Captain Kiwi and the Fog of war continued.

[Bligh]

The Chilean Navy shows it's metal.



Several months had elapsed since the ship bearing the Emperor Napoleon had disappeared into the South Atlantic once more. The Secretary to the United States Navy Board was very concerned that the Status quo in the rebelling South American States should not be disturbed and injure the rapidly burgeoning trade being established with the emerging new Nations. With only a couple of Frigates to police the whole Pacific, he was attempting to glean any information about the status of things in the area.

Rumours abounded. First Napoleon had been sighted in Mexico assisting the rebels, next in Brazil, and the most farfetched report of all came from a ship fresh in from China with news that he had landed there and was now in command of a rebel group trying to unseat the Emperor.
What was known, was the fact that two warships of the newly restored Bourbon Fleet had mutinied in the West Indies, supported by troops garrisoned there loyal to Napoleon and had set sail for the South Atlantic.
Also news from England was confirmed that the Chilean Ambassador in addition to purchasing ships, including one steamship for the Chilean Navy had secured the services of one Captain Cochrane ex RN. to become Admiral of the Chilean Navy, and that in late1818 ,accompanied by several other Captains and his wife, he was now on route to Valpariso aboard the sailing ship Rose.
It was in order to escort the Rose to its destination and also to keep a look out for enemy Spanish ships in case they had decided to intercept the Rose that General Bernard O'Higgins dispatched three of his ships to the south.





The 50 gun Flagship pertinently named the O'Higgins, led the Aguila 16, and the Galverino 18 with 32lbr carronades along the coast just West of the Spanish held port of Valdivia keeping a wary eye out for Spanish men of war. The Chilean commander, Blanco Enchalada, aboard O'Higgins was not surprised when two enemy vessels hove to on the horizon.




As his Squadron approached, he was surprised to see that the bore the Tricolor of the now dissolved French Republic.
Sensing that they were up to no good he bore down upon them and signaled for them to heave to for inspection.

Bligh.

[Captain Kiwi]

The two French ships identified as the Commerce De Bordeaux and the Roland ignored signals to heave to instead trimmed for fighting sail and turned to starboard in an attempt to bow rake the Chileans.


5589

The Roland manoeuvred quickly in an attempt to broadside the O ‘Higgins.


5590

In the meantime the Commerce de Bordeaux aimed to pass between both the Aquila and the O’Higgins in an attempt to double broadside.


5591

The Galvarino seeing the manoeuvre moved on full sail in an effort to block the Commerce De Bordeaux and as they approached O'Higgins and Roland's topmen opened fire with small arms.


5592

The O’Higgins reacted by firing her forward portside guns causing some damage to the Roland and her crew.


5593

With a full sail, and the Roland slow to react, The O’Higgins sailed through without a scratch and laid course to come about. Meanwhile the Roland and the Galvarino fired each other’s forward guns during which there was a collision.


5594.

During this action the Roland struck her colours due to massive crew loss.


5595



5597
During this action the O’Higgins manoeuvred into a position to give a stern rake to the Commerce De Bordeaux causing considerable damage and crew loss.


5599

At this point the Aquila joined in the attack laying down a broadside on the Commerce De Bordeaux’s starboard side.


5600

The Commerce De Bordeaux responded with a starboard broadside to the Aquila both ships received considerable damaged but it was the Commerce De Bordeaux that came of worse.


5661

The result was a disaster for the too confident French “Rebels” and a surprise victory for the Chileans.


5602

Out gunned and with less experienced crews on paper they should have been blown out the water but this was probably the French undoing, that and the manoeuvrability of the smaller ships and working as a pack as well as reacting faster enabled them to get first shots in (more importantly accurate first shots). Getting up close enabled them to get under the guns off the French in particularly the Commerce De Bordeaux.
Consequently Prize crews were rapidly dispatched to the French ships.



5606
This victory bodes well for the Chilean Navy and Chile in their fight with the Spanish for Independence, together with the expected arrival of Cochrane and a possible influx of experienced English sailors.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Captain Kiwi.

[Captain Kiwi]

Butcher's Bill.

[Bligh]

Nice story line Andy.
Now I can go ahead with the sequel.
Rob.

[Speedwell lass]

A very nice game between you and Rob Andy. I'm glad that you had fun whilst Elaine and I were off doing our own thing.
Eileen.

