AAR 2017 Scenario 2 Solo Mission "February: A Matter of Time."

[Bligh]

or, a fresh start.




The last of the monsoon had blown itself out, and for one or two days the atmosphere in Calcutta was cool and fresh.



With the Nottingham also fresh from its complete overhaul, and with a new compliment of Carronades on the upper deck, Captain David McBride glanced over the ships side as the last of the Dockyard Maties left the wharf.



He had promised the Governor that the ship would be ready to leave port by the morning tide, and for once the Port Admiral had pushed the workmen to the limit in order to make it possible.




With a satisfied smile on his face, McBride made his way back down to his cabin to complete his plans for this next assignment.




later that evening he gathered his officers and explained the Governor's Orders to them.



It was known that two French Frigates armed en flute and carrying supplies for the Garrison of the Isle de France had left Bordeaux. It was also known through a spy on the Isle that a French 60 gun ship was about to leave to rendezvous with the two Frigates at a known coordinate. What David did not mention was that one of the Frigates held the yearly payroll for the garrison, plus the Budget for the Island's supplies.

Which Frigate this was the spy could not ascertain.

When the rest of the Officers had left David took aside his First Lieutenant John Wilkinson and confided to him the rest of the Governor's information about the treasure chest.




The following morning with a fresh following wind and the tide running, the Local Pilot guided HEICS Nottingham down the Hooghly river and out into the Bay of Bengal.
The adventure had begun.




Bligh.

[Bligh]

Scenario 2 Solo Mission "February: A Matter of Time."


Three weeks after leaving the Hooghly Nottingham was worked up to a state of full efficiency. The prize money of last season had been put to good effect, for not only had the Company provided the new Carronades, but every length of Cable was brand new.



Never being ones for stinting on powder meant there was plenty for exercising the guns, but McBride had augmented that with extra ammunition from his own pocket so that live firing practice could be carried out with the new guns.



A golden Guinea had been nailed to the masthead as a prize for the first section who could sink a half submerged Hogshead cask floating alongside the ship.



It had only taken third Lt Mr. Bennett's division two shots to annihilate it with their Carronades, to the sound of massed complaints from the long gun teams who had only got off one shot. So McBride put up another Guinea for long range practice, which the Carronade crews obviously could not take part.






By now the French ships were four days overdue, so it was no surprise when during the forenoon watch, the masthead lookout sighted a French frigate well to the East.






McBride immediately ordered a change of course to head her off.





With a favourable wind they soon began to close with the Frenchman,
The bad news was that two other ships were now in sight, one to Starboard and one far off to the stern.



Inexorably McBride closed on his prey.




There was a flurry of fire from the Frenchman's Bow guns, and almost before McBride could reply the Tricolour came fluttering down in token of surrender.



As the Cutter pulled across with the Prize crew aboard, it was easy to see that the Frigate was indeed armed en Flute. The only ports open being the ones which had just fired.









Meanwhile it seemed as if the other Frigate was making off to join the as yet unidentified French ship approaching the stern of the Nottingham.





Although with it approaching bow on it could not be positively identified, David guessed that this must be the 60 mentioned in his Orders.





As soon as the Boarding party were aboard the Frigate, David gave instructions to make sail, and wear ship in order to meet the threat from astern head on.





As the two ships converged, the French Frigate made haste to scuttle behind its consort.
Meanwhile, the Carmagnole with the Nottingham's Cutter in tow made all speed in the opposite direction, heading for friendly shores.





As the Frenchman Got closer, David readied his crew, and at the last possible minute came about in order to cross the bows of the 60 to leeward.





David now saw that the reported 60 was actually the Leander 54 and as such was almost on a par with his own 48 gun vessel.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the rolling fire of his gun decks began to decimate the bows of the Frenchman.





Next the thwap thwap of musket balls added their cacophony and men began to fall from the fighting tops of both ships.





David now tacked into the wind, but the French Captain anticipating his move, came about himself and with what little firepower he had left raked the stern of the Nottingham with chain shot.





