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Thread: AAR. 2017 Scenario 1. Nation vs Nation. January. Pell Mell.

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    Default AAR. 2017 Scenario 1. Nation vs Nation. January. Pell Mell.






    Prelude to
    Pell Mell.


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    The two Frigates drew together in the Gulf of De Almeria. As soon as the private signal had been exchanged, a boat set out from the ship which had come from the North.


    Within minutes Captain Groat was reading the Dispatch sent across from the Pallas.

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    Captain Cochrane reported that he had been shadowing a strong Spanish Squadron from the port of Cartagena.

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    Lord Nelson's instructions were for the Squadron under the Command of Sir Dudley Pound at Gibraltar to prevent the Spaniards breaking out into the Atlantic and joining the French at Cherbourg or Le Havre.


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    With all speed Amelia made sail for Europa point.

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    Rob.

  2. #2
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    AAR. 2017 Scenario 1. Nation vs Nation. January.


    Pell Mell.


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    Gibraltar Dockyard was a hive of industry, as The Fleet which had returned from the Indian Ocean and Cape town was undergoing a complete refit.
    It was as much as Sir Joshua Pound could do to ready Five ships in order to carry out Lord Nelson's orders.

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    Nevertheless, within 48 hours they were clear of Europa point and just in time to see the Spanish Squadron of Five ships heading for the gut.


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    As soon as the Spanish Admiral made the British approaching, he bore up with his whole Squadron and made a run for the open sea'


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    Pound immediately signaled for a General chase, and for the next three days the British Squadron slowly clawed there way closer to the Spaniards.
    Just after dawn on the third day, The Spanish Admiral suddenly signaled his ships to form line astern, and the whole Squadron came about, no doubt trying to catch the British scattered in the chase.


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    Apart from the fact that the slower sailors had fallen behind allowing their weakest ship HMS Leander to forge ahead of the line, and the Royal George to have taken up the rear the Spanish were wrong in their assumption.


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    the British line was in fighting trim.



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    As they came about it was they that fell into slight disorder, as thy tried to keep station.

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    Nevertheless thy continued to turn, some having to shorten sail in order to avoid driving aboard other vessels.


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    Porter now came up two points with the wind on his stern quarter in order to maintain the wind gauge but close with the van of the enemy. His plan to cut the T of the enemy line seemed assured.


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    The Spanish admiral having now almost completed his turn headed back toward the British and his destiny.

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    As they approached Captain Tanner in the Leander put up his helm a further two points ready to cut the T and rake the leading Spanish ship.

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    As the Spanish Captain reacted, by turning to windward in order to prevent the rake, Tanner sprang his trap.

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    Turning hard a starboard he indeed crossed the Spaniard's bow, but in the opposite direction, raking him with his Port side guns instead of his starboard.
    The gun captains bellowed their orders to fire as each double shotted gun and Carronade came to bear rendering horrific damage to thr San Agustin in the van of the Spanish line.


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    Men fell, sails were rent, the steering was damaged and a fire broke out on the foredeck of the Spanish 64.
    Tanner now came about once more, and through dint of the quick reloading was able to reply to the Agustin's reply, with even more damage, bringing down a mast and starting a second fire tween decks.



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    In return, some of Tanners Marines and seamen fell as the San Agustin's balls shattered the Bulwarks sending splinters of wood scything across her main deck.
    As Leander moved on along the Spanish line she drew out of close range, and the Spanish guns loaded for a close action fell silent as she moved out of their range, but still able to hit with her main armament of long guns now reloaded.

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    In this way the second Spanish ship Argonauta was punished and lost some hands.
    Meanwhile Agustin's captain had come up into the wind because of his fallen mast.

    This put HMS Bellerophon who was carrying out Pounds orders to cross the T squarely across San Agustin's stern. The result of the raking broadside was tremendous. more men and a second mast fell, added to which the steering was further disabled and a third fire broke out whilst the crew were still dealing with the second.


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    This took the whole crew to effecting repairs and without more ado her Captain struck to Captain Stirling of the Bellerophon.


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    Meanwhile, by mere chance, the Leander's Captain was hoist by his own petard. The Captain of the third Spanish ship in line, the San Juan Nepomuceno had ignored his Admiral's instructions, and expecting a Starboard side attack only double shotted those guns.


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    With the Leander on his Port side he was able to bombard it at long range with a full broadside, unreturned because Leander was still reloading.


    After his victory against San Agustin, Captain Tanner was now In trouble, being treated to a first Double shotted broadside at point blank range from the Argonauta and only able to reply with his Carronades which brought down a mast.


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    Stirling's own ship was, however, rendered a hulk, with a mast lost, rudder shot away, holed below the water line and on fire, and many crew down. Reluctantly he was forced to lower his colours, not realizing what ramifications this act was to have on the outcome of the battle.


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    The battle now appeared to be all equal with one ship lost on both sides and Leander badly mauled.

    Argonauta now faced HMS Superb, Captain Rufus Taylor, who following Leander was now crossing the Spaniard's bow.


