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View Full Version : Escape from St Helena – an alternative reality (Trouble in the South Atlantic).



Captain Kiwi
07-07-2017, 12:47
Yesterday Andy (Captain Kiwi) and I played the first of what we hope will become a mini campaign.
I will leave Andy to post the Scenario, but as a taster the Scene opens in Late 1815 when Commander Merriweather of the Sloop HMS Swan receives a dispatch by sloop from the Governor of St Helena.

It is six months since Napoleon has been exiled to the island of St Helena deep in the South Atlantic and Britain Europe and the rest of the civilised world are at peace!

But for how long

In a quiet secluded cove on the island a sloop of unknown origin slips quietly speed and secrecy are of the utmost importance.

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The captain of the sloop has one mission to locate the two Royal navy ships on patrol somewhere in the area and pass on information he has in his possession.

The speed at which they locate the ships could determine if peace will continue.
At the same time a French sloop is travelling towards the Ascension islands to rendezvous with a French three decker and Frigate.

If the sloop is successful in locating the British ships the senior officer will be informed that Napoleon has escaped from St Helena and is on one of three ships intending to sail from the Ascensions.

The British Ships and the sloop must make haste as fast as possible before Napoleon chooses in which direction he will take West to the South Americas or East to Africa.

The action was played out with two conditions

1. After two moves by the sloop the captain must roll a five or six on a dice to bring the British ships within range of the sloop. If no 5/6 is rolled the sloop continues with two moves until the correct number is rolled, once this happens the sloop will reveal its self a Royal Navy Sloop.

2. No one knows which vessel Napoleon is on each French Ship has a sealed envelope two of the envelopes contain a French Tricolour the third one contains the emblem of Napoleon.
If the British are successful and stop a ship and board it game freezes while the envelope opened if they have caught Napoleon and are able to they can make a break for it can the French follow?? The game restarts

Photos 1 to 7 show both sloops leaving St Helena and the rendezvous point for Napoleon.

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Photos 8 to 16 show the British moving towards the RP the French Sloop which at this time has Napoleon on board tries to negotiate the shorter run through the sand bans but fails and is grounded for the next six moves until freed.

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The British sloop also falls foul of the sand banks and is grounded but is able to fire his forward guns causing damage to the sloop.supplementation before battle recommenced G&T’s all round.

Photos 17 - 25

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Photos 26 to 34 the action is getting started Le Swift sure fires on The Royal George but is fired by HMS Amelia and HMS Swan receiving serious damage including two fires. The alligator also fires on the George See Damage cards.

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At some point the George and Austerlitz become entangled further action results in the George surrendering.

Amelia receives serious damage from Swift sure as a final action Amelia is lost. The British however board the Le Swift sure Game freezes envelope is opened success they have re-captured Napoleon



Photos 35-41 Show the final moves

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The game restarts He is transferred to HMS Swan who makes a break for it with only the Austerlitz to give chase she soon makes headway and looks clear but wait to the east two Frigates with French Sympathy who heard the gunfire headed towards the guns but see a British ship they veer to starboard to give chase. The chase continues but with a different cat and mouse and for how long that comrades is up to Captain Bligh as he takes over.

Bligh
07-08-2017, 01:33
Hi Andy.
One or two of the pictures are still out of order I think, but it will be easy just to juggle them now they are in the right area.
I will help sort them out when we get back on Sunday evening.
Rob.

Bligh
08-03-2017, 12:39
The Story continues.


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Having thrown off the slower three decker and in an attempt to throw off the two pursuing Frigates, Swan's captain Robert Graves used the coming of night as a cover for an alteration of course towards the nearest British outpost.In this attempt he was only partially successful as dawn found the Frigates hull down sails silhouetted against the rising Sun, but they would soon be within sight as the morning grew brighter.
He was therefore gratified to see another Frigate approaching on a converging course as the haze burnt off, and she was also flying a white ensign at her Mizzen halyards.
Both ships were soon hove to, as Graves transferred his prisoner to the larger vessel.
Captain Harriman of the HMS Sybille. had decided to cover for the Swan and try to delay her pursuers as Graves made his escape with the news.


