Sbeitla 1943 - Testing Division Sized OHW

Steve over at Sound Officers' Call, recently tested Martin Rapier's One Hour Wargame variant for division(plus) sized battles (rules are in his downloads section on blog). Now, this, for me, was pushing many boundaries and offered a great Russian Front, or similar game - with large units, reflecting a grand tactical confrontation, with epic scope.

It sparked off things that I've always wanted to do, preferably with simple rules, ever since I originally saw Megablitz back in the day. i.e.:

• Market Garden - not just part of it, ...all of it.
• Peiper's drive to the Meuse during the Ardennes offensive 
• Possibly some larger desert battles

Now I have toyed with FoB WW2 and Rommel for these, but there, a unit is a company, so when you max up the level of OOB, you still have multiple tables and large units.

With this OHW variant,  you move battalions (just like Megablitz). Now granted, there will always be a level of abstraction - even more so when we consider that it's (1) turn based, (2) attack dice rolls against what are basically 'hit points', and (3) my 20mm forces probably look VERY out of place at this scale - but this really works for a rapid game, whilst bearing in mind grand tactical considerations

For something like Market Garden or (especially) Ardennes, we'd need to add a supply variant, but that's not hard.

The rules worked seamlessly, and after all, they're a simple, yet not simplistic, means of looking at a grand tactical WW2 battle. A few scenario specific additions (operational supply, weather, day turns etc.) would be seamless and still allow a fast moving mini campaign.

This game was based upon 21st Panzer's action against US 1st Armoured around Sbeitla in N.Africa, in Feb 1943. (Scenario taken from one of the old Clash of Armour scenario books).

Combat Command B to the west, though ready to react to German moves from East.

To the south, the main 21st Panzer attack toward the town goes in.

CCA is caught off guard, and needs to decide fast, where and when it will support against the German the drive on the town.

US Armour invests moves to support, north of the town - but they are green troops, compared to the Panzergrenadiers of 21st Pz (hit point differentials used to distinguish - so green/average troops will simply not last as long).

Panzer Grenadier assault, supported by armour, to the south.

...infantry actions, against Germans weakened by US artillery, to the north. Panzers have broken through, though substantially weakened by earlier armoured action. Additional US armour blocks the road to the town.

Sbeitla itself becomes the focus of repeated German assaults.

On the US southern flank, two battalions seek to envelop the town.

...though is heavily bombarded by US artillery...

German armour is unsuccessful during the thrust from the north.

...releasing reinforcements to head toward the town.

...it won't end well, but a very close run thing, with many battalions near breaking point.

A very nice set, and available on Martin's and Steve's blogs. A lot of great potential here.