View Full Version : AAR JULY. THE ENEMY ARE OUT.
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Admiral Pound was beside himself with fury. His Squadron had been blockading the French main port in the area for months, in all weathers, and now driven out to sea with an adverse storm the French Admiral had taken the chance to up anchor and give them the slip.
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Stomping up from his cabin he arrived on deck just in time for some good news. One of the Frigates observing the French arrived to tell him that the French had taken so long to warp out of harbour, that the wind had veered and they were now attempting to weather Cape Barras. If the Admiral acted quickly he could well catch the French on a lee shore.
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Without delay Pound summoned his Fleet Captain, and signals Lieutenant. Soon flags were hoisted to the rest of the fleet to make all sail to follow the Flagship and form line of battle to the East North East.
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Prey God that they were in time!
Bligh.
AAR July The enemy are out!
Within an hour as the sun burnt off the last of the morning mist the topsails of the French ships were observed above the horizon.
Admiral Joshua Pound made his dispositions, and set the squadron to intercept the enemy as it clawed off the coast. At last he had them cornered on a lee shore and his ships had the wind gauge to boot.
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Gradually both Squadrons formed line of battle as they closed on the early morning breeze.
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With the wind gauge Pound maneuvered to prevent the French weathering the cape, and attempted to drive them away from hugging the coast and out to sea.
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In the van HMS Phoenix achieved this when Captain Joseph Porter cut across the bows of the leading French 74 Genereux and raked her at close range.
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Meanwhile, the Frigate HMS Concorde had achieved the same situation with the leading French Frigate Caramagnole and started a small fire on her bow.
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Coming about Porter now suffered the full broadside of the Generaux.
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At the same time Concorde was wearing and took a volley from Caramagnole's rear battery.
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Sir Joshua's Flagship, Royal George captained by Josiah Pennyman now got into the action cutting the line between Generaux and her second in line Republique Francaise.
The Hundred gunners stern rake was too much for Generaux.
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With HMS Superb also bearing down upon her, Generaux's captain promptly struck.
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Royal George's Starboard broadside also served out the same treatment to the oncoming French flagship Republique, ripping its foresails to shreds, holing it below the waterline and damaging the steering.
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Republique was also under fire from Phoenix's carronades.
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By this time all but one ship in the British line were now engaged.
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Dryade was taking fire from HMS Concorde,
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Caramagnole had been raked by Captain Richard Stirling' ship Bellerophon, and was now also on fire.
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Having fired upon Superb.
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She was also forced into surrender as her crew struggled to contain the blaze.
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Republique Francaise now took a pasting from HMS Superb coming up from her Port side. Her Captain was struck down and wounded along with many crew members.
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Republique replied to Superb with what guns she could muster.
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As did Phoenix to Aquilon as it joined the battle.
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Republique had reserved its main crewed guns fo Royal George, and firing high rendered severe damage to her sails and hull.
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Passing down the line Superb now took damage from Dryad.
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Superb's return fire silenced Dryad's guns.
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leaving Bellerophon to deliver the coup de grace.
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Thus engaged on both beams Bellerophon at the same time her guns did such service as to force the mighty Republique Francaise also to strike her colours.
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Further along the line Aquilon in an attempt to avoid running aboard the now stationary Flagship was forced to tack right under the guns of the Royal George and suffered most cruelly as both ships traded broadsides.
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At this point Commerce De Bordeaux came into action off the George's Starboard bow, and although only her foremost guns would bear she added to the damage already suffered leaving the George in a weakened state with many of her crew desperately effecting repairs.
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Phoenix took a little revenge upon the Bordeaux, but was in an even more battered state than the Royal George, so her weakened stern rake was mostly ineffectual.
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This was to prove to be Phoenix's swan song.
Looming up on her bow came the French 74 Le Swiftsure. With one Broadside she disabled Phoenix and setting her on fire, and wounding Captain Porter.
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With too few crew to stem both the fire and the inrush of water, they were forced to abandon her as she sank. They carried Captain Porter to the boats and pushed off before the fire overtook them.
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On the windward side of the engagement, Superb was making her presence felt as Captain Taylor played his broadside upon the Aquilon. Here also a fire was started but quickly dealt with.
