OHW32

 Today's offering is a two for one; well, two play tests of one OHW style Scenario.

The Scenario is my version of the battle at the Fords of Isen, the battle in which Theodred, the son of the King of Rohan was killed. It is alluded to in The Lord of the Rings but a more detailed account appears in Unfinished Tales (1980). The rules were OHW (3 hit variant). To replicate the story, Blue's force defending the fords is the dismounted troops (Infantry here) left to guard them, while the relief force is Cavalry. Red's force is a mix of types.

 

The first play test was an early medieval style battle.

Two units of Infantry guard the fords - the enemy approach

The enemy cavalry have hit and withdrawn to be replaced by infantry

More enemy forces arrive on the East bank

Reinforcements hurtle towards the fords; the troops on the knoll are beset

The relief force makes an impression, but...

The disaster of turn 9! One badly battered unit fights on

The enemy take the fords

The second attempt was a Horse and Musket affair, again with 3 hit variant OHW rules.

Musket armed infantry guard the ford against a mix of arms

Enemy cavalry breaks through onto the eyot

The fords are surrounded

The Cavalry arrive!

Blue's cavalry repeatedly charge the enemy until they break through.
The troops on the knoll have finally succumbed to musket and cannon fire.

The slashing sabres of Blue's cavalry destroy the remaining enemy force
One artillery battery holds on

Amazing shooting by Red's cannons take out a cavalry unit as it crosses the fords,
however they are finally cut down by the remaining cavalry. Blue wins the day.