WWII Spearhead in HO

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a WWII game presented in HO scale.  Many ROCO Minitanks, Haswegawa, Fujima, Airfix, and other models crowded the landscape.  Not since my youth have I seen HO and 1/72nd armor deployed upon the field of battle.  In my younger days, I had a large collection of plastic models for my own "Little Wars" situated primarily in North Africa if I recall correctly.  Great memories.

Soviets ready for the German counterattack

The action on this day featured two German formations attempting to thwart a Soviet breakout from a bridgehead.  The Soviets began the game with most of their forces deployed but concealed on the German side of the river across a broad swath of table.  The German plan of attack was to bypass all of the Soviet prepared positions on the Soviet right and drive down the center towards the village with one formation while the second formation attacked the Soviet left.  This strategy proved disastrous to the Soviets since Soviet commanders had planned for a German drive directly into the awaiting formations on the Soviet right.  With poor chance to change orders, the bulk of one Soviet formation lay motionless and unengaged for most of the game.  Brilliant German plan!  

Jon's German column drives on the Soviet Center

Bob's German column advances against Soviet left

As the German left column swings around possible Soviet defenses on the German left, Soviet positions pop up from concealment to harass the attackers.  Having exposed their positions, the Germans call in mission after mission of artillery to suppress or destroy the Soviets.  Some missions were successful; others not so much.

Germans make a left hook toward the objectives

With great success on the German right, the Soviet defense begins to crumble on that flank.  Those not killed outright in the assault stream toward the rear.  In the center, tank duels are frequent and casualties high.  Fortunately for the German center column, they dish out more punishment that they take.  The Soviet armor formation astride the road dissolves.   

Traffic jam!

After one or two more turns of heavy Soviet casualties, the Soviet's capitulate.  A major victory for the Fatherland!

Soviet positions collapse

The rules in use for this game were WWII Spearhead.  While I played Spearhead a few times many years ago in microarmor, I recalled very little of the actual game mechanisms.  The Sequence of Play seemed straight forward and not too complex.  With a veteran umpire at the helm, the game progressed rapidly and smoothly.  Moving from my recollections of Spearhead in microarmor up to a game in HO was a new experience.  Shocking too.  Visually, the closeness of the models in HO I find not as believable as I do in microarmor.  Vehicles hub-to-hub is a rub.  I need to sit down and read the rules for the author's perspective on this visual disconnect.  My preference would be to field fewer models on the table in HO to reduce this visual clutter.  Traffic jams were common in this game with many models having little space to move or deploy.

Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable half day out at the gaming table.  I look forward to doing this again.  Until then, I have rules to read.