Black Seas, Lisbon August 1808

The British have returned to Portugal. After defeating the French army at Vimeiro, the British Army is now closing-in on Lisbon. While the Convention of Cintra is still being negotiated, the French want to spirit some of their loot away from Lisbon, by ship, under cover of an approaching storm. The last of this loot is just about to be loaded into a waiting transport, when a British squadron suddenly appears at the mouth of the harbour, ready to force an entry. 

French Objective:
Finish loading the transport and get it off the South West table edge (ie, squares A7, A8 or B8).

British Objective:
Intercept and seize the transport, or at least ensure that the French do not succeed in getting the transport off the SW table edge. 

French Forces: (Start ‘Anchored’ in boxes L3 to M5)
• 1x 3rd Rate (Regular Crew)
• 2x Frigates (Regular Crews)
• 1x Brig (Regular Crew)
• 2x Martello Towers (Inexperienced Crews) - located on each headland. (Note: the Range of the Martello Towers is increased by 50%, ie, 30” for Heavy Guns and 21” for light guns)
• 1x Small Transport (inexperienced crew)

British Fleet: (Enter A4 or A5)
• 1x 3rd Rate (Veteran Crew)
• 1x 4th Rate (Veteran Crew)
• 2x Frigates (Veteran Crews)
• 2x Brigs (Veteran Crews)

The French start to load the gold and way anchor...

whilst the British sailed at full sail ahead

However, the British looked around and noticed that they were missing a ship. Apparently the 4th Rate had run aground at the harbour entrance and was hors de combat. This was going to make things difficult as the British were taking hits from the Martello towers.

Approaching the French fleet the British 3rd Rate started its turn to intercept but the rest of the fleet looked as if they had turned too late.

As the British 3rd Rate had been left hanging it decidied not to tack into the wind as this would have left the entire French fleet crossing its bow...

and instead it turned back to the east to fire broadsides into the passing fleet, hoping that the rest of the fleet could sort itself out and catch up with the French.

However, things went from bad to worse as the wind changed direction, favouring the French.

The chase was on and the only good thing for the British is that in their haste to get away a French frigate collided with their 3rd Rate. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to put the slowest ship at the front. With the change in wind the British had no chance of catching the French who managed to get the gold away.

A very fine victory for the French with a good plan. The British could have done with having the 4th Rate and unfortunately turned into the wind too late to catch the French especially with the unlucky change in wind.