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It is only six days until International Naval Wargaming Day. Tuesday August 6th is the day when naval wargamers all around the world celebrate the birth of naval wargaming and that of Fred T Jane. So get yourself a game organised, solo or with friends and let the world know here, on Facebook, blogs and wargaming sites what you got up to :)
Right Dave! Thanks for the Heads up. Now my games room is back up and running I will see what I can do.
Rob.
Awesome, looking forward to seeing what you come up with
Have to work... :surrender:
That,s a shame Sven.
I suppose you could sail in advance, and just post it on the day.
Rob.
I will have a go at a game myself
This idea for my game came from the post by Coog for today in 2012.
On This Day 6 August.
6 August 1805, Contre-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois in the 74-gun Marengo, accompanied by the 40-gun Belle Poule, discovered a convoy of eleven large ships sailing eastwards along the trade route from the Cape to Madras at 19°09′S 81°22′E. Closing to investigate the convoy, which was shrouded in fog, Linois was again cautious, unwilling to engage until he was certain that no Royal Navy ships lay among the East Indiamen. At 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) distance it became clear that one of the ships was certainly a large warship, flying a pennant indicating the presence of an admiral on board. This ship was HMS Blenheim, a ship of the line built in 1761 as a 90-gun second rate but recently cut down to 74-guns. She was commanded by Captain Austen Bissell and flew the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge, a prominent officer who had been sent to the Indian Ocean to assume command of half of Pellew's responsibilities after a political compromise at the Admiralty. Troubridge's flagship was the convoy's only escort, leading ten East Indiamen through the Indian Ocean to Madras.
As at Pulo Aura, the Indiamen formed line in preparation for Linois's attack, and once again Linois refused to engage them directly: Blenheim was a powerful ship capable of inflicting fatal damage on Marengo even if the French managed to defeat her, an uncertain outcome given the presence of the heavily armed merchant ships. Instead, Linois swung in behind the convoy, hoping to cut off a straggler. These maneuvers were too complex for a poorly manned East Indiaman, Brunswick, that had been taken as a prize on 11 July, and she fell out of the French formation and was soon left behind, disappearing over the horizon. At 17:30, Marengo pulled within range of the rearmost East Indiaman and opened a long-range fire, joined by Belle Poule. The rear ship Cumberland, a veteran of the Battle of Pulo Aura, was unintimidated and returned fire as Blenheim held position so that the convoy passed ahead and the French ships rapidly came up with her. Opening a heavy fire with the main deck guns, Troubridge was able to drive the French ships off, even though his lower deck guns were out of service due to the heavy seas that threatened to flood through the lower gunports. Linois, concerned for the safety of his masts, pressed on all sail and by 18:00 had gone beyond range of Blenheim's guns and overtaken the convoy, remaining within sight until nightfall.
At midnight, the French ships crossed the bows of the convoy and by morning were 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) to windward, to the south. Troubridge maintained his line throughout the night and at 07:00 on 7 August 1805 he prepared to receive the French again as Linois bore down on the convoy. Retaining their formation, the combined batteries of the Indiamen and Blenheim dissuaded Linois from the pressing the attack and he veered off at 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) distance, holding position for the rest of the day before turning southwards at 21:00 and disappearing. Troubridge wanted to pursue in Blenheim, but was dissuaded by the presence of Belle Poule, which could attack the convoy while the ships of the line were engaged. He expressed confidence however that he would have been successful in any engagement and wrote "I trust I shall yet have the good fortune to fall in with him when unencumber'd with convoy". Linois's withdrawal was prudent: his mainmast had been struck during the brief cannonade and was at risk of collapse if the engagement continued. Losses among the crew were light, Marengo suffering eight men wounded and Belle Poule none. British casualties were slightly heavier, a passenger on Blenheim named Mr. Cook was killed by langrage shot and a sailor was killed on the Indiaman Ganges by a roundshot. No British ships suffered anything more than superficial damage in the combat, and the convoy continued its journey uninterrupted, arriving at Madras on 23 August.
I decided to just use the ships which are named in the action, with three more to represent the rest of the convoy.
