Sunday 26 February 2023

Scenario 30: Last Stand

 Having suffered defeat at the hands of the Union Army, the retreating Confederates have left a small (3 units) force behind who will fight to the last man to delay the Yankees. 

The Union force arrives to the South

The US Army rushes the ford to tackle the Irregulars in the wood

US Cavalry veers right to deal with their CSA foe

This gives time for the Infantry to advance unhindered

The US Army crosses the river in force and begins its attack on the redoubt

The US Cavalry are behind the wood attacking the CSA irregulars while the assault of the redoubt gets going in earnest

The attackers suffer heavy losses but have an endless supply of reinforcements

By Turn 11 the CSA are reduced to one unit defending the redoubt

The Last Stand comes to an end on Turn 12

Saturday 25 February 2023

Scenario 29: Shambolic Command

 Army Blue must defend a strategic hill, which, given it's superior numbers (6 units), should be possible. Unfortunately it is commanded by an indecisive General. Only two Blue units may be activated each turn. All 4 of Army Reds' unit may be activated.

End of Turn 1 - Red moves in on the objective

Blue's cavalry move to aid the defense

A third of the way through the day and Blue still have a firm hold on the hill

Army Red begin to close in as Blue's defense falters

Army Red gets a foothold on Turn 8

By Turn 12 Army Red is dominating the hill but Blue is hanging on

Army Red poised to destroy Blue?

Blue's Infantry, driven off on Turn 14, regain a toehold on the hill to draw the battle!

Neither side could claim sole possession of the objective, though Red had the greater numbers at the end.

Monday 6 February 2023

Scenario 28: Botched Relief

 Army Red has received word that their enemy, Army Blue, have a force preparing to attack a poorly defended town. A relief force is dispatched. Regrettably it is commanded by General Factotum, known for his inability to make decisions. Apologies for the pictures; the lighting was very poor.

Starting positions

  The four Red units on the hill may only be activated one at a time, and only once the currently active unit has been eliminated.

Blue's assault on the town begins

Despite being under cover, Red's units in the town are taking hits

Blue moves a unit to the other end of the town while Red's unit from the hill is kept occupied

Blue's cavalry force their way into the town without loss!

Blue poised to take the town

The Town has been captured and Red's inertia means it cannot be retaken

Red's one active unit was destroyed in a last desperate attack. General Factotum sent a cavalry unit hurtling down to attack the Blue infantry out in the open, but it was too little too late; the day was lost. Modified Portable Wargame rules were used once again.


Tuesday 24 January 2023

Scenario 27: Disordered Defence

 Blue has launched a surprise attack with a small force (4 units) whose objective is to capture a strategically important crossroads. Red has half of his force (3 units) in place, with the remaining 3 units arriving late (turn 8). Blue always moves first in this scenario. Modified Portable Wargame rules were tried again, with no Exhaustion Point. The trees are only to break up the field a bit - apart from the roads this is a flat featureless terrain.

Initial situation

Blue's Cavalry have attacked the Red artillery and fallen back to charge again

By Turn 6 Blue has captured the Crossroads with a weakened cavalry unit

The Centre and Right are in Blue's control

The remaining Red units arrive - will the tide turn?

Turn 11 and Blue is still very much in charge of the objective

Red pushes forward to try to dislodge Blue

Disaster for Red - sustained fire has led to his General's demise

The end of the game with Blue successfully holding the Crossroads!

Saturday 14 January 2023

Scenario 26: Triple Line

 A Goblin raiding band is approaching the foothills of the Dwarvish Mountains. The Dwarves send a small but tough force out to stop it but their defence is a disorganized triple line (see OHW for effects of disorganization). The objective is sole occupancy of the hill by Turn 15.

The unit of crossbow Dwarves guarding the bridge

The Goblin force has arrived. Note each tree represents an impenetrable wooded area

Goblins swarm in to attack the bridge guards

The Dwarves fall back but have inflicted damage on the lead unit

The Goblins come up against the second line

The Goblins push the Dwarves back further on the left

Half way through the battle and the Dwarves still hold firm

However, their resolve begins to falter

The Goblins attempt to surround the Dwarves

Casualties are mounting

The Goblins break through and are on the hill

The last Dwarf unit is destroyed and the Goblins win the field

This game was played with a version of the Portable Wargame that did away with the Exhaustion Point rule to bring it more in line with OHW rules. There were no Generals either.

Saturday 7 January 2023

Scenario 25: Infiltration

 A small (4 unit) Blue force has infiltrated Red territory and must exit 2 units via the opposite base line before Red's larger (6 unit) force can stop it.

Blue arrives on the Southern base line on turn 1. Red has only 1 unit on the table at the start of the game.

(Due to the pre-Christmas clear-up, I am unable to currently locate most of my scenery - the sand represents a road. The dense mass of mismatched trees represents an impenetrable wood)


Blue sends one unit against the Red unit on the hill

Blue is not doing well and two more Red units have arrived on their baseline

Blue has lost one unit by the end of Turn 4

Having disposed of the Red unit on the hill, Blue must now engage the new arrivals

Turn 6 and the remaining Red troops arrive - is it too late for Blue to escape?

Red closes in

Blue has two units left, the minimum required to reach their objective

One Blue Unit is on the baseline but involved in combat while the other is close to defeating their opponents

Disaster - with only one unit left Blue cannot win