Limping to Safety

[Continentaleye]

Scenario: March 1779. The Bonhomme Richard has just weathered a severe storm off the coast of France but lost a mast in the process. Part of the ship’s officers and crew had been assigned to prize crews prior to the storm. Captain Jones decides to sail to the nearest French port for repairs.

As the sun rises, the port, protected by Fort Angelique, comes into view. So does the British 74 Vanguard who has been on patrol duty on the French coast. The race is on. The French frigate Courageuse is at anchor inside the harbor and it is unknown if she will be able to weigh anchor and make sail in time to assist the Bonhomme Richard.

Rules: The SGN advanced rules are in place with the exception that the mast cannot be repaired. The Bonhomme Richard will take the most direct path to the harbor. It begins the game minus one mast and with two crew boxes filled in to represent the absence of the crew assigned to prizes. Fort Angelique and the Courageuse are controlled by AI. A standard 52-card deck of cards with one added joker is used to determine when the Courageuse is activated. A card is drawn at the beginning of each turn. If a face card is drawn, the Courage begins weighing anchor and can get underway at the beginning of the fourth turn after the draw. If an ace is drawn, she cuts cables and may move at the beginning of the second turn after the draw. If the joker is drawn, the Captain of the Courageuse will not join the fight. If after five draws, no joker or activating card has been drawn, the ship begins to weigh anchor and may get underway at the beginning of the ninth turn.



“Ahoy on the Deck. Strange sail two points off the larboard bow.”

Captain Favorsham scanned the horizon with his spyglass. “It looks to be that American pirate that’s been terrorizing our merchants. Better yet, she appears to be missing her foremast. Mr. Jameston, clear for action. Helmsman, we’ll sail between the two islands. Bring us as close as you can to the shore of the starboard one as to block us from the guns of the fort. With any luck, we’ll pass in front of the pirate.”

But that was not to be the case as the Bonhomme Richard drew first blood when it raked the Vanguard’s bow causing minor hull damage and killing some of the crew. To make matters worse, activity was spotted on the French ship (a face card was drawn at the beginning of the fourth turn).



“Ah good, we shall cross her stern then,” Favorsham said evenly. “Fire as you bear.” The guns exploded but to Favorsham’s chagrin, only caused minimal damage to the American ship. “I expect better next time.”

He was not disappointed. The Vanguard was able to reload and unleash a punishing broadside through the stern of the Bonhomme Richard causing severe damage to the hull and rudder and killing a great many of its crew. But it was not enough, the ship entered the harbor and safety just as the French frigate was leaving to enter the fray. “Let’s have a go at that Frenchman, seems he’s coming out to play,” said Favorsham. The helmsman turned the ship to starboard nervously as he knew he was turning the Vanguard towards the fort and into the wind.



The two ships passed each other only yards apart broadside to broadside. The sound of the musketry fire of the marines from both ships was drowned out by the thunder of the cannons. The fort, unwilling to risk hitting their own frigate just watched the devastation. When the smoke cleared, The Vanguard’s rudder had been damaged and many of its crew lay dead or dying and, it was headed straight at the guns of the fort. The French ship suffered even more severe damage but its crew had not lost the will to fight.



The Vanguards worked furiously to repair the rudder and reload the guns as the two ships circled each other. For a brief moment the Vanguard was facing into the wind. This is the moment Fort Angelique decide to fire and pounded the British ship causing a fire on deck.



Favorsham’s only course of action was to try and put the island between his ship and the fort. To do so would put him broadside to broadside with the Courageuse once again but this time not close enough for the marines to engage. This exchange of fire was even more devastating than the first, and when the smoke cleared, it could be seen that both ships had lost a mast and many more men.



It was time to disengage but Favorsham knew the fort would be able to fire once more on the Vanguard before it was out of range. He heard the shots from the fort followed by the sound of wood splintering and he heard the order to man the pumps. At least the frigate was no longer a threat as he watched it head towards the harbor. Favorsham cursed his luck. Now it was the Vanguard’s turn to limp back to safety and it would be a longer journey than the one of the Bonhomme Richard.