[Bligh]

The Merchantman Rose.




Having captured the two French marauders, Commodore Encalada had to decide on the redisposition of his resources. Aguila was in such bad condition that even with a jury rig it was only fit to escort the prizes back to port.




Consequently, only O'Higgins itself and Galverino continued south to greet the ship bearing Cochrane and his entourage.



The Spanish, having been alerted to the progress of the Merchantman Rose through the South Atlantic had deployed their finest Frigates from the Port of Valdivia to intercept the Admiral before he could make contact with the rebels.






Setting out on a balmy summers day in mid November the Spanish Frigates Prosepina and Mahonesa headed towards the narrow trade route along the coast towards the Chiloe Islands where they proposed to lie in wait for the Rose.




Bligh.

[Bligh]

The Merchantman Rose AAR.




Two days later, with no sign of the Rose, the Spanish ships were spotted lurking of the Islands by a topman on the O'Higgins.



With no escape route open to the Spaniards, due to prevailing winds, both sides deployed ready for action.



Using her superior maneuverability and speed, the Brig-sloop Galverino crossed the bows of Proserpina and with her battery of 32lbr double shotted Carronades reduced the Frigates bows and gun-deck to a shambles in one terrifying broadside.



Proserpina's Captain, hit by a splinter from the Mizzen mast was carried below wounded.



As Galverino swung away, all that the Spanish were able to do in retribution, was answer with their undamaged after battery hulling Galverino in two places.



It was at this point in the action that the Rose hove into sight as she rounded one of the outlying Islands.



The position of the contending forces were now deployed thus.



Prosepina's Captain put a shot across Roses bow, then turned to Starboard in an attempt to cut off the Rose from joining up with O'Higgins.



This was the act of aggression for which Cochrane was awaiting. The firing upon a British ship in international waters put the Spanish in the wrong.
Although the Rose was under gunned for action against such an adversary the insult to the British flag was unendurable and Rose raked the Frigate's bow with her paltry broadside.



The result was totally unexpected. With yet another hole in her bow and taking on water with every wave , the Frigate immediately struck to Rose.



Cochrane had his first prize even before officially taking up his post as Vice Admiral of the Chilean Navy.

Having witnessed the unexpected demise of her consort Mahonesa came about to Starboard in an attempt to escape taking Commodore Encalada in O'Higgins off guard, and raking her bows with her forrard guns as she passed.



With damaged steering the O'Higgins could but hold her course.
Nevertheless, her whole double shotted broadside was available and did good service in reducing Mahonesa's deck and rigging to a shambles.



Mahonesa's reply when it came was uncoordinated and poorly aimed doing little damage to the O'Higgins.



The firing from the tops of both ships was inconclusive as they moved away from each other on separate tacks.



Cochrane now played his part again aboard Rose. Having maintained his course toward O'Higgins he was now in a position to open with his Port battery at close range and first time of firing.



The double shotted six pounders and Carronades did there work setting fire to Mahonesa. Her reduced crew could only provide fire parties enough to get her under control, but not to effect any other course of defence.



Thus it was that she was the second Frigate that day to strike to a Merchantman.



The Rose escorted by the Peruvian Squadron and their prizes now resumed course for Valparaiso, with an exuberant Commodore Blanco Encalada, aka Capt Kiwi in command.


.
On arrival at Valparaiso a celebratory banquet was arranged by General O'Higgins, now de facto Director of the Republic.
Commodore Encalada introduced his wife to Admiral Cochrane and his wife Kitty, Lady Cochrane who became the two presiding Belles of the Ball.



As the banquet drew to its close one question nagged at Cochrane's mind. Where is Napoleon?




Bligh.

[Bligh]

The Butcher's Bill.











One Spanish Frigate sunk, one taken as a prize.

Bligh.

[Dobbs]

Rob, I'm curious. In the cases where you use double shot, it seems like you are doubling the broadside strength, then pulling the two shot types. Am I seeing that right?

[Bligh]

Morning Dobbs.
The only thing that is being added to some shots is the first time of fire bonus and the bonus for rake. In this short game most ships only got to fire the first time, mainly from both sides as it fell out.
Rob.

[Bligh]

Here are the Chilean Squadron as they will appear under Admiral Cochran.