26 Attachment(s)
AAR - Septembers Mission: The Fog.
Septembers Mission : Into the fog.
Lord Henry Percy laid out his instructions to all of his captains, “We will sail in line of battle, Dunkirk leading followed by Northumberland, the Flag Ship, Alnwick, Africa, & Morpeth. This will allow us to operate as 2 separate division should the need arise. We know there is a French force operating in the area and we will attempt to bring them to battle. Should we run into fog, which at this time of the year is a possibility, the squadron will close up 2 ship lengths apart, reduce sail put a lantern on the rear of the ship and remain in line. If a ship is dismasted, boarded, runs afoul or is otherwise incapable of continuing, then the others will pass them by to port and continue. The last ship in line will try and take them under tow or render what assistance they can. God speed gentlemen.”
The captains made their way back to their respective commands and soon after the signal was hoisted, form line of battle.
Attachment 27613
Captain Jack Union could not believe his eyes as the fog rolled in. “Keep an eye on the flag for signals he shouted, shorten sail and light the stern lantern.”
The cry of Sail ho on the stbd beam brought Jack out of the doldrums, “Prepare to fire on my command......” “Tis a frenchie, a 74...” “steady lads, steady”.
Attachment 27614
The French 74 was late in spotting the frigate and both ships fired their fwd division of guns. “Fire as you bare”. Shouted Jack as the thunderous reply from the 74 smashed into his smaller ship.
Attachment 27615
The 74 kept turning to stbd and both gunwales crashed into each other as the 74 heeled over and past the frigate.
Attachment 27616
Further down the line a 2nd French 74 had been spotted, sailing away from the British line.
Attachment 27617
Jack was struggling with the 74 at the front of the line. Musket shots rang out as crew fevourishly tried to reload the guns.
Attachment 27618
Africa opened fire on the slowly disappearing 2nd 74. They were rewarded by seeing a glow start then grow bigger as the 74 was enveloped in fog.
Attachment 27619
Attachment 27620
As the 74 passed the Dunkirk Jack shouted fire as his guns were reloaded. The French replied and marines on both ships discharged muskets as shot and ball scoured both ships.
Attachment 27621
A final flurry of musket fire and Jack knew that the Dunkirk had taken a beating it would be hard to recover from. The French 74 glided away to stbd towards the safety of the mist.
Attachment 27622
Africa and Alnwick watched the 2nd French 74 coasting in and out of the fog but keeping pace with them, out of harms way. What were they doing?
Attachment 27623
Jacks torment wasn’t over as the French 74 fired a last time with its rear division and the shot slammed effortlessly into Dunkirk. The ensign at the rear fluttered away as the 74 disappeared into the fog.
Attachment 27624
“They think we struck our colours. Damn the arrogance of that French ship, hear them cheer. This wasn’t a contest just murder. Someone find me a new ensign to fly and for gods sake a lantern too.
HMS Northumberland sailed past to port and the crew raised a hearty cheer as some of the crew able to stand on Dunkirks decks waved them on.
Jack peered over the bow and to stbd as another shape loomed out of the fog. He shuddered, it was another French 74!
Attachment 27625
Only this time they engaged Northumberland and Dunkirk was spared what surely would have been a death blow.
Attachment 27626
Northumberland closed the range and with gun ports open fired a full broadside into the French 74. The French 74 lost its foremast and Jack could see it was holed badly on the waterline. A loose sail fluttered in the light breeze.
Attachment 27627
Muskets thundered as the 2 74’s closed and crews reloaded guns. Royal Sovereign turned to stabd and engaged the French 74 now tangled with Northumberland. Jack looked on in horror as a 3rd French 74 loomed out of the fog and followed Sovereign. Luckily Alnwick was on hand and fired into the 74 as the 74 fired back.
Attachment 27628
The captain on Africas’ poop deck looked on as the 74 that was shadowing the squadron to port changed direction and turned to stbd followed by a 2nd 74!
Attachment 27629
Attachment 27630
Northumberland got the better of a swift boarding action and the French 74 struck.
Attachment 27631
Alnwick, its well trained crew having reloaded the guns in double quick time, fired a full broadside into the fleeing 74. The stern of the 74 disappeared into matchwood and a fire was soon raging aboard.
Attachment 27632
Africa turned it’s attention to the 2 closing 74’s managing to rake the lead ship as Morpeth joined in, taking a full broadside in return.
Attachment 27633
Northumberlands job wasn’t finished, with a much depleted crew they were still able to fire into the fleeing French 74, causing another fire to break out.
Attachment 27634
Africa and the 74 collided and boarding ropes were thrown as the call came out in French and English, ‘Boarders away’, just as Morpeth closed and slammed a close range weight of shot and ball into the French 74’s lower decks.
Attachment 27635
Assailed by 2 British ships the French 74 struck its colours.
Attachment 27636
Butchers Bill:
Attachment 27637
French 74 (1) 6 damage/5 crew lost/RTP.
French 74 (2) 35 damage/10 crew lost/Struck.
French 74 (3) 32 damage/RTP
French 74 (4) 39 damage/10 crew lost/struck.
French 74 (5) 40 damage/4 crew lost/RTP
Total: 152 damage/29 crew lost/2 ships struck
Attachment 27638
HMS Dunkirk: 17 damage/9 crew lost/struck but not captured/RTP
HMS Northumberland: 15 damage/10 crew lost/RTP
HMS Royal Sovereign: 0 damage/0 crew lost/ RTP
HMSAlnwick: 14 damage/2 crew lost/RTP
HMS Africa: 29 damage/ 8 crew lost/RTP
HMS Morpeth: 8 damage/1 crew lost/RTP
Total: 83 damage/30 crew lost/2 ships captured.
