Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: AAR: Decembers Solo Mission - For King and Country (2)

Threaded View

  1. #1
    Master & Commander
    UK

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

    Default AAR: Decembers Solo Mission - For King and Country (2)

    To save confusion I'm posting the AAR here:

    Decembers Solo Mission – For King and Country

    Sir Henry Bonneville was ill. Yesterday he had took a fever and taken to his bed. He did not even stir when Captain Turner rejoined the fleet en route to attack the French squadron at Praia de Vitoria on Terceira.
    When Captain Trimble, his flag captain, informed him of the outcome Sir Henry could barely groan his displeasure. Sir Henry fell into unconsciousness before he could issue orders. The captain’s conference arranged by Captain Trimble fell into argument after argument.

    Name:  and I say we attack!.jpg
Views: 218
Size:  7.7 KB

    Captain Turner argued that it was pointless taking on the French Squadron as they were hopelessly outnumbered. Captain Trimble pointed out that if Captain Turner hadn’t let the 1st rate and 74 escape the blockade and the bomb vessel was sea worthy, they wouldn’t be ‘hopelessly outnumbered’, as Captain Turner had put it.
    With the bomb vessel out of action and the escape of the French ships it would mean a battle in open water not the action Sir Henry had foreseen. To make matters worse Sir Henry had fallen unconscious again and it fell to the senior captain, Captain Trimble to issue the orders.

    Name:  I beg to differ Sir bit if you hadn't le tthe french escape.jpg
Views: 242
Size:  10.5 KB

    The squadron would sail line astern of HMS Hastings with HMS Dover 2nd, followed by the 3 74’s and HMS Morpeth bringing up the rear. HMS Dunkirk under Captain Union was to stand off the starboard side of the squadron and act as a repeater. He hoped the combined fire power of the 2 1st rates would engage the first 2 French ships then these could be engaged in turn by the 74’s as they sailed down the line. HMS Morpeth if possible would take the French ships as prizes should they strike.

    Name:  HMS Hastings leads the way.jpg
Views: 388
Size:  12.7 KB

    The fleet got underway at noon that day. Early next morning the masthead lookout on HMS Hastings spotted strange sail to the east. It had to be the French and as the wind was from the south both fleets were sailing on a converging course.

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 003 (640x360).jpg
Views: 288
Size:  116.0 KB

    Both fleets turned at roughly the same time. It would be line against line. Captain Trimble noted that the big French 1st rate led the way followed by an 80 gun ship then the 4 74’s. A fifth 74, presumably the badly damaged one, had pulled out of the line and taken up position to port to act as a repeater he thought.

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 008 (640x360).jpg
Views: 236
Size:  108.2 KB

    Captain Trimble noted the opposing squadrons would pass port side to port side. So The British would retain the wind gauge.
    “The Frenchman has turned to port sir, he intends to cross our bow” cried Trimble’s 1st officer. He could do nought but sail ahead!

    “Helm to port”. Cried Captain Turner. This unexpected maneuver by the French had nearly caught Captain Turner by surprise. But there was no sea room to starboard of the Flagship he had had no choice!

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 009 (640x360).jpg
Views: 242
Size:  137.8 KB

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 010 (640x360).jpg
Views: 234
Size:  135.1 KB

    HMS Dover heeled over to port and just missed the stern gallery of HMS Hastings as Hastings and Commerce de Marseilles (118) opened fire. HMS Dover fired on the 2nd French ship as that ship raked HMS Hasting from bow to stern. The British line was in disarray!

    HMS Hastings took a sever mauling from the French ships. The French had done to him what he had proposed to do to the French.

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 011 (640x360).jpg
Views: 206
Size:  162.8 KB

    The damage to Pluto (80) was minor.

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 012 (640x360).jpg
Views: 533
Size:  141.1 KB

    Commerce de Marseilles foremast came down heavily, but as a fire started on Commerce de Marseilles a similar fire had started on HMS Hastings. Crew lay scattered around Hastings decks. The helm had been shot away, Captain Trimble was informed that the ship had sprung a leak on the starboard side but the main danger was the fire.

    Captain Turner saw that the flagship was embroiled with Pluto and steered a course around HMS Hastings.

    Name:  a poor shot.jpg
Views: 276
Size:  12.6 KB

    Taken aback as she suddenly swung to port as the British line followed. HMS Alnwick (74) raked the Jupiter (74) as her guns came to bare. Commerce de Marseilles could only watch as HMS Alnwick presented her stern but could not fire as she was still reloading!

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 014 (640x360).jpg
Views: 211
Size:  140.2 KB

    Captain Turner knew he had to brave the fire from the French line, ship after ship. ‘Damn Trimble, his plan has come to nought and it is we who are in harms way!’ He thought to himself. His crew reloading faster than they had ever done before fired another broadside into Jupiter as Alnwick followed suit. The lower gun deck of HMS Hastings added what weight she could, Jupiter was all but wrecked!

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 017 (640x360).jpg
Views: 255
Size:  142.3 KB

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 018 (640x360).jpg
Views: 347
Size:  161.2 KB

    A fierce boarding action was being fought between Pluto and HMS Hastings when the French lower battery fired and the shot ripped through the bow of HMS Dover. Sir Henry fell, so did Captain Trimble. No officer stood on deck as the ensign fluttered down.

    Name:  wrecked by gunfire.jpg
Views: 267
Size:  10.9 KB

    “The flagship has struck sir, you are now in command”, the 1st officer on board HMS Dover informed Captain Turner.

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 026 (640x360).jpg
Views: 234
Size:  137.3 KB

    Commerce de Marseilles had broken free but had taken fire from HMS Bengal and Hyperion she was not about to take fire from a third!

    At the rear of the British line Captain Wright aboard Morpeth looked on in horror as Commerce de Marseilles came into view. Straddled by Hyperions broadside the French reply crashed across Morpeth’s decks causing death and mayhem everywhere.

    Name:  SoG 12 December 2016 024 (640x360).jpg
Views: 198
Size:  134.0 KB

    The Frenchman had also fired on the Dunkirk as Captain Union hauled away.

    Name:  Pulling away.jpg
Views: 224
Size:  7.1 KB

    Name:  sog 12 update.jpg
Views: 229
Size:  86.0 KB
    The fleets positions, HMS Hastings having struck to Pluto. (TBC)
    Last edited by Union Jack; 11-17-2015 at 07:22.

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
  •