March 2016 - Apres le Tempete - Deuxieme Lieutenant Jean le Vagabond
Apres le Tempete
The game was played on the 8th January and I started writing this report in early February, as you will realize I'm not Speedy.
Bon soir Baptiste et Hermione it is good to see you again, a much shorter interval than last time n’est pas. Now that the dreadful Noel celebration is over and the new year starts to advance I feel like a young man again, even the climb up to Martine’s bar is not so arduous. It is still cold, the North wind blows like the Devil but the days are getting longer and the fire warms my bones. Move over Baptiste and let a man see the flames if you would be so kind.
Why Hermione that is good of you, I will have a small glass of the 98, just to loosen the tonsils you understand, your Father won’t mind if Martine pours out my normal measure, will you Baptiste. Just give the girl the money and don’t moan about the cost so much, it does you no credit in the village to be known as a mean fellow.
Ahh thank you, that tastes like the nectar of the Gods, it reminds me of that other great vintage, the 68 and the first time I ever tasted it. I was the Deuxieme Lieutenant on the Genereaux, a fine ship of the line and we had arrived off Port !!!. Do you know I’ve forgotten its name, that seems to happen more often than it used to, I don’t know why that is. No Baptiste, I don’t think it’s anything to do with my age, you should be ashamed for even thinking such a thing.
Where was I, ahh yes: we were a small squadron of 3 of the finest ships in the French Navy and were tasked with blockading Johnny Rosbif in port but the tricky fellows had slipped out before we arrived. I imagine Admiral Rochforte was perplexed; what to do next, you may well ask Hermione. If it was up to me I would have sailed straight into the harbour, landed the marines and taken the port garrison by surprise but Rochforte dithered and the moment was lost.
You are quite right Hermione, France needed more commanders like me but Rank and Privilege fell to the court lackey’s at the time and it was hard for a man of iron to progress through the ranks as he deserved.
Rochforte might have been a ditherer but he was also a lucky commander because the Rosbif squadron was sighted in the offing, so, he had no decision to make. We had the weather gauge and could command the harbour entrance as we desired.
The Rosbif squadron looked in a sorry state, rigging damaged and even a couple of top masts missing, they must have been caught in the recent storm and were trying to drag themselves back to port for repairs, well we would have them at a disadvantage.
HMS Defence led the squadron and the last ship in the line was HMS Superb, the English have such modest names for their ships don’t they. What do you mean Baptiste, yes I have sailed on a ship called Courageous but that was only fitting, every man on board was Courageous, None so much as I of course but they were a fine body of men, there is no comparison with calling your ship Superb when she was not designed by a Frenchman and built in a French Yard. How could she then be Superb?
Quite right Hermione, you explain the concept to your Father but it will take a long time to get through that thick skull of his but before that he needs to order another brandy because I’m getting a dry throat having to explain the simplest of things to him.
Let me continue while he is gone, it will be much quicker to describe the battle to you, with your quick wits and understanding of naval tactics I won’t have to draw on the table or use the beer bottles to explain the easiest manoeuvre.
Both squadrons approached in the traditional line astern, Commerce de Bordeaux our Flagship led the way, Rochforte would try and sail as close to the harbour mouth as possible to prevent the Rosbif’s from gaining the entrance. With the wind from the South they would have to be very careful not to get caught in irons, there was a small channel close inshore but it would only be a madman who would try and tack up that narrow passage and I’ve never taken the Rosbifs for madmen.
Even so, Defence sailed too close to the wind and as she turned to larboard she was taken aback and swung violently around.
Right before our eyes she ran aground on the rocky island she had been trying to avoid. She didn’t seem to be badly wounded, I’ve seen masts fall and holes that would sink a ship in minutes when a ship has run aground but she was lucky.
Yes I know that’s a relative term Hermione, it certainly isn’t lucky to run aground and stick fast when there are French ships bearing down, but you know what I mean, it could have been much worse for her.
That’s when things really started to fall apart. I think Rochforte had expected Defence to tack to starboard and gain sea room so he had ordered a turn to starboard himself so that he would be able to fire broadside to broadside. Her turn to larboard was unexpected. The second ship in the British line did turn to starboard which put Commerce de Bordeaux in a very difficult position.