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    Once again a Double shotted broadside crashed out, and once again a once proud ship was ravaged from stem to stern. Crew and men falling along with blocks and canvas raining down on them from on high. The very ship seemed to stagger under the onslaught of shot.

    Then it seemed to recover and moved on only to plough into the hulk of the San Agustin.


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    The damage was enough to take her out of the battle.


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    The general situation now looked like this, with both battle lines in disarray, and individual ships making the best way they could.


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    Leander was still poking the odd bit of fun at the remaining Spanish from long range as she passed down the line of double shotted ships.

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    In the centre of the action the Spanish Admiral had just realized the seriousness of his position. With Bellerophon dead in the water on the Starboard side, and his two other Van ships locked together on the Port, his battle line was funneling between them straight into the raking broadside of the next British ship HMS Phoenix, Captain Joseph Porter, who simply and quite clinically took it apart with his Carronades and long guns.


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    Steering, masts went by the board, and fire broke out, as half the crew fell dead or wounded including the captain himself, his head creased by a Marines musket ball. Porter lost some men to firing from the Spanish tops.


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    Seeing the mayhem ahead, the Spanish rear broke for its own salvation.


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    Heroe to Port and into the wind's eye, whilst the Flagship turned to Starboard to avoid a head on collision with the stationary Bellerophon.

    All was to little avail for Heroe, as Superb had followed Leander around the battle and now stood athwart Heroe's bow.


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    Once again the inevitable broadside crashed out, and once again a Spanish ship was mauled. For once not so severely as it was not a first broadside, and mainly men went down in the rapidly worsening visibility of smoke and flame.



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    Captain Taylor now came about in order to pass by the side of the Heroe, but the Spanish ship being taken aback, swung about in stays and collided with Superb's bow.

    Pheonix following Superb placed a well aimed broadside into the Heroe at long range.

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    Even as the grapples were hurled from the Superb's upper works. With a cheer Captain Taylor led his men aboard to take the prize.


    Meanwhile, the final act of this battle was taking place on the far side of the Fleet, where totally unfazed by her losses, the spirited little Leander acting like a terrier at the heels of a Bear was harrying the Spanish Flagship Santa Ana towards her date with the Royal George.


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    With a rake of her stern the Leander damaged the steering severely, caused a leak and started a small fire soon put out by the crew. However, this attack was gradually nibbling away the Gigantic three decker's advantage in men and firepower.

    Now the Royal George crossed the Bow of the Spanish Flagship and a rolling broadside took its toll on the massive bows. Her strength was evident in the fact that only just over 50% of the Georges broadside did any damage. Firing from the tops of both ships was desultory.


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    As Captain Pennyman brought the George about onto the Beam of the Santa Ana she proved that she still had teeth and gave a withering broadside which ripped down sails from two masts damaged the steering and started a fire.


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    The Admiral of the Spanish Flagship now seeing open water, and with four of the enemy still active and bearing down upon him decide that flight was the only option and made off.


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    It was left to Captain Tanner to have the last word in the battle, as his Leander's forrard Carronades barked out for the final time inflicting some structural damage to the Santa Ana's Gallery.


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    Thus ended the battle of the Alboran sea.


    In his Dispatches to the Admiralty, Sir Joshua Pound made special mention of Captain Tanner of HMS Leander, and complementary remarks about Captain's Porter, Sterling, and Taylor for their spirited action.


    Bligh.
    Last edited by Bligh; 01-24-2017 at 13:46.

  3. #3
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    BUTCHER'S BILL.


    BRITISH SQUADRON.

    Commanding:- Admiral Sir Joshua Pound.

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    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………7
    Total crew boxes undamaged…..9


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    2. Ships name………………………….BELLERPHON.
    Type of Ship………………………...THIRD RATE.
    Captain's name…………………….. Stirling.

    Returned to port (RtP)………………RTP
    Captured (C) ………………………..
    Killed in action (KIA…………………
    Total hull boxes undamaged………1
    Total crew boxes undamaged…..…10


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    3. Ships name…………………………PHOENIX.
    Type of Ship………………………...THIRD RATE.
    Captain's name……………………...Porter.

    Returned to port (RtP)………………RTP
    Captured (C) ………………………..
    Killed in action (KIA…………………
    Total hull boxes undamaged………9
    Total crew boxes undamaged…..…7


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    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……….8
    Total crew boxes undamaged…..….9



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    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………...7
    Total crew boxes undamaged……….5



    SPANISH SQUADRON.


    Commanding:- Admiral Rodrigo de Mendes de Asturias.


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    Struck.

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    Struck.

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    Struck.

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    Escaped.

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    Struck.

    Total burdens of all enemy ships sunk or captured….….20
    Did the squadron meet its goals?...................................Yes.

    Rob.
    Last edited by Bligh; 01-30-2017 at 02:15.

  4. #4
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    That was absolutely brutal!

    You sailed the Spanish as though you wanted them to win! Very honorable!

