Saturday, 30 July 2022

Scenario 18: Counter-Attack

 The Blue Army has been ordered to take the bridge, whilst also holding the town. The Blue General is unaware of the other two crossing points (fords marked here by trees).

Army Red is initially only represented by one unit that is guarding the bridge.

To win, an Army must hold both the bridge and the town.

Initial positions

The Blue General sends his cavalry to take the bridge

Army Red has arrived in full and Blue's cavalry have not broken through

The two sides start shooting across the river as the bridge is blocked


The Red General sends cavalry across one of the fords

Red's cavalry attacks 

Blue holds the bridge but is fighting now to front and flank


Blue's infantry have fallen back but the Heavy Cavalry still hold the bridge

As the day ends Army Red's counter-attack has failed and Blue holds the objectives


Saturday, 23 July 2022

Scenario 17: Encounter

 In this scenario, which was played using the original Portable Wargame rules (for late 19th Century), both sides began with a random unit locating a strategically important hill. The remaining units of each army would then arrive (randomly picked), one each turn, on the roll of 4, 5 or 6. This rule was to prove decisive.

The objective was the hill; to win, an army must have complete possession of the hill at Turn 15, or when both sides reached Exhaustion Point (30% casualties).


The scouts arrive (note the trees are just there to relieve the flatness)

Blue is first to grab the objective but are already outnumbered

By Turn 5 Blue still hold the hill but have yet to receive reinforcements


Turn 7. Red now hold the objective and still no fresh Blue forces have arrived

Finally the Blue forces begin to appear, but is it too late?


Turn 11: Red have total control of the hill though Blue's forces are building up

Blue begins to damage Red but time is running out


Time runs out for Blue and the day is lost

Army Blue's commander will have to explain why it took half a day for his force to arrive on the battlefield (dice issues again).

Saturday, 16 July 2022

Scenario 16: Advance Guard

Forward units from both Army Green and Army Tan are approaching a border town, unaware of each other's presence..

The Army that has occupied the town at the end of the game wins - there are no morale rules. Again I used a gridded version of Neil Thomas's OHW rules (for WW2).

The two forces spot each other as they arrive at the town

The armour moves to let the infantry enter the town

Army Tan loses their armour early


Army Tan's Mortars (out of picture) are reeking havoc

Army Green loses control of the town

Army Green are back in control

but not for long


At Turn 15 Army Tan is holding the town and have won, though there are very few troops left to celebrate!

Saturday, 9 July 2022

Scenario 15: Fortified Defence

 The Blue Army has fortified two villages and has orders to defend both but must hold at least one to win. Army Red has been ordered to capture both villages and must do so to win the day.
The side holding either village must garrison it with a unit that, once installed, cannot leave it unless being replaced by another garrison unit.
The villages have guns that can be used by the occupier. The Officer figures are only there for colour. 

The game was played using Neil Thomas's Rifle and Sabre rules from One Hour Wargames, modified for use on a grid. There are no morale rules; it's a fight to the last man.

Army Blue's opening position 


Army Red attacks the first village

Casualties mount

The Red General has achieved objective 1, if he can hold it

The attack on the second village begins

and continues

Army Blue hangs on

Army Red's last desperate attack

Battle's end. Army Red has only captured one objective.

I've tried this scenario a few times and the attackers have yet to succeed. Good fun all the same!