Zero Hour: The Somme

[scarabminiatures]

On Sunday Orange Dave and myself got together for another play test of Zero Hour, a forthcoming set of WW1 rules for the gaming of offensive actions in the Great War  :mrgreen:

Our game was set on the Somme, but not on a particular day, it simply contained a number of elements that characterised the Somme offensive, and will be expanded in time for a game debut at the Worlds/Donnington on 1 October (so the table is still a work in progress).



Using my Austrians (from Scarab Miniatures) as Germans I was defending, I has 2 companies, one infantry that would be in the trench and the other was more assault/stormtrooper ready to counter attack and plug any gaps.


I also had 2 HMGs - this is one of them, the other was standing in a trench (Scarab pack AH010 for those interested - you can just see it in the second picture down from here in the corner of the trench)


Dave has a couple of British infantry companies, a cavalry company and a MKI tank, plus HMG, Heavy mortar and 18lber - his figures come from a range of companies, including Scarab, Great War & Woodbine plus a number of conversions, as example - the Indian cavalry you will see later.


Dave took the Strategic Advantage in the opening turn (and duly won every Strategic Advantage roll thereafter) - and as attacker took the turn and moved/fired etc first.



Pushing forward his troops took very few casualties  (helped by the smoke he laid down) although I had an uncanny ability to take out a couple of junior officers - as these fine chaps all carry orders which can be used to assist your forces their loss was keenly felt as the British closed on my lines - I also had one other piece of luck, some indirect artillery landed on the heavy mortar, wiping it out.



As Dave hit the trench lines I was able to repulse (eventually) his attack on my right flank, however while this brutal trench fight was going on he chose to unleash the cavalry and in the following turn the tank, as my centre was suddenly looking vulnerable.



However his first attack into the centre was also repulsed (when it mattered, I suddenly rolled a good batch of dice!) and a combination of HMGs and a very handy indirect shell landing on both cavalry squadrons meant I was suddenly in the box seat as the cavalry were almost completely wiped out from all that incoming fire - shame really as he has put quite a bit of work into the conversions.


As time was moving on and the German reinforcements were taking up positions we called a halt to proceedings with a significant German victory. However, had the reinforcements not been available, or if the British had had more forces to back up the initial attack, the result would have been much closer so I am not resting on my laurels in any respect and am looking forward to the next engagement




More about Zero Hour games in the Scarab forum and I am just in the process of organising a Great War Battle Day mid October near Bristol - this is open to all types of WW1 games and scales - with a theme of the Somme and Verdun - more details in a future post but if its of interest do let me know

[Phil Robinson]

Great looking game I shall look forward to seeing it at the Worlds.

Perhaps not, it looks like you are only there on the Saturday?

I must pop over to the forum, have not visited for a while. A quick question are the rules 1 figure = 1 man?

Back from the forum, got it, 3/4 men.

[scarabminiatures]

Phil,

yes we are only there on the Saturday

Details of the Great War gaming day can be found here http://scarabminiatures.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2214

 for anyone who wants to come along and try Zero Hour or any of the other WW1 games that will be there