06-02-2014, 06:34 PM
If I may, I would like to add/suggest...
Considering the period of the Late Republic (if that is indeed your chosen time-frame, which I tend to think of as the Post-Marian period until the establishment of the Principate), then you would be looking at the time of the early professional legions, who would be supported by non-professional allies and mercenaries (for any specialist infantry and all the cavalry); which may give you further plot options. Legions seem to have stayed together in the main, often pairing off in joint camps (or larger if the whole army was deployed in one place), however, cohorts were often detached to hold particular locales - and this is what I would suggest - a detached cohort (or perhaps a pair or more if that helps) sent to help keep somewhere pacified (perhaps a supply base or route).
On that basis I would be thinking of a 6-century/3-maniple cohort in a small fort; a maniple on regular duty/rest; one on fatigues; and therefore it's a whole maniple that is sent on a patrol/ambush - which gives you rather more scope for detachments and enough men (bearing in mind they are on foot) to consider an ambush against ~100.
Having given a good deal of thought over the last couple of years, I would suggest the likely structure of the century to be 60 heavy legionaries plus 20 'lighter' or 'antesignanii' troops and each having a centurion, optio and signifer (with a senior and junior of each). The antesignanii are most likely from the writings of the period and certainly well suggested by Josephus (BJ), although writing a little later - but, more importantly for you, give you greater tactical options; especially as they are armed with hasta and lancea (light javelins) instead of pila.
In the main battle line I would expect the centuries to form next to each other 10 files/contubernia wide and 6 ranks deep, but you would certainly get more coverage along the length of the ambush line if they were formed only 3 deep; which would still be of sufficient depth to likely prevent breakthrough of the ambushed. From your OP, each century would normally be commanded from the rear right where the centurion and signifer would stand, whilst the optio covers the rear left (his prime duty in combat is most probably to keep the ranks closed up, stop anyone 'stepping back' and organising the clearance of dead and wounded who would otherwise be in the way. He would not have a pilum.
The scenario you may then be looking for is to have the antesignanii detached, so that the two 'fighting' centuries are commanded by the senior centurion and junior optio, whilst the junior centurion and senior optio (your man) take 20 antesignanii each who, with their spears, are the chosen troops to block off each end of the ambush and carry out any limited follow-up.
Your individual scenario then has the ambush go off as planned, the enemy band is devastated by the opening pila-volley, for [insert whatever reason] can only escape (normal anti-ambush drills) through the centuries - and fail. A few hardy individuals, however, break either forwards or backwards and meet up with your optio and his blocking force, he gets injured, but his men finish off hunting down the few and therefore leave him for a few minutes until the force re-organises.
M2CW
Considering the period of the Late Republic (if that is indeed your chosen time-frame, which I tend to think of as the Post-Marian period until the establishment of the Principate), then you would be looking at the time of the early professional legions, who would be supported by non-professional allies and mercenaries (for any specialist infantry and all the cavalry); which may give you further plot options. Legions seem to have stayed together in the main, often pairing off in joint camps (or larger if the whole army was deployed in one place), however, cohorts were often detached to hold particular locales - and this is what I would suggest - a detached cohort (or perhaps a pair or more if that helps) sent to help keep somewhere pacified (perhaps a supply base or route).
On that basis I would be thinking of a 6-century/3-maniple cohort in a small fort; a maniple on regular duty/rest; one on fatigues; and therefore it's a whole maniple that is sent on a patrol/ambush - which gives you rather more scope for detachments and enough men (bearing in mind they are on foot) to consider an ambush against ~100.
Having given a good deal of thought over the last couple of years, I would suggest the likely structure of the century to be 60 heavy legionaries plus 20 'lighter' or 'antesignanii' troops and each having a centurion, optio and signifer (with a senior and junior of each). The antesignanii are most likely from the writings of the period and certainly well suggested by Josephus (BJ), although writing a little later - but, more importantly for you, give you greater tactical options; especially as they are armed with hasta and lancea (light javelins) instead of pila.
In the main battle line I would expect the centuries to form next to each other 10 files/contubernia wide and 6 ranks deep, but you would certainly get more coverage along the length of the ambush line if they were formed only 3 deep; which would still be of sufficient depth to likely prevent breakthrough of the ambushed. From your OP, each century would normally be commanded from the rear right where the centurion and signifer would stand, whilst the optio covers the rear left (his prime duty in combat is most probably to keep the ranks closed up, stop anyone 'stepping back' and organising the clearance of dead and wounded who would otherwise be in the way. He would not have a pilum.
The scenario you may then be looking for is to have the antesignanii detached, so that the two 'fighting' centuries are commanded by the senior centurion and junior optio, whilst the junior centurion and senior optio (your man) take 20 antesignanii each who, with their spears, are the chosen troops to block off each end of the ambush and carry out any limited follow-up.
Your individual scenario then has the ambush go off as planned, the enemy band is devastated by the opening pila-volley, for [insert whatever reason] can only escape (normal anti-ambush drills) through the centuries - and fail. A few hardy individuals, however, break either forwards or backwards and meet up with your optio and his blocking force, he gets injured, but his men finish off hunting down the few and therefore leave him for a few minutes until the force re-organises.
M2CW
