Commerce raid in the Atlantic

"From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli...". So goes the US Marine Corps hymn. Not so for our reporter. For him it was “From the dust-bowl of 19th century India to the Atlantic Ocean in 1812. Three days into the war Commodore Rogers set out with two "Super-Frigates" and two Brigs on a commerce cruise against a British convoy of only one merchantman, three 5th rates and a Brig. Would the US vessels live up to their much-vaunted reputation?

The British sailed onto the table in close formation, but decided to split forces going to either side of the island. 

The Yankees came on in line astern

and swung round to pound Rob’s now isolated vessels. 

Although Rob got his first shots away damaging the lead frigates gun deck and rudder, the weight of shot reduced HMS Belvidere to matchwood and eventually she was drifting into the distance ablaze. 

Dave’s two vessels turned to intercept Chris and the merchantman, leaving Greg to deal with Rob and hopefully take a valuable prize. 

Greg decided to overpower Rob’s Brig with his Frigate, sending his own Brig the long-way round to try and support Dave. Rob’s Brig soon struck its colours, leaving Chris trying to plough on through the waves to safety.

It was getting very tense as Chris seemed to be on the verge of escape. However the inexperienced crew on the merchantman proved useless in battle, and the super-frigate proved its worth. It took damage but was able to absorb it, and dished out far more, although the American Brig was forced to strike its colours under fire from the British . Eventually Chris’ Frigate sailed off the board heavily damaged and passing tests not to strike its colours. Chris was looking at the merchantman’s damage score. Not good. Greg’s Frigate then entered the fray and also poured hot-shot into the merchantman , which began to catch fire. 

The game was called as an convincing American victory. The Yankees had lost a Brig which would be recovered. The British had lost all their fleet bar one Brig. The Super-Frigates had indeed proved their worth.

Next week sees Chris running "What a Tanker".

Simon