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Thread: Imperieuse/Cochrane’s Sudden Anchor Turn

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    Default Imperieuse/Cochrane’s Sudden Anchor Turn

    “The Spartan was following the Imperieus, at less than a cable’s length distance, the ships going about three knots, when the Imperiuse was observed suddenly to swing around, with much more rapidity than any action of the helm could have produced. His Lordship immediately ordered the ship’s anchor to be let go, and the swinging round brought her starboard broadside to enfilade this gorge, by which the cavalry were instantly turned.”

    Cochrane was covering his men ashore and they were about to be cutoff from the shoreline. He was following the coast but due to the coast and wind he couldn’t present his broadside. He waited until he had a clear shot and dropped the anchor at speed to whip it around. That must have been a ride.

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    A manoeuvre known as club hauling. There's a good visual representation in "Pirates of the Caribbean" - also a less realistic one in "Battleship"

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    I believe it was also employed to get a ship off a lee shore when embayed, but I'm not sure how it was carried out in that instance.
    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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    Interesting... I know ships carried something like 5-6 anchors, some of differing configurations. I wonder which anchor type is appropriate for club hauling?

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    One you could afford to lose!
    Seriously I think it would depend very much on the type of sea bed.
    Dobbs, Dave Manley, or Texas can probably enlighten us more about all of this subject.

    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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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    I believe it was also employed to get a ship off a lee shore when embayed, but I'm not sure how it was carried out in that instance.
    Rob.
    Most likely by kedging - drop the anchor away from the ship (probably from a boat or launch), then haul the ship towards the anchor on the capstan. Hold on that anchor whilst another is rowed out and dropped, then haul to that one and recover the first. Repeat as necessary. It is one of the ways that modern landing craft recover from a beach

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    Not that one Dave. I know that method. It is a much quicker process as outlined by Aaron.
    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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    Warping is similar except you use fixed points on shore rather than anchors

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    Not that one Dave. I know that method. It is a much quicker process as outlined by Aaron.
    Rob.
    Are you talking about "springing" on an anchor, like "Magnificent" Hayes? He used a spring line on the anchor to orient the ship so that she would make the minimum amount of leeway to escape a lee shore. It's an exciting story if you can find a description.

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    A handy page about springs..... http://www.tor.cc/articles/rode.htm

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    I knew about Springing an anchor Dave, but had not actually seen the mechanics of how it was achieved.
    Thanks for leading me to that very clear explanation.

    I don't think that was what the hand break turn was about when I read it.
    It was more picking up enough way heading into the bay before the wind to give impetus for a turn to just get enough speed to claw off and escape the headland, by cutting the anchor free as it dragged the ship around.
    I did not understand how it could be done and until I saw the post by Arron had dismissed it as a load of flim flam.
    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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    It sounds like the nautical equivalent of a 'hand-brake turn'.
    Last edited by Naharaht; 03-17-2018 at 02:20.

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    Here’s a partial of the passage along with the reference notes from the back pages:

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    Last edited by Aaron; 03-16-2018 at 03:32.

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    Thanks Aaron.
    That covers what you said very well. My example must be something different.
    I only wish I could find the book it was in.
    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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    It's a Cochrane move; dangerous, insane, successful and decisive.

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    I was just turning them for you Aaron.

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    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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    Page keeps rotating on me.. tried to fix:

    Can you view this? They also have a kindle edition for download.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143113925..._gV4QAbVN9Y196

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    Just copy and paste these into your post.
    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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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    Just copy and paste these into your post.
    Rob.
    Ok fixed! I provided a link to the book but it is not a UK link. Will it still work?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Aaron View Post
    Ok fixed! I provided a link to the book but it is not a UK link. Will it still work?
    Works fine Aaron.
    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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