Broadsides from Defence and Impertueux were fired simultaneously, Bordeaux lost her mizzen mast and was holed in 3 places, the crew died in droves, it was terrible Hermione, just terrible. Her return volley started a fire on Impetueux and a couple of sails were shredded but nothing like the damage suffered by Bordeaux.
They were so close that the Marines were firing muskets from the tops and even if Bordeaux gave as good as she took she was in a desperate situation. The fire on Impetueux might have been caused by burning wadding from Bordeaux’s cannon, but no one will ever know for sure.
Our 2nd ship Le Swiftsure turned to larboard to avoid Bordeaux and obviously couldn’t see forward due the pall of smoke from the guns.
She ran straight into Impetueux damaging both ships although I expect Impetueux took more damage from being hit amidships. The impact must have created havoc on the gun deck because they didn’t fire their guns, or maybe they were still reloading them, I’m not sure at all because I was busy at the time.
Well Baptiste – you took your time, my throat has almost closed with the lack of fluid but I see Madame has poured a generous measure so I may continue. Please just sit quietly so that I can continue my story to your daughter, see how her eyes are aglow with anticipation, she knows that the next ship to enter the fight will be Genereaux and that there will be brave deeds a plenty when my ship enters the fray.
It was mayhem Mademoiselle, Le Swiftsure slid down the side of Impetueux and into Bellona the 3rd ship in the Rosbif line, but Bellona fired a full broadside down the length of Swiftsure as she approached.
I had been given command of the main gun deck on Genereaux but Capitaine Le Rue demanded I aim the guns high, go for the men and the rigging he commanded, as you know I’ve always said that this is foolishness, but I couldn’t disobey a direct order after it had been given in front of the whole gun deck.
Commerce de Bordeaux had slide beneath the waves, only her masts were showing above the white caps and the Genereaux’s crew had taken casualties but the ship was standing up to the fire from HMS Defence as well as a stoutly built French ship should.
I couldn’t see what was happening with Le Swiftsure because of all the smoke, it was like Lucifer’s furnace over there, although I could imagine the chaos between decks.
The smoke started to clear a little and I could see Le Swiftsure fire a broadside from the stern to the stem of Bellona and then there was a resounding sound, the splintering of wood rather than canon fire and I believe two of the Rosbifs ships collided, Superb hit Bellona amidships, causing significant damage and almost immediately flames licked up the mast and sails of Bellona.
Then without warning Genereaux stopped dead in the water, I found out later that we had run straight into the stern of Impetueux, men fell everywhere with the impact. We were fortunate in that with my encouragement the men had loaded and were able to fire the forward starboard battery at long range into Superb before the collision. Their mizzen mast toppled into the sea, just as I saw a flicker of flame amidships.
Superb had fired on Swiftsure who had fired on Defence, it was mayhem Mademoiselle, but I can see in your eyes you know that and you feel the excitement of combat that all true Frenchmen know when we are engaged with our enemies.
Defence slowly foundered but many of her crew were able to clamber ashore and were saved a watery death unlike the crew on Impetueux. The collision had been the final straw and she sank right in front of us. We rescued some but most of the crew went down with the ship.
Bellona was well and truly ablaze by now and I doubted that they would be able to put out such an inferno.
Moments later I was proven correct as she slid beneath the waves, steam rose in a huge cloud as she went down and the few remaining crew jumped in the water, most to their deaths.
In the distance I could see Superb turn away and flee from the carnage, with 3 gallant ships of the line sunk in front of his eyes, I’m not surprised that the Captain decided to save the last remaining ship of the squadron.
Shortly after the Bellona went down our brave Swiftsure followed her to a watery death. We lowered our boats and rescued as many men as we could. It did mean that Superb escaped but it was the right thing for my Capitaine to do even though there was a Court of Inquiry into his actions some months later.
The ship logs for the glorious Royal Navy, hopefully they are readable.
The ships logs for the glorious Franche La Marine.
A resounding victory for our Navy and it presaged a promotion for a young Deuxieme Lieutenant Jean le Vagabond, who was soon to become Premier Lieutenant Jean le Vagabond after this famous victory.
Thank you Hermione I would like a final glass of the 98 to celebrate our victory so long ago now and then I must wend my way down that interminable hill and to my bed, it has been a pleasure to see you again and tell tales of stirring exploits on the sea serving in the French Navy. Hopefully it will not be so long until we meet again.
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Originally Posted by ShadowDragon
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