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Her return fire also caused a fire and some sail damage to Superb.
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Despite the fire being extinguished in short order Aquilon struck to Superb, who then turned to Starboard in search of further game.
This gave Captain Sterling in HMS Bellerophon to discharge a devastating broadside into Le Swiftsure through the widening gap between the two ships. Many of Swiftsure men fell and yet again a fire manifested itself upon the deck of the French 74.
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Consequent to the loss of crew return fire from Swiftsure was far weaker, and only resulted in one hole twixt wind and water plus some handling problems to Bellerophon.
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Royal George also discomfited Swiftsure by delivering a long range broadside.
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Firing from the tops also took a toll on both crews as the ships closed.
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Having witnessed the ebb and flow of battle, and too far downwind to influence the outcome, the captain of Commerce de Bordeaux was attempting to escape by threading the needle between the disabled drifting French ships and the foreshore of the bay.
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By very dexterous navigation he was hoping to scrape past the Genereux, and then jibe at the point of the peninsular with just sufficient sea room to clear it and run West Norwest before the wind.
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This feat of seamanship was achieved with inches to spare as his side almost brushed the bowsprit end of Genereux. A few minutes and the drift of the other ship would have closed the gap.
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Le Swiftsure had now collided with the stern of Superb and been grappled by Bellerophon.
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The frigate HMS Concorde was bombarding her from long range to little effect although one of her overshoots narrowly missed Bellerophon.
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Shooting from the tops had been indecisive.
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However the boarding action carried her decks in fine style and the battle ended with yet another French capitulation.
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Bligh.
THE BUTCHER'S BILL.
British fleet.
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French fleet.
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Bligh.
1. Ships name
.ROYAL GEORGE.
Type of Ship
...FIRST RATE.
Captain's name
..Pennyman.
Returned to port (RtP)
RTP
Captured (C)
..
Killed in action (KIA
Total hull boxes undamaged
4
Total crew boxes undamaged
..
7
2. Ships name
.BELLEROPHON.
Type of Ship
...THIRD RATE.
Captain's name
.. Stirling.
Returned to port (RtP)
RTP
Captured (C)
..
Killed in action (KIA
Total hull boxes undamaged
6
Total crew boxes undamaged
..
7
3. Ships name
.PHOENIX.
Type of Ship
...THIRD RATE.
Captain's name
...Porter.
Returned to port (RtP)
SUNK
Captured (C)
..
Killed in action (KIA
Wounded
Total hull boxes undamaged
nil
Total crew boxes undamaged
..
nil
4. Ships name
.SUPERB.
Type of Ship
....THIRD RATE.
Captain's name
.
..Taylor.
Returned to port (RtP)
RTP
Captured (C)
..
Killed in action (KIA
Total hull boxes undamaged
1
Total crew boxes undamaged
..
1
5. Ships name
.LEANDER.
Type of Ship
.....FOURTH RATE.
Captain's name
.. Tanner.
Returned to port (RtP)
RTP
Captured (C)
..
Killed in action (KIA
Total hull boxes undamaged
9
Total crew boxes undamaged
..
10
7. Ships name
.CONCORDE.
Type of Ship
.....FIFTH RATE
Captain's name
.. Farthing.
Returned to port (RtP)
RTP
Captured (C)
..
Killed in action (KIA
Total hull boxes undamaged
8
Total crew boxes undamaged
..
8
Total burdens of all enemy ships sunk or captured
29
Did the squadron meet its goals?...................................YES
Very good naval battle, well told and accompanied by very good photographs. Congrats! :beer:
Thanks Juliαn, I only wish a few more people read these and passed comments. I must say that Captain Kiwi popped in for a couple of hours to give me moral support.
Rob.
Capn Duff
08-16-2018, 19:15
What a cracking battle there Rob, I echo Julians remarks about the pics and well told story
Union Jack
09-10-2018, 07:25
Brilliant report of what looked like a very hectic and fraught game.
It was a bit hairy Neil, but for once I managed to keep on top of the action. I think I am finally getting the hang of this game.:happy:
Rob.
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