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View Full Version : An Affair in Morocco (Part Three)



Bligh
01-15-2021, 13:44
Characters introduced into the story thus far.

Algerine and Moroccan Persona.
The Dey of Gizzanoffa: Kamel Mudanyaei.
His Vizier: Amin Giffar.
The Dey’s: Admiral Kulin Bey.
The late Captain of the Al Mukabir: Camel Mujadine
American persona.
The Squadron commander: Commodore Silas Goldberg.
The captain of USS Constitution: David Frazer.
The captain of USS Essex: Andrew Millington.
The captain of USS Syren: Gregory Hardman.
Syren’s Sailing Master: Simeon Prentice.

New Persona introduced for Sɪˈrɒkoʊ!

The new Captain of the Al Mukabir: Rashid Suleiman

The American Navy.

First officer of USS Essex: Paul Swift.
Essex’s Sailing Master: Hezekiah Bramley.
Essex’s Captain of Marines: Davy Weiss.

Introduction.

Following Captain Hardman’s mauling of the prize ship in Kamel Mudanyaei’s fleet it had to return to Gizzanoffa for repairs, whilst Kulin Bey thought up a good reason for the failure. To this end he was now looking for a replacement captain for Camel Mujadine who now decorated one of the Citadel’s walls. The lucky job fell to one Rashid Suleiman who immediately began on the repairs to his ship.
Thus from the point of view of Commodore Goldberg’s blockading squadron the next few weeks passed very quietly with the dreary daily round of seeking enemy ships that failed to materialize.

Then came the day of the great Sɪˈrɒkoʊ blowing with a vehemence that no ship could withstand. It howled out of the South across the desert bringing with it a stinging maelstrom of sand. Goldberg’s ships were all forced to run before the gale in order to survive. Within hours the wind faded to nought but a breeze. The damage was already done though. As the battered ships made running repairs and the headed back toward the port of Gizzanoffa, the Dey’s vessels had already slipped out of harbour with a favourable wind, and were now at large in the vast reaches of the Mediterranean ready to bring death and destruction to any hapless merchantman that they encountered.
Commodore Goldberg had no option, but to abandon the blockade and dispatch his squadron in penny packets to search for the Algerine ships.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:07
An Affair in Morocco (Part Three)
Characters introduced into the story thus far.
Algerine and Moroccan Persona.
The Dey of Gizzanoffa: Kamel Mudanyaei.
His Vizier: Amin Giffar.
The Dey’s: Admiral Kulin Bey.
The late Captain of the Al Mukabir: Camel Mujadine
American persona.
The Squadron commander: Commodore Silas Goldberg.
The captain of USS Constitution: David Frazer.
The captain of USS Essex: Andrew Millington.
The captain of USS Syren: Gregory Hardman.
Syren’s Sailing Master: Simeon Prentice.

New Persona introduced for Sɪˈrɒkoʊ!
The new Captain of the Al Mukabir: Rashid Suleiman

The American Navy.
First officer of USS Essex: Paul Swift.
Essex’s Sailing Master: Hezekiah Bramley.
Essex’s Captain of Marines: Davy Weiss.
Essex’s Master Gunner: Hamish Fyffe.
Essex’s Master Carpenter: Amos Grady

AAR.
The weather once more turned perverse, with very little wind and temperature inversion over the sea two days of fog descended upon the questing ships of the American squadron, and each vessel was constrained to a slow crawl through the murky mist, sometimes with the aid of the ships boats when the wind failed completely.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:10
Sometime after what would have been dawn on the third day, a slightly stronger wind blew up and gradually patches of clearer visibility drifted across the surface of the sea.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:13
Lieutenant Paul Swift, the First Officer of USS Essex, after a short conversation with her sailing master Hezekiah Bramley decided to call his captain Andrew Millington to the deck, as he knew that both the captain and Hezekiah were keen to take sightings as soon as possible after two days of progress under dead reckoning alone.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:16
No sooner had Captain Millington arrived than word was sent back from the lookout in the bows that he had heard a sound from ahead which sounded like another vessel.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:18
Consequently orders were relayed to the crew to take up their battle stations. However, before this could be completed a break in the mist revealed a Xebec Frigate crossing the bows of the Essex.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:21
The Algerine ship was obviously also taken by complete surprise, as no shots were fired, but a series of hurried shouted orders could be heard issuing across the eerily quiet expanse of water separating the two ships.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:23
As the two ships began to manoeuvre for an advantageous position the mist started to roll away aided by the now strengthening wind.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:25
With more manoeuvrability coming from her lateen rig and some dexterous use of her banks of oars the Algerian Frigate managed to cross the bows of the Essex and deliver the first blow.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:27
Fortunately, the Essex in coming about managed to avoid being raked, and apart from some planking being started in her bow, and crew members being hit by splinters, she managed to weather the storm well.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:30
As both ships continued to turn, Essex closed to small arms range, and with a swift command from Essex’s Captain of Marines, Davy Weiss, a fusillade of musketry and swivel gun fire from the tops decimated the deck crew on board of what was now perceived to be the Al Mukabir under her new captain, Rashid Suleiman, although the Americans were as yet unaware of his persona. Return fire was desultory to say the least, as the crew of the Algerine were still reeling under the onslaught from Davy’s Marines.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:32
There was to be no respite for the Mukabir’s crew as Captain Millington crossed her stern, and with his first broadside raked her from stern to stem. Millington’s only regret being that in the haste of loading the gunners had not the time to charge with double shot. The result of this salvo being the depletion of some few more of Essex’s crew.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:37
Nevertheless sails and men were both torn asunder in the vicious discharge.
Whilst reeling from the onslaught, Suleiman put his helm hard over, and did manage to discharge his rearmost guns into Essex as she tacked.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:43
As her crew recovered from the return fire Millington instructed Bramley to continue the turn to port, bringing Essex’s starboard battery to bear upon the Algerines.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:45
The broadside damaged El Mukabir below the waterline.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:46
Suleiman had now taken as much mauling as he could withstand and coming into the eye of the wind he was taken aback, before attempting to make off whilst he was still able.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:48
As far as Captain Millington was concerned, the chase was now on!
The wind which was holding steady now swung to the North East.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:51
The change in wind direction now put Essex in Irons and with no way on her she took long range fire from El Mukabir

