One Hour Wargames: Pushing the envelope

Having now tried out Martin Rapier's hexed-based variant of the World War II rules in Neil Thomas's ONE-HOUR WARGAMES book – and having thoroughly enjoyed the experience – I decided to add a few bits of 'chrome' so that I could set up a scenario that is not in the book!

I wanted to see if I could set up a landing on a defended beach using naval gunfire support ... so I did. The only significant additions that I made to the rules related to the use of a large warship (in this case a battleship) to provide gunfire support. The model in question occupies two hexes ... so I treated it as two units that move together but that may – or may not – fire at the same target each turn. The battleship was given a starting strength of 30 points (i.e. 2 x 15) and each gun turret fired as if it were heavy artillery but is not allowed to fire at targets that are in hexes next to friendly units. For assessing damaged caused to the battleship, the ship is treated as if it were a tank.

Scenario
In retaliation for the recent border incursion, the Eastlanders decided to seize control of a small, fortified island off the coast of Morschauserland. To achieve this they sent a force of Marines – carried in a number of small steamers and barges and accompanied by the battleship Republicka – to the island.

The Eastland Battleship Republicka.

The Marine force comprised:

• 5 x Infantry Units
• 1 x Artillery Unit

The defenders occupied a number of concrete blockhouses and trenches, and comprised:

• 2 x Infantry Units
• 1 x Artillery Unit

The Terrain

The Defenders
Each of the blockhouses was occupied by a Morschauserland Infantry Unit whilst the Artillery Unit was sited within the trench system.

Turns 1 to 3
The first three turns of the battle saw the Republicka concentrating the fire of her main armament on the two blockhouses.

The two Morschauserland Infantry Units in the blockhouses suffered casualties, but were by no means suppressed.

The Morschauserland Artillery Unit returned fire, and inflicted minor damage on the Republicka.

Turn 4
Now that the defences had been softened up, the vessels carrying the Eastland Marines began to move towards the beach.

The Republicka now switched her fire onto the Morschauserland Artillery Unit, which suffered a few casualties.

Morschauserland Artillery Unit fired back at the Republicka, and caused her some more minor damage.

Turn 5
The vessels carrying the Eastland Marines began arriving at the landing beach ...

... and the Republicka continued firing at the Morschauserland Artillery Unit.

For some reason the Morschauserland Artillery Unit fired at the Republicka again ... but her shells just bounced off the battleship's armour.

Turn 6
The first of the Eastland Marines stormed ashore ...

... supported by fire from the Republicka.

The first Marines onto the beach immediately came under fire from the Morschauserland defenders, and the Eastland Marine Infantry Units began to suffer casualties.

Turn 7
Whilst the Eastland Marines that had already landed laid down covering fire, the remainder of the Marines landed.

The Republicka continued to fire at the Morschauserland Artillery Unit, which was close to being destroyed.

The Morschauserland defenders continued to engage the Eastland Marines, and all along the beach the number of Marine casualties began to rise.

Turn 8
Whilst the Eastland Marines engaged in numerous firefights along the edge of the beach (as a result of which, the Morschauser Infantry Units in right-hand blockhouse was destroyed) ...

... the Republicka finally managed to destroy the Morschauserland Artillery Unit.

At this point the remaining Morschauserland troop surrendered ... and the island was firmly in Eastland hands!

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This battle was a great pleasure to fight, and the Eastlanders did not have as easy a time of it as I had expected. The battleship rules worked well, and show that the basic rules have an almost infinite capacity to be developed to meet specific needs.