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Thread: AAR: The blockade of Saint Domingue in four rounds: How can France win this scenario?

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    Default AAR: The blockade of Saint Domingue in four rounds: How can France win this scenario?

    Introduction

    At our last meeting before the summer break, three of us played the scenario "The Blockade of Saint Domingue" from the official scenario document (https://www.aresgames.eu/download/21069/).

    When reading the conditions we already agreed that it would be extremely difficult or impossible for France to win the scenario. The outcome predicted by everyone was that the French frigate would get through while both SoL would be either boarded or destroyed.
    What did surprise us was how quickly this happened: After four turns the game was over, with the outcome predicted by everyone.




    Starting setup: On the left edge of the picture the two French 74s Jupiter and Fougueux and the frigate Gloire, on the right in the first row from bottom to top the British 74s HMS Orion and HMS Illustrious, in the second row from bottom to top HMS Kent, HMS Goliath, HMS Ajax.



    The battle




    Round 1




    Round 2 sees the first fierce firefights: Jupiter is raked by HMS Orion and taken under fire by HMS Illustrious, HMS Illustrious in turn gets broadsides from Jupiter and Fougueux.






    By round 3, almost all the SoL are involved in some way:
    Jupiter fires on both sides, doing heavy damage to HMS Orion, but is simultaneously fired upon by HMS Orion and HMS Kent.
    HMS Ajax has rammed the Fougueux to be able to board it in the next turn, and the Fougueux is raked by HMS Illustrious.





    In turn 4 the game is over:
    The Jupiter is forced to drop the flag after a broadside from HMS Goliath, which has not yet taken an active part in the battle, and the Fougueux loses its last crewmen in the boarding battle.
    The frigate Gloire, on the other hand, has already sailed out of the picture and can now leave the field with full sails, uncatchable by any British ship.

    The Butcher's bill











    Conclusion

    Even though the game ended as expected by everyone and none of us had any idea how the French could have won it, we were surprised by the partly heavy damage on the British SoL. HMS Orion had to retreat from the battle burning and leaking, also HMS Illustrious had already suffered heavy damage. And HMS Ajax, although little involved in the battle, had already lost 4 crews.
    The most difficult thing for us as the British players, because of the very tight starting setup positions of the ships, was to coordinate the first moves so that the ships would get clear and not collide with each other. Collisions within the British squadron would of course open up victory opportunities for the French. But if the British don't make any mistakes, we don't think the French have a chance in this scenario.

    Translated with help of www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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