WW1 railway attack game

I decided to try a WW1 Palestine scenario involving a train. Searching through "Scenarios for Wargamers" by C.S.Grant for inspiration I found a couple of railway scenarios and settled on Scenario 23 - Railway Attack (p.58-59). The scenarios are generally geared towards a 5 by 7 foot tabletop, so I simplified the terrain to fit on a 4 by 5 foot tabletop. 

The game is played using One-Hour Wargaming machine age rules with a number of modifications, for example: allowing cavalry charges and requiring units to activate.

Scenario map

The scenario suits the use of Arab Rebellion forces attacking a Turkish train. The rails have been blocked with a barricade which cannot be broken through by the train. The objective of the game is to hold the train for the Turks or capture the train for the Arabs.

Turkish forces:

• 3 infantry units
• 1 infantry unit with machine gun
• 1 machine gun mounted on the train
• 1 artillery unit

Arab forces:

• 2 infantry units
• 1 infantry unit with machine gun
• 2 cavalry units
• 1 armoured car unit

The set up requires that all Arab units are in hidden out of sight behind hills or in cover when the train arrives. The train may travel forward 6 inches each turn or can stop, it cannot reverse. Up to two units can be unloaded from the train each turn, one on each side of the train.

Game report

The train arrives and sees the barricade but no enemy troops who have their cavalry hidden behind the hill and the armoured car behind the town. All other troops are hidden in areas of cover or the town.

Arab cavalry are seen on the hilltop and an armoured car drives out from behind the town. The Turks unload two of their units.

The train continues on and two more units are unloaded including artillery. The Turks are taking fire from the hill and broken terrain.

Arab cavalry charge into the dismounted troops.

The cavalry charge is repulsed (they failed an activation and had to retire from the melee).

The final Turkish unit unloads from the train. Arab force continue to fire from their positions of cover, including the town. The train mounted machine gun has been eliminated.

The Turks finally subdue the Arab infantry in the far broken terrain. This is a relief as their units have taken quite a bit of punishment.

The second detachment of Arab cavalry charge.

The Arab cavalry charge is successful. Turkish artillery dislodged the Arab infantry from the town.

The cavalry charge continues onto the next Turkish unit. While the armoured car continues to fire upon the nearest Turkish infantry. 

The Turkish forces succumb to the cavalry charge and pressure from the armoured car.

A victory to Arab Rebellion forces who capture the train on turn 12 in a close game. I played this scenario twice. The first time the Turks had 4 units plus the train machine gun and were soundly beaten. The addition of another unit evened up the game considerably.