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

Punch up in the Med

For a change we decided to play a game of Black Seas from Warlord Games. The scenario was for the opposing fleets; British and French, to attempt to capture the Martello tower which had been captured by an unknown force.

The wind was from the North so both fleets deployed in their northern deployment areas, with the French fleet in the East and the British in the West.

The French split their fleet into heavy and light flotillas, with the 1st and 2nd Rate in the heavy flotilla and the light flotilla consisting of a 3rd Rate and two 5th Rates. The British cunningly copied the French setup. The French heavy flotilla sailed to the South of the island, with the light flotilla sailing to the North, hoping to get the advantage of the wind. Both British flotillas sailed to the South and pounded the Martello tower.

The sneaky French pounded the British instead and managed to cross the 'T' of the British heavy flotilla, causing the 3rd Rate to strike it's colours, whilst the British 1st Rate turned away to the North. The British light flotilla continued to pound the tower whilst taking severe damage, with the leading 5th Rate catching fire.

The British 4th Rate got the better of the French 3rd Rate, causing it to stike it's colours. It then headed towards the island to try and capture the fort. This didn't go well and the British struck it's colours. However it had done some damage and the French snuck in their 1st Rate to quickly capture the Martello tower.

The British fleet did most of the early damage to the tower and paid the price, losing a 3rd, 4th and 5th Rate in the process, leaving only the 1st and 5th Rates left to lick their wounds. The French took the tower and only lost the 3rd Rate, although one of the 5th Rates was leaking quite badly.

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.

Havoc off Havana

And so our intrepid, time-travelling war reporter swapped the deserts of Syria in the 3rd century AD for the humid climes of the Caribbean I the early 1800s. A British “intelligencer” based in Havana had learnt of a Spanish convoy setting sail for Spain loaded with bullion. The British West Indies squadron was alerted and sent a small, but powerful flotilla to intercept.

The Spanish sailed out of Havana harbour in close formation. One had to ask was this wise for a large merchantmen and inexperienced crews?  The British sailed to intercept, spreading out to attack the front and rear of the convoy. The Spanish escorts swung to intercept but almost immediately took heavy 1st fire, and with inexperienced crews and long-range their return fire was frankly pathetic. Malcolm’s gallant British frigate was soon crossing the rear of the Spanish. One Spanish ship lost control of its rudder and the alarmed captain of the merchantman slowed as he saw the wild manoeuvrings of his inexperienced naval colleagues risk a collision. Very soon one Spanish frigate had been turned to matchwood, and Malcolm managed to grapple and board the merchantman.

The Spanish fleet lurched on taking fire.  They did manage to set fire to Phil’s frigate but his veteran  crew handled it well.  More Spanish catastrophe followed as Dave slowly sailed off the edge of the board and Rob managed to expertly line up his 3rd rate up for a ramming contest with the island. I wonder how that would end. Chris’ 3rd rate was pummelled into submission.

A pretty crushing British victory….

Once again the British easily prevailed over the Spanish. Inexperienced crews are pretty useless and veteran crews worth their weight in gold. The fleets were equally balanced in points but numbers rarely seem to be the deciding factor in Black Seas.

Next week over to Hitchin for what is rumoured to be WAT Arab-Israeli….

Simon

A Bit of a Rum Do off Cadiz

Once again our intrepid reporter rushed across time and the Mediterranean to meet a small Spanish treasure fleet returning from Montevideo to Cadiz in October 1804. Little did they know that the British had their covetous eyes on the gold and silver. Almirante Banks sailed his flotilla onto the table and instead of heading for the safety of Cadiz harbour veered towards the oncoming British. This was going to be interesting. Phil, Tony and Malcolm turned to intercept undaunted by the sight of a Spanish 3rd rate heading towards them. Chris’ flagship ploughed on but with its inexperienced crew found its gunnery less-than effective. Tony and Phil took damage but headed on towards their main prize, the merchantman.

Over on the other side of the table it looked like a small ships war would ensue as a trio of Spanish Brigs emerged from Cadiz harbour to meet their British counterparts. Shots started to be traded but Spanish progress was painfully slow.

Back with the Atlantic fleet, Chris behemoth tried to manoeuvre but found that a large ship, inexperienced crew and frantic changes of course was a lethal cocktail. This looked entertaining. Having been seemingly abandoned by Almirante Banks the merchantman was stopped by a Tony taking a ram and then boarding. Spectacular if unorthodox tactics. Phil then fired into the merchantman administering the coup de grace and also setting it on fire. Watching his inept Admiral finally crash his flagship onto the large island.

 

Dave and his Spanish frigate hove into view pursued by Malcolm.

The Spaniard poured fire into Tony’s stricken frigate and another ship began to blaze.

Back at Cadiz harbour things looked grim for Spain. Two brigs caught fire and sank leaving Rob’s frigate to deal with three British Brigs. Although not sunk it too was reduced to a fireship and would not be welcome in Cadiz’ teeming harbour.

