The Battle for Harrison's Fords - OHW scenario 3: Control the River

For the next scenario from One Hour Wargames, I was lucky that my good gaming chums, Dave and Keith, were up for taking on the roles of both commanders and issuing orders, based upon the terrain and the OOB that they were given.

As before, the OHW scenario gave the most basic guidance on terrain, which I had to fleshout, based upon the rules being used. Fortunately with enough games under my belt with BPII, I had a good idea on what would hopefully work terrain wise. As before the OOB were generated by a die roll from the Wargaming 19thC Europe book. 

Details of the scenario can be found below:

Red OOB (Keith)

4 x Line Infantry

1 x Light Infantry

3 x Cavalry

2 x Artillery

 

Blue OOB (Dave)

5 x Line infantry

1 x Light Infantry

2 x Cavalry

2 x Artillery

Objective

To control both fords by the end of the game.

Game Length

8 Turns

Map

Troops start the game off the table and can arrive via any part of your table edge, as marked in the photo. 

The map given to both players to decide upon their deployment and orders of attack.

Red orders.

Blue orders.

Terrain

The terrain is broadly open, with ploughed fields and some standing corn and the occasional hedgerow.

Line infantry, Light Infantry and Artillery can only cross the river at the two fords marked on the map.

Cavalry can cross the river anywhere, but require a full turn to do so.

The light wood in the North Eastern area of the map is only accessible to Light Infantry.

Rules

Black Powder II with Glory Hallelujah! supplement rules.

 

Deployment

Due to the build up to Xmas, I was unable to provide either player with photos of the table in advance, so they had to rely upon the map and details provided, which in the end provided another level of 'fog-of-war'.

 

An overview of the table, with Red deploying at the top, Blue at the bottom.

The Blue left wing and cavalry.

The Blue right wing and the artillery.

The Red right wing, mainly of cavalry with supporting artillery and light infantry.

The infantry heavy Red left wing.

 

 Opening Moves

Red won the roll off to go first and swiftly moved both wings to the fords, deploying into line where possible. Blue's response was patchy, with the infantry not moving in unison or quickly enough to put in concerted attacks against the Red troops. Hampering their efforts was the inability of the artillery to move and unlimber to support the infantry.

As the Red troops started to cause hits and disorder in and around the fords, the Red cavalry charged across the river, with Blue countercharging, with the clash being inconclusive with both sides withdrawing to regroup.

 

The table after a few opening moves.

The Blue right wing in march column see the Red infantry forming into line to their front.

The cavalry eye each other up before charging into contact, watched by the Blue light infantry and artillery.

The Red left wing move to try and gain control of the ford.

The end of Turn 3.

The Blue left wing bring weight of numbers to bear against the Red troops.

In contrast the Blue right flank is under pressure from superior numbers of Red troops.

The Red troops by the ford.

The Red light infantry and artillery try to hold the ford on the right wing.

Middlegame

As the Red troops moved forward on the left wing, they destroyed a battery of Blue artillery,  as well as causing Disorder and the light infantry to go Shaken. On the Red right wing, the Blue infantry came under heavy fire but managed to hold on, in return destroying the Red artillery supporting the light infantry and cavalry.

As the firefights continued and more units came into line, the Red left wing gained the upper hand,  causing a unit of Blue infantry to rout and the light infantry just managing to hold on after passing the morale test. On the Red right wing, the cavalry and light infantry made a tactical withdrawl as without artillery support, they risked being overwhelmed by the Blue infantry.

 

The end of Turn 5.

The Blue right wing begins to crumble under intense fire from across the river.

 

Endgame

The Blue right wing does its best to hold on against overwhelming odds, with the light infantry only succumbing to sustained fire in the dying moments of the game, but they are unable to stop Red troops manage to cross the ford. On the Blue left wing, despite the withdrawl of Red troops out of range, the Blue troops struggled to get across to secure the ford, but only did so when the cavalry moved forward to provide flank protection.

 

Towards the end of the game.

The Blue light infantry finally break as the Red troops cross the ford.

Red troops across the ford in force, with support over the otherside of the river.

The beleagured Blue right wing.

The Blue left wing across the ford.

The Red light infantry can only look on as the Blue troops cross the ford.

 

End of Game

By the end of Turn 8, both sides had control of a ford each, but the Blue forces had taken more casualties than the Red forces, so the Red forces probably had a minor victory looking at how things stood.

 

Post Game Thoughts

That turned out to be a nice little game, despite the simplicity of the scenario. I'm enjoying these OHW scenarios and hope they continue to give more good games. Anyway, on with some post game thoughts:

• The Red troops got off to a very good start, with their swift approach to both fords, especially the left, giving them the edge from the start.
• The cavalry clash which could have had an impact on the game, ended up in an inconclusive melee, with both sides retiring and taking no further part in the game. I thought that the Red cavalry, having the advantage in numbers would have had the edge, but poor die rolling by them combined with good by Blue led to the draw. A case of what might have been...
• The Blue artillery was pretty much a complete failure, with repeated failures of orders and only one round of shooting the whole game! Not being able to support both wings, especially the right, hampered their ability to carry out their plans to seize and later defend the fords.
  
• With both sides controlling a ford each, honours were pretty even, but the Blue forces had lost all their artillery, their light infantry and one line infantry unit, compared to just one Red artillery unit, so I think it fair to call it a Red minor victory. 
• The random generation of troops types once again worked well, giving a slight difference between each side. With the other side not knowing what they are facing, this gives a nice challenge to both players I think. The ten units a side also works nicely for a solo game lasting maybe a couple of hours, which is perfect for me at present.
  
• The 'blind' deployment by both sides gives a really nice edge to the game, echoing the 'old school' curtain across the table approach. Being able to see both sides plans is fun and when it comes to the game, I simply carry out the orders as best I can for each side, allowing for changes as circumstances dictate.
• I feel very comfortable with the BPII rules and with the Glory Hallelujah! supplement additions which to my mind, give a very good game. I'm at the point now that by and large the QRS is all I need for a game, with the odd reference to the rulebook. 
  

 

With Xmas nearly upon us I don't think I will get in another game such as this before the festivities take over the house. However the plan is to carry on in the New Year, all being well. I do hope to get a game of Rebels & Patriots in though, possibly in the next day or so. So until next time stay safe and keep healthy!