Kiss Me Hardy: Small Ships Scenario – “Spring Blownapart”

 A small ships scenario, using Chris Stoeson’s, “To Covert Glory” KMH adaptation.

Commodore Roberts viewed the Isle of Elbow with some unease. The French fleet was already here and no doubt, the Terror of Europe, Nathan Blownapart, was already in a boat, headed out to the small French fleet, to make good his escape.

Roberts despatched the Schooner Sealark, round the East of the island, while the rest of fleet, comprising 26 gun frigate, Surprise and 12 Carronade Brigs, Defender & Growler, went around the West of the island, to head off the escape of Blownapart.

As Sealark rounded the Eastern headland of the Isle of Elbow, she could see the French Brig, Pandour and Schooner Vigie, attempting to rendezvous with the small boats carrying Blownapart. Just to the North of these ships, Sealark could also see the French 26 gun frigate Nemisis and 14 gun brig Genie, pulling ahead, Westward.

Sealark could not believe her luck, as Pandour and Vigie, continued to drift Westward, as they struggled to get Blownapart safely aboard. Sealark closed and turned, to pour two devastating stern rake broadsides into Vigie, causing her to haul out of line and strike her colours.

Meanwhile the frigate HMS Surprise and the French frigate, Nemisis, raced for the rocky outcrop, to the West of Elbow. Neither won the race and they both turned South Westward and started to trade broadsides, with Nemisis coming off worst from the exchanges.

While the bigger frigates traded hammer blows, Commander Davis, with Brigs Defender and Growler snuck between the stern of the frigates and the rock West of Elbow. This left the single French brig, Genie facing down two carronade armed brigs. Some fine seamanship allowed the RN brigs to pass the French brig at close range, delivering eight 18 pound carronades, at short range, leaving Genie a sinking wreck. 

Defender and Growler turned then their attention to the escaping Pandour. If Pandour got away, all would be lost, as Blownapart would be free to return to Europe.

However, Pandour had not escaped undamaged, Sealark was in pursuit and had landed a few blows, before Defender and Growler took over the pursuit. Sadly Pandour was both out of range and out of arc of their powerful carronades, but they each still had a pair of 6lb bow chasers, which they unleashed. To their surprise, Pandour hauled down her colours! Clearly Sealark and long range fire from Surprise, had done more damage than was first obvious.

So, Blownapart was hauled back to the Isle of Elbow and peace restored!