Kiss Me Hardy – Evergreen

The French have been having some success before the Lines of Torres Vedras in Portugal & the natives are getting restless and need to be fed! The merchant vessel Evergreen has been commissioned to take vital supplies to Lisbon, escorted by the frigate HMS Surprise and the Carronade Brig Defender.

However, French spies have learned of the mission and plan to intercept & sink or take the merchant vessel. Two frigates, La Némésis & Hermione, are lurking to the East of Point Teless head, while the Brig Génie is waiting to the South, in case the British try to sneak in that way.

The British sloop Sealark has been scouting ahead of the merchant vessel & her escorts and sights the two French frigates!

The French frigates quickly moved toward the South West, to try to cut off the British route to the South East. The schooner Sealark bravely crossed the bows of the French frigates, to disrupt their attack, but suffered badly as she emerged into the Port broadside arc of La Némésis.

However, HMS Surprise used the opportunity of Sealark’s brave attack, to move into a windward position, to engage both French frigates. This allowed the merchant vessel Evergreen to sneak across, just to the South of Point Teless head, thus staying well to windward of the two French frigates. It also allowed Defender to slip around the rear of the bigger French frigates.

While HMS Surprise’s elite crew was trading pretty equal blows with the two French frigates, the French Brig Génie attempted to work-up from the South, but she quickly suffered from well aimed damage from the little guns of Sealark & the unengaged battery of Surprise. Génie struck her colours, but Sealark had paid a heavy price, with all guns now out of action.

While the Frigates continued to slug it out, Defender had managed to wear around the rear of Herminone, into a perfect rear rake position! Her carronades wreaking terrible damage, bringing down masts and upending guns! (Double dice for carronades & double dice for the rear rake!!).

With the merchant vessel Evergreen now sailing away to Windward, the French Commodore decided to call off the attack. Another win for the British.

This game was run using Too Fat Lardies “Kiss Me Hardy” rules, with the small ships “To Covert Glory” adaptation & my own modified turning templates. Also ranges were increased by 50%, to better suit the Black Seas 1:700 scale ships.