House OHW Fantasy game

Introduction

Using my Fantasy variant of Neil Thomas's One Hour Wargame rules (see side bar), the following was a battle between Orcs and Goblins (all Irregular Miniatures 10mm). Goblin "Cavalry" are mounted on Giant Boars, Orc "Cavalry" are mounted, more traditionally, on wolves. The Goblins start with an extra unit as the Orc bonuses are higher. Each round base equals one unit. Grid squares are 1 inch.

Game

Opening positions (Goblins North Orcs South)

Goblin Cavalry rush down their right flank eager to engage the enemy

Impact! The orc line holds, arrows fly from both sides. Orc cavalry counter charge

Morale rules lead to units on both sides leaving the battle

The battle has split into two as casualties mount

Goblins have got round to the Orc rear but infantry respond

Few units remain as the battle descends into separate melees

The final fight will be between the two commanders and their retinues

Victory goes to the Goblin Chief on the last turn of the game!

OHW Flanking Duet

Introduction

In wargaming, unlike in life, it is of course possible to refight one's battles. The first of todays battles was a refight of last weekends' Flank Attack (1) (Scenario 6 of Neil Thomas's One Hour Wargames); the second was, no prizes for guessing, Flank Attack (2) (Scenario 7 of the same book).

Game Mechanics

Infantry and Artillery move 1 square; Cavalry move 2. Infantry range is 2 squares, Artillery is 8. Move and firing is through the sides and not the corner of squares as in The Portable Wargame. Other rules are as prescribed by OHW Chapter 13 Rifle & Sabre rules.
In Game 1, Army Red must have a minimum of 3 units exit via the road. In Game 2, Army Black must finish the game in total possession of the large hill.

Game 1 Flank Attack 1 Redux

Opening position - Red to the North

Cavalry clash as the flank attack begins

Army Red march on towards their exit point

Turn 4 Army Black are winning the Cavalry battle

Artillery and rifle fire begin to take their toll on the forward units

Turn 6 Artillery and rifle fire PLUS Cavalry to flank & Rear

 With only two units left Army Red cannot achieve their objective

 

Line Infantry make a last stand

Turn 10, the day is lost

Game 2 Flank Attack 2

Army Red hold the large hill in the NW 

An Artillery battle begins as Black advance

Turn 3 Red's Artillery is destroyed

The Cavalry keep one of Black's Infantry units occupied

Turn 5 Army Red's numbers are shrinking under relentless fire

Turn 7 The Guards hold the hill alone

Turn 9 Army Black's last two infantry units are closing in

Turn 10 - Army Black has taken the hill after the Guards fought to the last man

Two victories to Army Black. Artillery range, and Cavalry flank attacks (which get double hits) caused huge damage to Army Red.

A Couple of One Hour Wargames

Introduction

A couple of One Hour Wargames (OHW) were bashed out this morning using the Late 19th Century "Rifle and Sabre" section (Chapter 13) of Neil Thomas's popular tome. I have been enjoying the SYW OHW games being umpired by another Neil over at Toy soldiers and dining room battles ; definitely worth a look if you haven't seen them already.
By default these games are fast and very bloody on my small gridded board, even after reducing the ranges to the minimum. One grid square = 6" in the rules; this means that Infantry and Artillery move 1 square, Cavalry move 2 squares. Rifle range is 2 squares, Artillery 8 squares (the length of the board!) Both scenarios had a similar theme; an attempt to get part of a force away from the enemy. The fly in the ointment for the army on the move in OHW is that a unit can either move OR fire which slows down a hasty retreat. The first scenario involved an outnumbered Army Red...

Game 1: Encirclement or Breakout

This game saw Army Red (Albiona) going too deep into enemy territory and having to breakout before being encircled. The setting was based on Scenario 4 of Scenarios for all Ages (CS Grant & SA Asquith). The objective for Red was to retreat and get 50% of its force back over the baseline to its rear. The objective for Army Black (Swarzlandia) was to destroy at least 60% of the Albionan force. 8 turns were allowed.

Army Red have gone a few squares too far

Army Black's positions as revealed by Red's scouts

Black's guns start blasting holes in the Red ranks

The Guards and the Naval Brigade blow aside a Black battalion

The oncoming Black forces cause carnage 

Red's last attempt to silence those d**ned guns

Black's cavalry mops up survivors

About 20% of the Red force limped off the field. A resounding victory for Swarzlandia.

Game 2: Flank Attack (1)

This game was based on Scenario 6 of OHW. Each side only had 5 units; Army Red's objective was to get past the Army Black road block and get 2 units off the table. Black had 2 units of cavalry on Red's right flank. Again only 8 turns were allowed.

Red's force marches onto the board

Black's guns begin to fire (deja vu sets in from the start)

Off the road lads

Red keeps moving forward though harassed by Black's cavalry

In range of Black's rifles

Heavy casualties on both sides of the road

End of Turn 8 - Red don't quite manage to get what's left of the Guards off the field

Fast, furious and frivolous fun for a wet Bank Holiday Monday.

Rear Guard (a Portable Wargame)

Introduction

The US Federal Army in New Wiltshire, commanded by General Wise, is in retreat, hotly pursued by General Gilder of the CSA. To buy time, General Wise leaves a Rear Guard to stall the advancing enemy. The honour of leading the Rear Guard is given to Colonel Silus "I may possibly return" McCarthy, the hapless officer who lost the day at Scrubyville Junction (see previous post).

General Gilder (CSA)

General Wise (US Army)

Game Mechanics

The game is based on Scenario 6 Rear Guard from Scenarios for all Ages (CS Grant & SA Asquith).
The Federal force is outnumbered and in position at the start of the game. The Confederate force enters in random 2 unit parties at random positions on their baseline. 
The CSA objective is to move a minimum of 50% (18 Strength Points) of their advance force across the enemy baseline by the end of Turn 15. The Rear Guard must attempt to stop this happening. Exhaustion Point is set at 50% also.

The Game in Pictures

US Army opening gambit

Col. McCarthy embedded with the artillery at Clarke's Farm

Turn 1 First CSA troops appear

Turn 2 The fight for Hill 1 has already led to casualties

Turn 3 The Sun comes out as more CSA troops arrive

Turn 4 Confederate cavalry attack Hill 1

Turn 5 More Rebels have arrived but they are not moving forward

Turn 6 The fight for Hill 2 begins...

and the fight for Hill 1 intensifies

By Turn 8 the CSA is beginning to move across the battlefield

Turn 10 The first CSA troops have moved beyond the baseline...

..and they control Hill 1

Turn 12 The Rear Guard have reached Exhaustion Point but keep firing

Turn 13 The Confederate's advance is unstoppable 

Turn 14 Union troops fight on but the CSA have achieved their objective

The Union Army of General Wise will now have to turn and fight with their backs to the river Potonale on the Northern border of New Wiltshire in a last attempt to stop General Gilder's march on Washington.