As both ships moved away from each other, David got in on parting shot with his aft battery but at extreme range did little execution.





Leander's Captain now tried a return broadside but was by this time just out of range.





David now used his superior turn of speed to engage in a stern chase as the Leander tried in vain to close with the Carmagnole which was showing a fine pair of heels as it made off.





Coming about once more to present his broadside, McBride now played his ability to squeeze more turn out of the Nottingham.








Adjusting the sails and rudder to the optimum setting for the wind, he presented the full gun deck towards the Frenchman once more.







Unfortunately his broadside was mainly ineffectual on account of the sudden turn causing his gun captains to aim high.




Nevertheless, one lucky round did manage to start a fire on the Leander's upper gun deck.

Hence her return fire was equally feeble.




David now played his second Ace, with the speed he could reload the new Carronades he got off another volley from his upper deck whilst the French were busy fighting the fire.





This last proved too much for the French Captain who now had fire fighters down plus a damaged wheel to contend with.


Ten minutes later he was surrendering his sword to McBride's First Lieutenant .





Standing on the Poop and watching the formalities through his perspective glass, McBride reflected to himself that it was a good start to the new season.





Prizes taken so far one Frigate and a fifty four.

He would not have been quite so complacent, had he realized that the other Frigate which had made good its escape contained the Garrison pay chest.


Bligh.

[Bligh]

The Butcher's bill.





1. Ships name………………………….HEICS Nottingham.
Type of Ship………………………...48 gun Super Frigate.
Captain's name……………………..David McBride.
Returned to port (RtP)………………
Captured (C) ………………………..
Killed in action (KIA…………………
Total hull boxes undamaged………7
Total crew boxes undamaged…..…5

.........................2. Total burdens of all enemy ships sunk or captured 8.
.........................3. Did the Nottingham meet its goals? NO.


The French.


Leander 54...............a. Type
4...............................b. Burden
0...............................c. Hull boxes undamaged
4...............................d. Crew boxes uncovered
Captured...................e. Sunk or captured
.................................4. Victim merchant ships (each)
Frigate......................a. Type
4...............................b. Burden
5...............................c. Boxes devoted to cargo
7...............................d. Hull boxes undamaged
8...............................e. Crew boxes uncovered
Captured...................f. Sunk or captured


Leander. Struck.



Carmagnole. Struck.



L'Inconstante escaped.



Bligh.

[Bligh]

Butcher's Bill now completed.
Can be added to the records.
Rob.

[Hjl]

Nicely done! A frigate beating a two decker no less. (even if it is an oddly short one)

Looks like your crew haven't lost their edge over the winter.

[Union Jack]

Well played Sir. A smart little action all round.

[Bligh]

Well played Sir. A smart little action all round.

Missed the treasure chest though Neil.
I did not turn the cards over until the end, as the prize crew would not be in touch with the Nottingham for long enough to find anything hidden in the hold and signal it.
So at the end of the battle ifound I had been sold a dummy.
Rob.

[Union Jack]

Aye but 2 prizes, me thinks the scales are tipped in your favour, however slightly.

[Bligh]

Had we but captured the treasure, the Isle de France Garrison may well have capitulated.
As it is they can now add an extra Frigate to the mix once they can find some guns for it.
Also we never found that 60 gun ship reputed to be on its way.
Watch this space for developments.
Rob.

[Bligh]

From the results below can you help show me how to work out the plunder points and repairs needed for my ship.
I can then enter them on the table.
Rob.

[Wahko]

Awesome AAR, well done.

[Bos'n]

The Accounting

1. Carmagnole was a merchantman and should have started the game with 4 hull and 5 crew boxes covered. This is important because it gives you more booty and she has less firepower.

2. Leander was captured but badly damaged - 4tp for the sale of the hulk

3. Carmagnole was captured with cargo - 4tp for the ship, 3tp for the undamaged equipment, and 9tp for the cargo. Total for Carmagnole is 16tp.

4. Total deposited to Jack's Union Bank is 20tp.

[Bligh]

Thanks Bob.
Rob.