With two brigs, a frigate and the merchantman ablaze, plus the mighty 3rd rate foundering on the rocks, it was a pretty decisive victory for the British at least in numbers of ship losses. However Captain Tony RN had lost his own ship in the process and the gold was last seen slipping into the icy waters of the Atlantic.

After the battle a monster from the deep was detected in the area…

Simon

Off the coast of Buenos Aires

After a gap of one week normal service is resumed with the weekly “match report”.

Last night saw a “Black Seas” game set during the abortive British attempt to “liberate” Argentina in 1806.  The scenario saw the Spanish Viceroy trying to flee taking his gold reserves and the British flotilla trying to stop him.

The British sailed on to the board from the south-west corner with Malcolm heading East and Phil North-East to intercept the Spanish convoy.  The Spanish entered from the North-west with an objective to sail across the table. Almost immediately disaster struck the British as Phil’s Brig collided with his frigate. Damage to both and a distinct lack of manoueverability next turn. Dave and Tony sailed across them pouring desultory fire into the hapless British, heading for the protection of Rob’s frigate which entered the table further on.

Phil managed to get a semblance of control and gamely attacked before his brig and frigate sailed out of sight behind the island.

That left two schooners and a brig to face a large merchantman, two brigs and a frigate. Things looked dicey but this was the Royal Navy!

Through some deft seamanship the British did manage to catch Tony and eventually force his brig into striking its colours. But the Viceroy sailed on.  Mal then tried our first ever boarding action, only to find that you can’t board a ship under “full sails”.  A defect in my scenario!

From then on the British couldn’t really win. Dave’s merchantmen was really too strong to take the necessary damage, and speed didn’t seem to be an issue. Phil made a valiant attempt to return to the fray but the game was over when Rob’s frigate blew him up from short-range !

A few lessons learnt for me….

Although the sides had even points the British were heavily outgunned. The schooners only have two light cannon per vessel vs a Brig’s four  heavies, and the extra ship numbers never seem to tip the balance. Indeed too many ships can prove an issue.  Next time I will introduce “crew quality” as this is the 2^nd time the Spanish have won.

Anyway next week sees a return to the fields of Normandy in the summer of 1944 for “What a Tanker”.

Simon

Black Seas; The Great Escape...

With the British blockade on Continental European ports ever tightening, the scene was set for the desperate attempt by the Spanish to break through and return one of its mighty 3rd rates to the safety of Cartagena harbour.

The Spanish entered from the NE corner of the table, the British from the SW.  Chris decided to send the behemoth straight across in a Tony-esque charge, albeit at a tardy 4” per move segment. The British sent their frigates to deal with Chris leaving the Brigs to protect the flanks.

Gunfire was poured into Chris, but he just smiled even as criticals were landed. No seeming effect.

The brigs traded desultory cannon-fire. Again a few criticals but no killing blows.

With some deft manoeuvring the frigates even managed to land some stern rakes on Chris, but the 3rd rate could take it. Indeed, all ships seemed to be in remarkably good condition despite the brisk exchanges of fire. Also noticeable this week was the lack of point –blank action. After all, who would want to get close to Chris!

Eventually Chris broke through the British line and the British realised that under sail there was nothing they could to catch him.  Malcolms’ Spanish brig also slipped beyond the horizon leaving Phil’s Brig on-table facing the scattered British forces. However assessing the scene of battle afterwards , even this vessel stood an excellent chance of escape unless Tony’s bow gun could land a spectacular blow.

From the vantage point of the Supreme Being, the game had seemed to go well. Despite Chris’ escape the game had been more finely balanced than it appeared. After battle chat revealed he was only 8 points from potentially striking his colours. One of two more rounds of gunfire could have done the trick. The advanced and additional rules did add a certain “je ne said pas”……as French gamers would say.

Next week, back to WAT and France 1940 , but this time with the BEF ……

Simon

Black Seas; "Somewhere off Minorca"

So, our first foray into the “Black Seas”.  A simple scenario featuring Spanish vs British, with only a frigate and two brigs per side.

With the wind to their backs the Spanish sailed with uncharacteristic aggression.  Phil’s British frigate soon found itself in trouble taking heavy fire from its Spanish counterpart and a pesky Brig.  An unfortunate “critical” made it break off the action and limp away as best it could.

The British Brigs fought on gamely, helped immensely by Tony’s decision to sail off the edge of the known world. Apparently he thought the table was 6’ x 4’……it wasn’t.

Phil took another salvo and struck his colours. First blood to the Spanish!

Chris and Rob fought on again aided by Tony re-appearing only to sail across the table and disappear off the other edge on fire.

Two ships left, but not for long….

Chris’ Brig took punishment from the frigate and blew up. Ouch!

Malcolm eventually did the normal Spanish thing and struck his colours leaving Rob’s Brig facing Dave’s badly damaged Frigate.

With discretion the better part of valour the British departed Spanish waters but it was a Pyrrhic victory  for the Armada Espanola.

A fun game to run.  More complex than “Cruel seas” and in my opinion with more possibilities. Next time we will introduce some of the additional rules.

Next week see’s a return to WAT in France 1940.

Simon