The Single Handed Admiral: AHPC XIV Post 5 Late Roman Light Cavalry and Slingers

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

AHPC XIV Post 5 Late Roman Light Cavalry and Slingers

No library sections today, but two units for my Late Roman armies based for To The Strongest.

First up a unit of 4 light cavalry with javelins. I've named them after the Equites Dalmatae who served under the Dux Britanniarum and were noted as being stationed at Praesidio. It is unsure where this is exactly, but best guess is somewhere in Yarkshire, maybe between York and Doncaster. "Dalmation" seemed to be type of cavalry rather than a place of origin and is often interpreted as being light cavalry with javelins. Useful for running down raiders, patrolling frontiers and harassing flanks. Being a Limitanei unit, there's no shield pattern for this unit meaning that I get to make one up. I've gone with a Chi Rho in white on red. Figures are plastic Gripping Beast from their Late Roman light cavalry box set (which is very good value and very useful).

Haven't added labels and I took this pics early in the morning and didn't want to wake anyone up by running the printer at 7am on a Sunday. Also I need to check if I already have a unit of Dalmatae.

Next we have a unit of 6 Funditores or light infantry slingers. During a business trip to Vancouver this summer, I picked up two Victrix Late Roman plastic kits which were put away until the Challenge, and then lost when I went to assemble and prep them! Fortunately they have since turned up. One kit was for Late Roman archers and slingers, which I plan to use for Roman and Barbarian units. The ratio of bow and staff sling arms to regular slinger arms was not what I'd wanted but the kits have nice bits and I'll get some useful units from it. I like the variety of loading and shooting poses plus the various types of slings (at least for the Romans, not so much the Irish!). And there are tons of head options.