18 Attachment(s)
AAR: Decembers Solo Mission - For King and Country (2)
To save confusion I'm posting the AAR here:
Decembers Solo Mission – For King and Country
Sir Henry Bonneville was ill. Yesterday he had took a fever and taken to his bed. He did not even stir when Captain Turner rejoined the fleet en route to attack the French squadron at Praia de Vitoria on Terceira.
When Captain Trimble, his flag captain, informed him of the outcome Sir Henry could barely groan his displeasure. Sir Henry fell into unconsciousness before he could issue orders. The captain’s conference arranged by Captain Trimble fell into argument after argument.
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Captain Turner argued that it was pointless taking on the French Squadron as they were hopelessly outnumbered. Captain Trimble pointed out that if Captain Turner hadn’t let the 1st rate and 74 escape the blockade and the bomb vessel was sea worthy, they wouldn’t be ‘hopelessly outnumbered’, as Captain Turner had put it.
With the bomb vessel out of action and the escape of the French ships it would mean a battle in open water not the action Sir Henry had foreseen. To make matters worse Sir Henry had fallen unconscious again and it fell to the senior captain, Captain Trimble to issue the orders.
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The squadron would sail line astern of HMS Hastings with HMS Dover 2nd, followed by the 3 74’s and HMS Morpeth bringing up the rear. HMS Dunkirk under Captain Union was to stand off the starboard side of the squadron and act as a repeater. He hoped the combined fire power of the 2 1st rates would engage the first 2 French ships then these could be engaged in turn by the 74’s as they sailed down the line. HMS Morpeth if possible would take the French ships as prizes should they strike.
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The fleet got underway at noon that day. Early next morning the masthead lookout on HMS Hastings spotted strange sail to the east. It had to be the French and as the wind was from the south both fleets were sailing on a converging course.
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Both fleets turned at roughly the same time. It would be line against line. Captain Trimble noted that the big French 1st rate led the way followed by an 80 gun ship then the 4 74’s. A fifth 74, presumably the badly damaged one, had pulled out of the line and taken up position to port to act as a repeater he thought.
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Captain Trimble noted the opposing squadrons would pass port side to port side. So The British would retain the wind gauge.
“The Frenchman has turned to port sir, he intends to cross our bow” cried Trimble’s 1st officer. He could do nought but sail ahead!
“Helm to port”. Cried Captain Turner. This unexpected maneuver by the French had nearly caught Captain Turner by surprise. But there was no sea room to starboard of the Flagship he had had no choice!
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HMS Dover heeled over to port and just missed the stern gallery of HMS Hastings as Hastings and Commerce de Marseilles (118) opened fire. HMS Dover fired on the 2nd French ship as that ship raked HMS Hasting from bow to stern. The British line was in disarray!
HMS Hastings took a sever mauling from the French ships. The French had done to him what he had proposed to do to the French.
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The damage to Pluto (80) was minor.
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Commerce de Marseilles foremast came down heavily, but as a fire started on Commerce de Marseilles a similar fire had started on HMS Hastings. Crew lay scattered around Hastings decks. The helm had been shot away, Captain Trimble was informed that the ship had sprung a leak on the starboard side but the main danger was the fire.
Captain Turner saw that the flagship was embroiled with Pluto and steered a course around HMS Hastings.
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Taken aback as she suddenly swung to port as the British line followed. HMS Alnwick (74) raked the Jupiter (74) as her guns came to bare. Commerce de Marseilles could only watch as HMS Alnwick presented her stern but could not fire as she was still reloading!
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Captain Turner knew he had to brave the fire from the French line, ship after ship. ‘Damn Trimble, his plan has come to nought and it is we who are in harms way!’ He thought to himself. His crew reloading faster than they had ever done before fired another broadside into Jupiter as Alnwick followed suit. The lower gun deck of HMS Hastings added what weight she could, Jupiter was all but wrecked!
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A fierce boarding action was being fought between Pluto and HMS Hastings when the French lower battery fired and the shot ripped through the bow of HMS Dover. Sir Henry fell, so did Captain Trimble. No officer stood on deck as the ensign fluttered down.
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“The flagship has struck sir, you are now in command”, the 1st officer on board HMS Dover informed Captain Turner.
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Commerce de Marseilles had broken free but had taken fire from HMS Bengal and Hyperion she was not about to take fire from a third!
At the rear of the British line Captain Wright aboard Morpeth looked on in horror as Commerce de Marseilles came into view. Straddled by Hyperions broadside the French reply crashed across Morpeth’s decks causing death and mayhem everywhere.
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The Frenchman had also fired on the Dunkirk as Captain Union hauled away.
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The fleets positions, HMS Hastings having struck to Pluto. (TBC)