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The problem was simplified for Harriman, when Napoleon stepped through the entry port.
William May, his first Lieutenant, recently Second of the Bellerophon spoke up, and pointed out that he had met and shaken hands with the Emperor when he was brought on board that ship. Although the man they had resembled the Emperor in many respects, it was not he. Napoleon was a good two inches shorter than this impostor.
Armed with this information Graves made off, whilst Harriman Set full sail toward the now visible French ships passing through the straits between the island chain in an attempt to cut their distance to Swan.

This was not the end of the proceedings for Robert Graves, as he soon fell in with another frigate.
This time the USS Constitution on anti slavery patrol.


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Using his prior knowledge of American sensitivity towards the unrest in Cuba and Mexico against the Spanish Government, he let it be known that his colleague Captain Harriman had the Emperor in his custody after an attempt by him to join the dissidents in the Caribbean.

The fact that Sybille was about to be engaged by two French Frigates seemed to interest Commodore William Bainbridge commander of the Constitution, and he rapidly made all plain sail and headed toward the sound of the gunfire emanating from the straits.

None of this was of course known to the protagonists as they made their opening moves in what the French believed to be a simple action against an enemy Frigate.

To be continued....

Bligh.

Bligh
08-05-2017, 12:09
The encounter.


As Captain Harriman of the HMS Sybille made his tentative approach from the North West, he encountered numerous shoals and sandbars at the entrance to the passage. With a Leadsman in the bows he continued into the uncharted waters.


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The approaching French Frigates had already entered the far end of the passage and took the main channel as the shortest route to where they had last seen the Swan.


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By the time Harriman had discovered a passage between the shoals, the two French Captain's had him at a distinct disadvantage.


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Harriman had no choice but to wear ship in order to navigate the channel thus placing him in the firing arcs of both enemy vessels without recourse to a reply.
First Unite delivered a broadside, which aimed to disable the top hamper fortuitously rendered little damage apart from ruining the Main top gallant and killing several Foretop men.


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Courageuse's fire, however, also aimed high brought down HMS Sybille's fore top Gallant in its entirety.


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Totally unperturbed by this setback, Harriman continued with his turn to Starboard.


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This brought him alongside Courageous, and a vigorous exchange now took place between these two ships.


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Whilst Sybille took more sail damage, lost crew and was hulled below the waterline,
Courageous was badly hit and many of her gun crew fell to the double shotted broadside from the English Frigate.
Harriman now played his Ace in the hold. Because his ship was now reduced to slow speed due to the state of her masts and sails Courageous was forging ahead of the British ship. Harriman now passed the order "Hard a port." As Sybille gained headway once more it placed her in perfect position to deliver a stern raking shot with her as yet unused Starboard battery. Each gun, including Carronades fired as they were brought to bear.


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Unfortunately the result was somewhat raggedly delivered because of the damage already sustained by the French broadsides, but did fell many more of the remaining crew aboard the Courageous.
It was at this point in the action that a new player hove into view, in the form of the large and well armed USS Constitution.


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As a potential neutral, but with a vested interest in preventing the French from regaining what he thought to be the person of the Emperor Napoleon, Commodore William Bainbridge drew alongside the Unite, and taking up his speaking trumpet delivered some curt advice to the French Commodore, as only an American highly placed officer could do.
What was said could not be heard above the gunfire from the other two ships, but the damaged French ships were now in no state to either take on the two Frigates nor catch Swan. After a sudden flurry of signals from the Unite, both French Frigates hauled their wind and headed away, in a direction not likely to bring them in sight of the fleeing Swan nor cause further antagonism towards the American Flag.


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Commodore Bainbridge now approached Sybille and offered to render assistance to Harriman and his crew.

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Having done his job in delaying the French Frigates, Harriman now concentrated in getting his ship seaworthy with a new jury rigged Foretop sail and mast.

He thanked the Americans for their aid, and set sail in pursuit of Swan wondering what might have been the outcome if the timely intervention had not taken place.


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Bligh.

Bligh
08-05-2017, 12:11
Butcher's bill.


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Showing the damage taken by the French Flagship.

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Courageouse with equitable damage.

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The battered but uncowed Sybille.

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The might of the American Super Frigates broadside when compared to the remaining firepower of the French.


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Andy and I both decided that in the interests of the campaign the French had made the correct decision to haul off rather than add the USA to their enemies.

What of the real Emperor, I hear you say. Well that is a story for another day!

Bligh.