AAR: The Treasure Galleon - by Comte de Brueys (Revolutionary French)

[Comte de Brueys]

Island of Martinique , Harbor of Fort-de-France

It’s mid Fructidor, year one of the young French Republic (September 1793). Whole Europe is at war with France. A courier ship, the Alligator brought bad news, that a combined Anglo-Spanish fleet has captured Toulon, main harbor of the French fleet.



The squadron of citoyen contre-amiral Brueys d’Aigalliers with the mighty flagship Orient has no new orders from Paris and no supplies of course.

So the Admiral detached two frigates under the command of citoyen capitaine de frégate Marechallannes and citoyen capitaine de frégate Casbianca for raids against trade ships and smaller vessels.



Two weeks later, capitaine Marechallannes’ Hebé class frigate Carmagnole and capitaine Casabianca’s Amazon class frigate Embuscade encountered a Spanish 3rd rate ship of the line. Thank god is wasn't a British one, otherwise they had to avoid a fight at all cost.

(In general the French fleet had a lack of good crews this times. So a lot a training would be needed before to mess with the best in such a situation.)



Overestimating his position, citoyen Marechallannes tried to demand a handover of the ship to the Navy of the French Republic, but the Spanish opened fire before the Carmagnole was able to sent the message via flag signals.



Both frigates returned fire on the insulting Spanish ship.



The next exchanged broadsides were devastating for the Carmagonle and her opponent.



Of course, the sturdier Carmagnole tried to shield the smaller Embuscade, but paid a high price for this headless attack.



The Spanish ship gained more room to maneuver and used the better wind conditions to escape.



…but the French were not willing to let it escape.



The Spanish commander realized that he can’t get rid of those greedy bloodhounds.



So he turned portside and sent the Carmagnole another cannon salvo.



Marechallannes’ decision, to hold back fire, granted a short range broadside. He attacked in the best manner of the young high motivated French commanders, but the Spanish 3rd rate was still in a good condition.



So the price for his action was paid with a raking shot through the rear side of his frigate.



The battle continued, but the Carmagnole was nearly defeated. The upper deck was covered with wounded sailors and only a few cannons were manned.



The Spanish ship turned into the wind and was taken aback.



When it turned portside again it took the Carmagnole out of the battle with the rear left broadside.

Citoyen capitaine de frégate Marechallannes had no other option then to try to keep his ship afloat.

Around 50 percent of his crew were able to fight the sinking of the ship.



The Embuscade was still intact and cared to fight off the Spanish and to help their comrades as soon as possible.

The center arc broadside hit the enemy 3rd rate hard.

(I apologize, because I thought the French Amazon class frigate Embuscade had a 4 damage center broadside – like the British frigates, instead of a 3 damage center broadside.)



Capitaine Casabianca grabbed his chance and closed the distance between his ship and the enemy, when he realized, that the resistance of the Spanish ship get lower & lower.

Musket fire and cannon shots were exchanged.



The enemy had to avoid a collision with the Carmagnole and had no option to pass the French on the starboard side.



This action sealed his fate, when a devastating close range raking shot from the Embuscade made the Spanish Captain to surrender and put down the flag.

A French boarding command took over the Spanish ship and forced the survivors to row with the ship’s boats to the nearby Carmagnole for repairs.



The search of the Spanish ship’s cargo hold offered 100 chests of rough coined silver doubloons.

No wonder that the Spanish weren’t willing to surrender without a battle. This treasure was exactly what the young French Republic needed to continue the fight versus Europe's monarchs.