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:54
Essex suffered some superficial damage.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:56
At long range and still in irons Essex’s return fire was no better, and with the crescendo from the broadside still ringing in their ears her crew could hear even through their head scarves the cussing of Hamish Fyffe the Master Gunner above all the hubbub of the action. Captain Millington simply stood po-faced on the quarterdeck.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 12:58
Bramley now got the Essex underway once more and set her on a heading to chase down the fleeing Algerine.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:00
Gradually Essex started to close the gap.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:02
Once more the cunning of Suleiman was shown as he yawed and raked Essex at long range rather than simply run.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:04
This time the damage was more severe as Essex took another hit below the waterline and her pumps had to be started to contain the inrush of water, whilst the Carpenter Mr Grady and his crew raced below to assess and attempt to rectify the damage. The wind chose this precise time to strengthen and veer into the North.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:06
The change of wind was the first piece of luck for Essex as it forced Mukabir to slightly curtail its projected turn allowing Essex to close significantly whilst now on her best point of sailing.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:08
Following Mukabir’s turn Millington decided to try and bring off another raking shot, fooling the enemy by appearing to start a course change and then reverting to his original course.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:11
Once again the cunning of Suleiman proved itself as it was he who changed course and the intended raker became the rakee.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:13
It was at this point that Millington decided to give up the subtle approach and go for a conclusion. Ignoring further shots from the rear of the Algerine, he gave orders to crowd on full sail he set a course to intercept the Al Mukabir.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:15
Shrugging off the paltry attempt and the cries’ of pain from those of his crew who had been hit, Millington pressed on and ordered his crew to be issued with weapons, and that the boarding nets be dropped.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:17
Catching the El Mukabir attempting a turn to starboard,
The grapples were tossed.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:20
Closely followed by the order boarders away and musket vollys.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:24
A ferocious hand to hand combat then ensued.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:28
At first neither side seemed to be getting the upper hand,

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:31
But gradually the superior training of Essex’s Marines began to tell, and the Algerines began to fall back toward the bow.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:33
Finally resistance crumbled, and Captain Millington leading a final charge, trapped Rashid Suleiman and his First Officer against the Bow, as the crew who were not already dispatched threw themselves over the side rather than surrender. As Suleiman’s first drew a pistol and aimed at Millington he was neatly skewered on one of the Marines bayonets, as with a menacing roar Suleiman attacked Millington, who deftly turned the massive scimitar aside and ran his opponent through with his cutlass. As he died at Millington’s feet a smile played for a second on Suleiman lips as he realized that at least his fate would not be that of his predecessor Camel Mujadine.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:34
Having freed the slaves chained to the oars on the lower deck, Captain Millington ordered Essex to stand off, and with a few well aimed rounds Hamish Fyffe sent what remained of the wreck of the El Mukabir to the bottom of the Med.

Bligh
02-19-2021, 13:37
Butcher's Bill.

ShadowDragon
02-19-2021, 19:31
Great to see this instalment of your Moroccan campaign finally posted. Although it started a bit murky... :takecover:

Bligh
02-20-2021, 01:43
Great to see this instalment of your Moroccan campaign finally posted. Although it started a bit murky... :takecover:

Yes, did you like the fog? I was trying out my chance encounter rule for fog or night action to see how it went. I did not know where or when the enemy ship would appear nor its heading until it showed up. There were actually two more dice rolls which took place in the middle of the ones shown which I left out so as not to bore you too much. There is a sequel to this one in the pipeline.
Thanks for the Rep.

Rob.

ShadowDragon
02-20-2021, 05:55
Yes, did you like the fog? I was trying out my chance encounter rule for fog or night action to see how it went. I did not know where or when the enemy ship would appear nor its heading until it showed up. There were actually two more dice rolls which took place in the middle of the ones shown which I left out so as not to bore you too much. There is a sequel to this one in the pipeline.
Thanks for the Rep.

