 21, para 2)
..........If an element contacts the flanks of two or more such elements, all these turn to face, the second and subsequent elements moving to behind the first. If an element or elements contacted in flank have insufficient room to turn to face, the enemy element must make room by moving back. If this is impossible, both moves are cancelled.

Example: Unit of Light Horse charging into a column of Knights.

Diagrams drawn to 15mm scale, all dimensions in "mm" unless otherwise specified.

Step A: The unit of LH prepare to attack. They are within charge range but not exactly lined up.

Step B: The attack goes in to the flank of the column. The LH group slides to the left to line up corner to corner with the lead elemrnt.

Step C: Only the Kn's in front corner to front corner (X) conform to the LH. The Kn elements directly behind those conforming elements must also fall in behind as a second rank. Elements at Y are not in front corner to front corner contact and therefore stay where they are. The Kn's in this example will most likely lose the immediate combat with double overlaps and no recoils against LH. The erratic break-up of the Kn formation is caused by the base depth being less than base width (30mm => 40mm).

Example: Unit of Cavalry charging into a column of mixed Auxilia & Psiloi.

Step A: The Cv unit in line prepares to charge the flank of a mixed column of Ax & Ps.

Step B: The Cv unit moves into contact and lines up with the front corner of the lead element in the column.

Step C: Because the combined depth of Ax & Ps are equal to a base width, all the Ax are lined up front corner to front corner and conform to the attacker. In this particular example, all elements are in combat including Ps who will also fall in behind the Ax to conform. If the Cv had moved into corner to corner contact with the front edge of the Ps instead of the Ax, the Ps would have conformed as the front rank.

The following extracts from DBM cover other related outcomes resulting from contacting the flank/s of enemy elements; Close Combat

(page 21, para 2) " At the end of any movement phase, any element, other than of train or boats, which has been so contacted to flank and/or rear by enemy elements' front edge(s), and which is not in frontal combat with an enemy front edge or providing rear support to such combats, turns to face the rear attacker if any, otherwise whichever flank attacker contacted it first."