    My man of the match has to be HMS Leander, a fourth rate that took on the Santa Anna and walked away, the stuff of legends. Surely a medal of some kind is in order for her captain?

    It was great seeing all of those new ships in action, funny how the Spanish ships don't look small when firing double shotted broadsides at you from point blank range.

    I see the great cat was there to ferry the dead to the underworld.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Hjl View Post
    That was absolutely brutal!

    You sailed the Spanish as though you wanted them to win! Very honorable!

    My man of the match has to be HMS Leander, a fourth rate that took on the Santa Anna and walked away, the stuff of legends. Surely a medal of some kind is in order for her captain?

    It was great seeing all of those new ships in action, funny how the Spanish ships don't look small when firing double shotted broadsides at you from point blank range.

    I see the great cat was there to ferry the dead to the underworld.
    That is one vote for a medal, does anyone else agree.
    Bob

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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bos'n View Post


    That is one vote for a medal, does anyone else agree.
    What for the cat?

    I counted him as a fog bank to allow the Santa Ana to escape, without having to spend time sailing it off table with only the Leander snapping at its heel's. By the time the liners had come about they would never have caught up even with its sail and steering damage.

    A medal for young Captain Tanner of the Leander would be most acceptable to him I'm sure. It would be his first Gazette after taking command of his new ship.

    Bligh.

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    I 2nd the medal for brave Leanders captain.

    What a titanic battle Rob, well played and well fought.

  8. #8
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    These battles are way too bloody for my tastes. If I do get the time to fight nation vs. nation it will be with basic rules only.

    Kudos for managing that many ships (do the British ever lose?) My head hurts from seeing that many chits on the table.
    "It's not the towering sails, but the unseen wind that moves a ship."
    –English Proverb

  9. #9
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    Here is an interesting book on naval medals that you might like

    https://books.google.com/books?id=HS...medals&f=false

  10. #10
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    Thanks Hugh.
    Yes very interesting.
    I just ordered it from Amazon for £15.85 Hardback edition.

    Rob.

  11. #11
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    Ahhh indeed a dirty business that. I have been trying to figure out a tactical way to avoid a slug fest with this one. Well done, and a medal indeed for young Tanner. I am currently close on the heals of a French fleet and tomorrow will see the battle joined. Yikes...

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    Default Unit Citation


    Unit Citation

    This unit citation is being awarded to
    Captain Grenville Tanner
    and the crew of
    HMS Leander
    for
    Conspicuous Bravery in the Face of the Enemy
    by the acclamation of his peers
    Last edited by Bos'n; 02-01-2017 at 15:27.
    Bob

    Rules are rough approximations of what you think I might do!

  13. #13
    Admiral of the Fleet.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hjl View Post
    Here is an interesting book on naval medals that you might like

    https://books.google.com/books?id=HS...medals&f=false
    Impressive Hugh.
    The book arrived shipped from California for £2.80 in five days.
    Rob.
    The Business of the commander-in-chief is first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible); and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.

  14. #14
    Admiral of the Fleet.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bos'n View Post

    Unit Citation

    This unit citation is being awarded to
    Captain Grenville Tanner
    and the crew of
    HMS Leander
    for
    Conspicuous Bravery in the Face of the Enemy
    Thank you for your time and effort in providing Captain and ships company with this citation sir.
    The insurers and ships factors have also voted Captain Tanner a presentation sword to the price of eighteen guineas.
    I remain your servant.
    Bligh. Admiral of the Blue.
    The Business of the commander-in-chief is first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible); and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    Thank you for your time and effort in providing Captain and ships company with this citation sir.
    The insurers and ships factors have also voted Captain Tanner a presentation sword to the price of eighteen guineas.
    I remain your servant.
    Bligh. Admiral of the Blue.
    Bligh,

    Go back and read the last line of the citation. It wasn't me.
    Bob

    Rules are rough approximations of what you think I might do!

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bos'n View Post
    Bligh,

    Go back and read the last line of the citation. It wasn't me.
    I am afraid that I don't quite see what this last line has to do with it?

    Last edited by Bos'n; Yesterday at 22:27.

    But thank you anyway.
    Bligh.
    The Business of the commander-in-chief is first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible); and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    I am afraid that I don't quite see what this last line has to do with it?

    Last edited by Bos'n; Yesterday at 22:27.

    But thank you anyway.
    Bligh.
    Your medal was awarded because of the many comments by the people in the campaign that said Turner deserved it.
    Bob

    Rules are rough approximations of what you think I might do!

  18. #18
    Admiral of the Fleet.
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    Did you miss my attempted joke Bob?
    Rob.
    The Business of the commander-in-chief is first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible); and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    Did you miss my attempted joke Bob?
    Rob.
    Guess so. Oops.
    Bob

    Rules are rough approximations of what you think I might do!

  20. #20
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    Probably because it was very obscure as well as poor.
    Rob.
    The Business of the commander-in-chief is first to bring an enemy fleet to battle on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his ships close on board the enemy, as expeditiously as possible); and secondly to continue them there until the business is decided.

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