Huston, We Have Blasthof!

After the recent disruption with new windows being fitted, it was nice to have some time to fit in another small 'Old School' scenario. This time it was the 'Battle of Blasthof Heath' from 'Charge!'. As per the previous game, it would be the French vs British set circa the SYW and using 'Honours of War' as the rules. Random rolls for command quality bizarrely came up the same yet again, with the French being saddled with a 'Dithering' Cavalry commander.

As is the norm these days, the annotated photos will hopefully give you a sense of how the battle unfolded:

The book in question. The British are at the Southern end of the table.

The scenario from the book, which is sparse in details compared to many these days.

The British deployed for action.

The bridge and farm.

The French ready for the off.

French pseudo-Zouves.

The end of Turn 1. Both sides pushed forward, with the exception of their Light Infantry, which failed to move.

The British advance.

The French close in on the bridge.

The end of Turn 2. The French beat the British to the bridge (Admirable move), although their Cavalry failed to move. As the British pushed forward, the French having formed line, caused some hits as they closed.

The French deployed and holding the bridge.

The British come under fire.

The British Cavalry begin to cross the river.

The end of Turn 3. The British formed into line and advanced forward, whilst their Light Infantry reached the farm, as their French counter parts failed to move. Both sides opened fire but the shooting was not very effective.

Both sides exchange musketry and canon fire. Neither side could gain a decisive advantage.

The British Light Infantry reach the farm.

The British Cavalry have crossed the river and face the French.

The end of Turn 4. The British gained the first advantage as they routed the French Line Infantry their side of the bridge, as their Light Infantry took over the farm house, as yet again the French Light Infantry failed to move. Over the river the British and French Cavalry clashed and after a tussle, the British routed the French.

The victorious British Cavalry.

A raised hat from the British leads to a resounding 'huzzah!' as the French Line rout back over the bridge.

The end of Turn 5. The British Cavalry retire to reform as the fighting continues at the bridge. South of it both sides are lucky not to have their Line Infantry forced back or routed.

Things are getting tight along this part of the river.

The French Light Infantry finally push forward, but the British are firmly esconced in place at the moment.

The British Cavalry withdraw to recover before re-entering the fray.

The end of Turn 6. The action really hots up at the bridge, as both the French and British lose Line Infantry from combined fire, causing them to rout. The British are lucky in having a Line Infantry unit that has to retreat rather than rout back. Across the river, the British Cavalry rested and recovered, move forward to threaten the French right flank and lines of communication.

Line Infantry rout on both sides of the river.

A close call here as they British Line Infantry manage to avoid routing, but are forced back to reform.

The end of play.

End of the Game

With British Cavalry ready to roam freely in their rear and with only one Line Infantry unit left, the French abandoned the field of battle, leaving the British commander to send a message back, saying "Huston, we have Blasthof!"

Post Game Thoughts

Another simple, fun and relatively quick game and one that could have gone either way to be honest. Perfect for a Sunday morning! A few thoughts as follows:

• The small command radius with the rules would have limited both sides in this small scenario, due to the terrain constraints and small number of units. I was therefore rather flexible with regards to this compared to a normal game.
• As encountered in previous games, slightly narrower rivers would be good for 'Honours of War' using the 10mm measurements. Something that is on my list to make but it is a low priority at present!
• The British 'Superior' firing made just enough difference when it mattered. The French had chances in Turns 2 & 3 to really inflict damage on the British, but could not get those high die rolls when it mattered.
• The Cavalry clash was close with the French rating of 'Inferior' for their Dragoons costing them victory here.
• The failure of the French Light Infantry to move for about half of the game really hampered their chances, especially once the British Light Infantry took over the farm.

What's Next?

Time for a change I think, but more on that in another post!

TTFN.