One-Hour Wargames: WWII East Front

Finished up my work for the week a bit early today, so I treated myself to a quick WW2 Eastern Front game using Neil Thomas' One-Hour Wargames rules.

Unfortunately my wide-angle photos from the start of the game came out all blurry, so a map will have to suffice for the overview. The closeup shots later in the game came out fine, though.

Scenario 14: Static Defense

German Situation: The Germans have to hold two objectives -- a hill and a town. They have six units. Three of which must be committed to defending each objective at the start. Once play begins, only one unit can move more than 12" from each objective. The Germans must not allow the Soviets to be the sole occupant of either objective at the end of 15 turns.

Soviet Situation: The Soviets also get six units which may enter anywhere along their own table edge at the start of the first turn. The Soviets must be the sole occupant of one of the objectives at the end of 15 turns.

German OB: 1 Tank Section, 4 Infantry Platoons, 1 Anti-Tank Battery

Soviet OB: 2 Tank Sections, 3 Infantry Platoons, 1 Anti-Tank Battery

Using good old Squad Leader colors for the diagram.(1) 

The Germans dug in on the objectives. Each German group (the one assigned to the town and the one assigned to the hill) put one infantry platoon as far forward as their orders allowed, to harass the Soviet advance whichever way it would come.

The Soviets opted to strike at the hill. They sent their armor and AT units to the far left, with the infantry protecting the right flank. 

As the Soviets advanced, the opposing infantry exchanged fire with each other, each side losing one platoon. As their forward elements engaged, the German town garrison shifted toward the hill (again as far as their orders allowed) to provide supporting fire for the defenders there. 

With the threat to their right flank eliminated, the Soviet infantry joined up with the armored units to assault the hill. 

The initial assualt demolished the forwardmost German infantry platoon, but the ensuing firefight whittled down both sides. Unfortunately for the Germans, all their units on the hill itself were wiped out, and the support units from the town had orders to advance no further. 

This allowed the last remaining Soviet units to climb the hill and take possession of it, winning the fight. 

Sitting pretty on top of the hill. Time to pass around the vodka!

Notes: 

(1) Terrain on the table did not match the diagram exactly, so some of the German units on the map above appear farther from their starting objectives than they should. On the tabletop however, they were not outside the bounds allowed.