The Ōhaeawai Pā Reconnaissance

Game 2: The Ōhaeawai Pā Reconnaissance

Campaign Context

Following the skirmishing around Kororāreka and the Flagstaff, British commanders advance inland toward the newly constructed pā at Ōhaeawai. Intelligence suggests a strong position, well prepared for an assault

Version 1

Version 2.  Much better I think.

The Māori defenders fully expect an attack.

Forces

British Reconnaissance Column

• 1 British Officer (Major or Captain)
• 2 Line Infantry Units
• 1 unit sailor boys
• 2 Militia Units
• 1 Colonial or Armed Police Unit
• 1 Field Gun with crew (6-pdr or similar)
• Optional: local guide or interpreter

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Māori Defenders

• 1 Greater Ariki 
• 1 Lesser Ariki 
• 4 Warrior Units
• 1. Shotgun unit
• 1 Paheka unit
• Ōhaeawai Pā defenses: rifle pits, palisades, traverses

Māori players should feel confident they can punish an assault.

“The British are advancing on the Pā and appear to be preparing for an attack.”

They must keep two groups as a Pa garrison.

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Table & Terrain

• The Pā occupies one short table edge.
• Dense bush and broken ground dominate the approaches.
• A low ridge or spur sits 18–24” from the pā — this is the true British objective.
• Narrow tracks and gullies channel movement.

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Objectives

Māori Objectives

The Māori win if they:

• Prevent both British objectives by Turn 6
• Force the withdrawal, capture, or destruction of the artillery
• Kill the British Officer
• Inflict serious casualties (British morale collapse or 50% losses)

British Objectives (Primary)

The objective is to probe the Pā, test the defenders’ reactions, and—most importantly—identify and secure ground suitable for a breaching battery.

The British win if either condition is met:

1. Battery Siting

   • Move the field gun onto the designated ridge
   • Unlimber.

2. Reconnaissance

   • A British officer must approach within 12” of the Pā works
   • Then withdraw safely to British lines

Both may be attempted, but neither requires storming the Pā.

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Special Rules

“Holding for the Storm”

For the first two turns, Māori units within the Pā may not leave it unless fired upon.

• They are waiting for the assault.
• After Turn 2, all restrictions lift.

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Possible House Rules

“Harassing Fire”

Māori skirmishers in cover may:

• Fire and immediately withdraw 2”
• Once per game, conduct a sudden close-range volley before retreating

This tempts the British to overreact.

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“Firing into cover”

All troops:

• If a unit is seen at the edge of New Zealand tree, shrub and fern area cover it is revealed and in line of sight for the remainder of the game, even if it then "takes cover" away from the edge.

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End of Game & Campaign Effects

If the British Succeed

• Game 3 becomes “The Bombardment of Ōhaeawai”
• British artillery begins the next game already emplaced
• Māori morale suffers a small penalty (they were outmanoeuvred)

If the Māori Succeed

• Game 3 becomes “The Failed Battery”
• British must assault with limited or no artillery support
• Māori gain confidence bonuses and improved fieldworks

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The Ōhaeawai Pã

That is a horrendously strong position!

The British Regulars advance quickly, using the ridge as cover.

And the Captain pushes them on

The Militia press forwards too, but the terrain channels attackers into killing zones.

The Sailor boys go a little mad and charge out of cover

But we sight the battery.

The Maori realise we aren't attacking.  They begin to swarm forwards.

But fire from the regulars and militia does some damage, staggering what us now a Maori attack.

The Sailor boys jump back into cover!

My Officer exposes himself as he gets within 12" of the Pã line.  

The Militia give up on the third objective.  We consolidate into a defense.

The Sailor boys charge.  The Maori recoil shaken.

But the shotgun armed Maori charge the victorious sailors, who are themselves knocked back.

In fact they are recoiled onto the objective.  A few key dice decides it.

The Regulars recoil from the weight of Maori fire.

And turn 6. It's the end game 

The Maori have suffered from the British fire.

But the British only hold one objective, the other being contested, and have lost 25% of the force

The battery is however sighted.  But it's a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.  

And the Port Royal Chronicle called it a "stalemate."  The 25% of our force lost and the fact that the Maori didn't know the objectives until half way through, and then still won one and contested a second, indicate it was actually a pretty grim loss.

The miniatures are pretty though for a random eBay buy!  Some of my better painting and a nice enjoyable terrain project.