Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Cape Henry (Savage Mill, MD - August 3, 2015)

  1. #1
    Landsman
    United States

    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Maryland
    Log Entries
    4
    Name
    Mark

    Default Cape Henry (Savage Mill, MD - August 3, 2015)

    AAR for Cape Henry scenario – August 3, 2015, Savage Mill, MD

    The scenario is modeled after the Cape Henry scenario from GMT’s “Flying Colors”. At some point I’ll write up the full scenario with each side secretly picking it’s fleet and the lower “point value” fleet having the wind advantage. For the AAR, I’ll go straight to the nitty gritty. The combatants:
    British (with wind advantage):
    SGN108B HMS Hibernia 1804 (6-Burden)
    SGN101A HMS Unite 1796 (3-Burden)
    SGN101A HMS Concorde 1783 (3-Burden)

    French:
    SGN102B Commerce De Bordeaux 1785 (5-Burden)
    SGN105B Prosperine 1785 (4-Burden)
    SGN105B Dryade 1783 (4-Burden)
    SGN105A Sibylle 1791 (4-Burden)

    Initial setup with lead ships 1-range ruler apart (Post-action suggestion is to extend this to 1.5 rulers)
    Name:  Cape Henry Setup.jpg
Views: 207
Size:  45.0 KB

    As the French commander in the disadvantage position, the “plan” was for the first two ships and the Prosperine to turn downwind and use our fleet speed advantage over the Hibernia to control the distance. The Sibylle was to turn upwind and take on the HMS Concorde should it try to stay to windward.
    The first surprise was the HMS Concorde taking a sharp turn downwind on it’s first maneuver providing it an immediate Bow Rake on the Commerce De Bordeaux! Thankfully the damage was relatively minor, other than a rudder hit. On turn two the Commerce De Bordeaux got a long range full broadside on the HMS Hibernia who declined to return fire. Two turns later Commerce once again fired on Hibernia without any return fire leading to the thought the Hibernia had loaded Double Shot. Suitable warnings were issued to the remainder of the fleet to avoid closing! Hibernia also took a second sail damage and will be slowed for the remainder of the scenario. Meanwhile the Commerce continues its hot pursuit of HMS Concorde. The HMS Unite also has to do some fancy maneuvering to avoid running into the back of HMS Hibernia. Below shows the relative movements during the initial pass followed by the positions at the end of it.
    Initial Pass:
    Name:  Cape Henry Plan.jpg
Views: 183
Size:  95.5 KB
    Post pass positions:
    Name:  Cape Henry First Pass.jpg
Views: 144
Size:  74.4 KB

    Alas for the French, this is the high water mark of the battle (and the end of the photos - forgotten in the heat of the battle). The Commerce eventually catches up to HMS Concorde and takes out about half its boxes, but not before Concorde and Hibernia (who completes a turn around through the wind) get simultaneous full broadsides at close range on Dryade (confirming Hibernia was loaded with Double Shot). Dryade does not survive this exchange and disappears below the waves.

    In the meantime, Prosperine who had been stuck downwind and out of action attempts to reverse directions into the wind only to be surprised by Sibylle looping back on a downwind tack. The two narrowly avoid collisions but the ensuing maneuvers leaves Prosperine dreadfully out of position to support the rest of the fleet. During the evasive action, HMS Unite trades shots with the two heavy frigates to its detriment.

    With Dryade gone the Commerce turns down wind and again takes a long range shot at HMS Hibernia who maneuvers after her like a wallowing pig. As it turns out the Commerce had a perfect close range bow rake on the next turn, but the guns were being reloaded. Sigh. Recognizing the two were going to be at very close range on the next turn, Chain shot is loaded in hopes of further crippling Hibernia’s maneuverability. Sure enough 4 “C” of chain shot from the rear arc of the Commerce is met by 6 “A” and 6 “B” of double shot from the front of Hibernia along with an exchange of musketry. The musketry and chain shot does inflict a sail hit as well as five crew hits, but otherwise does minimal damage to the Hibernia’s firepower. As would be expected, the double shot takes a frightful toll on the Commerce, to include a broken mast and a second rudder hit [the commander (me) forgot that rudders can be repaired during a battle] and thus two broken masts are the end result. The Commerce will proceed headlong downwind before finally regaining some semblance of control. With a broken mast, the ship has almost no ability to beat upwind and is effectively out of the fight.

    All three British ships are hurt pretty bad, but still functional. Even more important is the fact that they are near each other as the Sibylle finally engages on its own. Recall the earlier evasive maneuvers put the Prosperine out of position and was several turns behind before it could engage. The Sibylle goes down fighting, including a valiant boarding attempt of the Hibernia as she slips under the waves (two flooding hits). The Hibernia continued to take crew hits, but almost no normal damage.

    The Prosperine engages and nearly gets the HMS Concorde to strike but an attempt to board is repulsed and the Concorde escapes further damage. In the following maneuver, the Prosperine comes within musketry range of the Hibernia and takes it down to one lousy crew space left before being obliterated by the combined shot of Hibernia’s powerful broadside and Unite’s remaining guns.
    At this point the Hibernia cannot continue and the Commerce De Bordeaux has no real maneuverability to engage. The British Frigates are both in bad shape and their commanders contemplate a coordinated attack that might just do the trick on Commerce. But the sun was getting low and Hibernia would need protection to make it home. Both sides disengage.

    With three French heavy frigates sunk, and no losses for the British, this should be considered a decisive British victory. The French started off well but ended up being defeated in detail due to lack of coordination when the initial battle plan inevitably degenerated. During the after action it was suggested that the two fleets started to close to each other (witnessed by the turn 1 bow rake on the Commerce De Bordeaux). Next time we will start 1.5 ruler’s apart.

    Next time!

  2. #2
    Admiral of the White
    Admiral
    United States

    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Log Entries
    4,568
    Name
    Jim

    Default

    Excellent AAR! I might try a set up like this, or maybe substitute a few US heavy frigates for the French and match point values in British ships of the line? Thanks for posting the write up.
    "It's not the towering sails, but the unseen wind that moves a ship."
    –English Proverb

  3. #3
    Admiral of the Fleet.
    Baron
    England

    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Notts
    Log Entries
    22,275
    Blog Entries
    22
    Name
    Rob

    Default

    Lovely AAR especially with the directional arrows Mark.
    Pity it was not photographed throughout, but never mind it was the outcome that counted.
    Bligh.

  4. #4
    Stats Committee
    Captain
    Sweden

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Linköping
    Log Entries
    3,943
    Blog Entries
    6
    Name
    Jonas

    Default

    Very fun to read.

    It seems the "always gang up on the enemy one by one" held true in this game too.

    I like when those small mess ups do have an impact even if it was a hard one in this battle.

  5. #5
    Master & Commander
    UK

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Northumberland
    Log Entries
    1,821
    Blog Entries
    2
    Name
    Neil

    Default

    Nice AAR. Pity about the photos but we've all been there at one stage or the other. Nice write up and another scenario I may try out.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •