Two Lucky Broadsides

[CptHellride]

Date: 26.04.1756
Atlantic, 12:00 UTC,
Wind: 5 BFT, North, North-West.

British Fleet
HMS Queen Charlotte 1st Rate Explode -> Lord Richard Howe, Admiral of the White KIA
HMS London 2nd Rate Dismasted -> Thomas Graves, Rear Admiral of the Blue KIA
HMS Intrepid 4th Rate Heavy Damaged -> Cpt. Edward Hughes
HMS Deptford 4th Rate Light Damaged ->Cpt. John Amherst
HMS Amazon 5th Rate No Damage ->Cpt. Carthew Reynolds

French Fleet
Duc du Bourgogne 3rd Rate Heavy Damaged -> Chef de Escadre. Charles-Henri-Louis d´Arsac
Conquérant 3rd Rate Light Damaged -> Cpt. Charles-Marie de la Grandiére
Fougueux 3rd Sunken -> Cpt. Louis Alexis Baudouin KIA
Redoutable 3rd No Damage -> Cpt. Pieree-André de Glandevés du Castellet
Guérier 3rd Light Damage -> Cpt. René Villars de la Bosse-Raquin


Toward noon, an enemy French squadron was sighted west of the British squadron. The British Commander Howe decidet to engage. Both Fleets running downwind. The british changed the course, tried to cross the bow of the French.








Both Squadrons turned a bit in Front of the wind, but the british maneuver fails. The french fleet was faster and get the chance to cross the bow of the british squadron.



HMS London fired a Broadside and hit Fouquex hard. But she had the chance to cross the bow of London and fired a full broadside on the rigg. The damage was really heavy, the rigg immediately catched fire. HMS London lost her speed immediately.
To avoid a collision, the next ship in the Line, HMS Intrepid had only a chance to turn to port and leave London on starboard. After this maneuver Intrepid fired a second broadside inside Fouqueux.


The rest of the british squadron hat no chance to follow the Intrepid, the line was broken up. There was no space, so they must turn to starboard, leave the London on port.

London and Intrepid frired broadside after broadside into the french line. Fouqueux in front of the french line got some heavy hits. Londons rigg was still burning, and Tomas Graves got wounded.

The Queen Charlotte finally passed the London on starbord and fired her first broadside into the Fouqueux. The damage was disastrous! The Fouqueux was shortly before strike her colors, but they stand and fight! Intrepid tried two times to grapple the damaged ship but it fails.







London lost the Rigg!



On Front, the both Ships Queen Charlotte, and Duc du Bourgogne firing broadside after Broadside. One hit set´s Queen Charlotte Hull on Fire! After the failed grapple, the Intrepid fired another broadside on Intrepid. After this broadside the ship finally sinks.


The Guérier fired a last distance shot on London and hit Thomas Graves, Rear Admiral of the Blue badly, he was killed in action. 5 Minutes later Lord Richard Howe, Admiral of the White, on Queen Charlotte got woundet by a broadside from Duc du Bourgogne. The british squadron tried to build a new formation line.


The Guérier fires another broadside in the Queen Charlotte and makes her name all honor! The ammunition chamber is hit and the ship explodes!


With no commander, and heavy damage, the british Squadron decided to escape.



with three damaged ships, the french fleet decidet to let them go. A hard fight with two lucky shots!