Rob.

Yes, I did like the fog - very atmospheric.

Vagabond
02-21-2021, 16:39
Yes, I did like the fog - very atmospheric.

I thought he needed to clean his camera lens:takecover:

Excellent lesson in tactics, that'll learn em, they'll not mess with the US Navy again. Great action, shame not to see the shoreline and your wonderfull terrain but I guess you have to go to sea sometime.

How do you think you fog rules played out, were you happy with the result, and are they in the files section so we can rummage, and pillage them?

ShadowDragon
02-21-2021, 17:01
I thought he needed to clean his camera lens:takecover:

Excellent lesson in tactics, that'll learn em, they'll not mess with the US Navy again. Great action, shame not to see the shoreline and your wonderfull terrain but I guess you have to go to sea sometime.

How do you think you fog rules played out, were you happy with the result, and are they in the files section so we can rummage, and pillage them?

I thought Rob was hiding some unfinished kit in the fog...which cleared as he completed it. Clever. :takecover:

Bligh
02-22-2021, 00:55
Thanks for your comments and the Rep John.
I will explain the rules after we get back from shopping. They worked for me O.K. I will leave it to others to judge for themselves. I have never put anything in the files because I can't get access to them.
Rob.

Bligh
02-22-2021, 01:04
I thought Rob was hiding some unfinished kit in the fog...which cleared as he completed it. Clever. :takecover:

I am unmasked.
You have uncovered my dark secret Paul.
If you had said this about the sequel yet to come, you would have been closer than yo think! John Adams boats were a last minute addition.
Rob.

Comte de Brueys
02-22-2021, 08:15
Hard fight and a lot of raking shots. :shock:

Nice story Rob and the effects! :clap:

Bligh
02-22-2021, 08:20
Thank you my dear Comte, and hopefully we will be able to play a game together off these hostile shores at the next Doncastee. Also just noyiced your Rep comment. Thankee sir.

Arr!

Rob.

Bligh
02-22-2021, 09:14
How do you think you fog rules played out, were you happy with the result, and are they in the files section so we can rummage, and pillage them?

The fog/ night/ or even sanstorm works like this John.

https://sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=53000&stc=1

Use the gridded chart to determine where your ship moves from. Then choose your cards as usual, and move accordingly on the table to match the imaginary grid. at the end of the move throw 2 D 6 dice to indicate a sqoare on the table. If the square is adjacent to the one your ship currently occupies then the enemy ship is sighted through the fog. If not make your next move and then check again. Do this until a square adjacent to your ship comes up and place the enemy ship in the middle of this square. Pull a wind direction chip and this will determine the heading of the enemy ship. If playing with the wind rules a sighting will also trigger an increase in wind from light to medium and disperse the fog. from this point you also start checking for directional changes in the wind as per normal. Both ships then follow the normal rules for play. If you want to check your lookouts ability to see the enemy you can also deploy cards for this as the fog lifts.

https://sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=53001&stc=1

For some scenarios you may also wish to use this card as an option

https://sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=53002&stc=1

Rob.

Bligh
02-23-2021, 04:36
You may have also noticed a chit like this on below only in white played in the boarding action. It was the prototype for this one which is to replace the Let the men drink card. It is to replace that card in Muslim ships and grants the same advantage but represents Religious fervour as instilled by the Imam.

Vagabond
02-23-2021, 10:26
Thanks Rob, nice and simples, which in my book is good. Looks like it will work well to bring a surprise encounter in a solo game.

Bligh
02-23-2021, 12:50
Glad you like it John. As I get older I prefer Kiss methods.
Also thank you for the Rep.
Tomorrow I will be playing the sequel to this AAR.

Rob.

Vagabond
02-25-2021, 14:11
Rob, sorry this is totally off topic but you've talked about your Malta Air campaign and I've tried unsuccessfully to find your posts, can you give me a link please, as I would like to have a look at them.
Cheers

Bligh
02-25-2021, 15:43
If you look here John, you should finf the Malta alternatives to the Missions with my AAR's usually as a footnote.

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?17951-All-the-Fire-in-the-Skies-Campaign-ETO-Scenarios

Rob.

Vagabond
02-27-2021, 22:21
If you look here John, you should finf the Malta alternatives to the Missions with my AAR's usually as a footnote.

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?17951-All-the-Fire-in-the-Skies-Campaign-ETO-Scenarios

Rob.

Thanks Rob, for some reason I thought it was a completely seperate campaign rather than your slice of the action in a larger campaign, also older than I was expecting. On the bright side it gives me plenty of reading matter. Your aircraft hangers in the report I read are brilliant and they burned really well.:wink:

Bligh
02-28-2021, 01:37
Thanks John.

If you want to see a bit more large scale action, you can look at the Operation Pedestal game which I put on at Doncaster 15. For starters,"entrée" it includes a rare cameo shot of Tim getting his hands wet. All the Merchant ships were kindly provided by Neil.

https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?23270-A-Kyte-s-eye-view-Doncaster-15

Rob.