Flank Attack!

photo courtesy gridbasedwargaming

To allow the EEF in Peter's WWI Palestine campaign (see Grid based wargaming) a chance to regroup, Peter offered up another game using his D3 OHW rules.  

Which period of conflict this time?

Samurai battles in Feudal Japan!

Peter has developed yet another variant of Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargame (OHW).  I have lost count how many he has but I recall playing at least three versions.  Each variant offers a distinct flavor with slightly different twists to the original OHW game engine.  I leave my commentary and assessment of Peter's rules for another time as there is much to consider.  For now, let's recap the latest remote battle between Peter and me.

The OHW scenario selected for this contest was Scenario 6: Flank Attack (1).  In OHW, the flank attack map looks like this:

Scenario 6
copyright Thomas OHW.

With Peter's handiwork, the rather bare bones, minimalist map shown above is transformed into the work of art seen below:

Scenario 6 Flank Attack
Copyright Peter Gridbasedwargaming

Quite a transformation!  I marvel at and envy Peter's talent.

Peter chose the defending Red Army and deployed his first three units into Red Zone A.  Seeing Red Army place two Ashigaru and one skirmisher into Red Zone A, the two Samurai units and the two remaining Ashigaru units must deploy into Red Zone B.  Knowing the Red Army's deployment, I quickly formed a plan of attack.

Blue Plan

My plan for Blue was simple.  The skirmishers on the left would advance to pin the enemy within the village while the bulk of the Blue Army attacked vigorously straight up the road and (hopefully) off table for victory.  Two units of Ashigaru would be sent to screen Blue Army's right and hinder Red Army's flanking force from intervening.  It might be a foot race but I thought my chances good.

Did this plan survive contact with the enemy?  Please read on.

Blue Army advances north coming into range of enemy.
Opening volley sees one unit out of ammo!

The Blue Ashigaru alongside opens fire.
It too is out of ammo!
Blue will have to take the fight to the enemy.
Red failed an activation thwarting much of its turn's moves.

Red responds with volleys from its blocking position.
Blue suffers casualties but holds firm.

Red flanking force finally begins to move out.

Blue screening force places itself into blocking positions.
This ought to slow down Red reinforcements.
Now, Red must be defeated at the exit
before Red's flanking force can intervene. 

Taking advantage of a tactical card,
Blue attacks, falls back and attacks again.
Red Ashigaru astride the road is destroyed!

With fighting escalating on Blue right,
Blue Samurai horse finds itself boxed in by the woods.
It must retire and make its push up the road.
Blue Samurai foot attacks Red skirmishers repeatedly
 (playing a second tactical card). 
The skirmishers scatter. 

Having held up Red's flanking force,
Blue main force advances toward the exit.
Red Samurai horse works its way around the woods
 and is poised to attack.
Is this too little too late?

Red cavalry attacks and is driven back!

Blue Army completes the exit of three units
 off of the north board edge for victory!

Did Blue's simple plan of pinning, screening, and then everyone else up the middle work?  It sure did!  Of course, Blue was helped by a couple of early activation failures by Red Army but we both suffered from activation failures.

When I saw that Red Army placed all of its powerful units into the flanking force, I figured the outcome was heavily in Blue's favor.  Blue really only had to fight through two Red units (one of them skirmisher) before the road north was open.

Great game enhanced by Peter's variations on the rules and scenario.

This is a scenario that would be fun to swap sides and replay now that the rules' nuances are fresh in mind.  I reckon we may be back in Palestine next, though.

Thanks for another great game, Peter.  Very fun!