They would only be allowed one broadside per ship to reflect the small crew who could not reload and sail the ships. Only Blenheim and Cumberland who I classed as an armed Indiaman.
The Brunswick was only allowed to proceed on backing sails to reflect her slow speed in the action.
With these caveats in place the action was then allowed to progress as it happened with the French controlled by AI.
Here you see the set up for the commencement of the action.
Attachment 44942
I will attempt to get the rest of the action up tomorrow.
Rob.
AAR 6th of August 1805.
The Convoy and HMS Blenheim commanded by Captain Bissell, and the French Squadron under Linois aboard Marengo come into view of each other.
Attachment 44947
Captain Bissell wears ship in order to get the first broadside in, doing considerable damage an setting Marengo on fire.
Attachment 44948
Meanwhile Cumberland also wears to try and protect the rest of the Merchantmen.
Attachment 44949
As Linois alters course to try and cut the line aft of the Blenheim, Bissell ports his helm even more to try for a passing broadside.
Attachment 44950
Both ships trade broadsides but Marengo firing double shot and having first fire advantage does serious damage to Blenheim whilst the first Merchant squeezes past Linois' bow.
Attachment 44951
Marengo now sees his chance to cut the line and take two Merchantmen but is caught by their fore and aft discharge.
Attachment 44952
Attachment 44953
Linois replys with the only loaded guns to bear and savages one of the Merchantmen.
Attachment 44954
As Blenheim comes about Cumberland on its way to deal with the Frigate Belle Poule, gives the Marengo it's best broadside, rekindling the fire started by Blenhiem.
Attachment 44955
Attachment 44956
In so doing Cumberland leaves herself open to a bow rake from the Belle Poule and is set on fire in her turn.
Attachment 44957
Attachment 44958
Marengo, however with her fire running out of control is forced to surrender to the two Merchantmen as Blenheim threatens to rake her stern.
Attachment 44959
Attachment 44960
Belle Poule was now metering out some more punishment to Blenheim from her forrard batteries, including severe crew casualties on the main deck.
Attachment 44961
With a swift tack Blenheim turned the tables and brought her as yet unused broadside to bear. the swift turn, and her many casualties prevented it from being the coup de grace which Captain Bissell had intended.
Attachment 44962
Even the fire from the rearmost Indiaman could not prevent Belle Poule slipping through the net.
Attachment 44963
Cumberland with guns unloaded could only contribute by exchanging small arms fire with the Frigate.
Attachment 44964
Cumberland giving up on the Belle Poule now set off in pursuit of the slower French Indiaman Brunswick who had arrived too late to take part in the action and was now making off.
Attachment 44965
Belle Poule heading in the opposite direction used her remaining guns in an attempt to cripple the rearmost Indiaman as she passed.
Attachment 44966
Blenheim now crossed her rear and fired a broadside into the Frigate.
Attachment 44967
Once again she was miraculously saved from terminal damage.
Her Captain knowing that the jig was up still had the effrontery to give the Blenheim a parting shot from his rear battery.
Attachment 44968
Intent on putting as much distance between himself and the British liner he turned with the wind on his aft quarter and piled on as much sail as his wounded ship could carry.
Attachment 44969
A desperate final attempt by Blenheim to rake the Frenchman's stern came to naught and the Belle Poule escaped to fight again , but that is quite another story.
Attachment 44970
Attachment 44971
Bligh.
.
Butcher's Bill.
The British ships which saw action.
Attachment 44972
Attachment 44973
Attachment 44974
Attachment 44975
The French Squadron and their fates.
Attachment 44976
Attachment 44977
Attachment 44978
From this re-enactment it would appear that Linois was correct in his assessment of the strength of the British convoy and HMS Blenheim. However, things may have been played out very differently if Marengo had not suffered those two debilitating fires?
Bligh.
A great aar, enjoyed reading and the action was first class
Thanks Chris.
I hope Dave thinks I have done him justice. Just spotted the Rep Chris. Thank you also for that.
Rob.
Excellent stuff, and in the finest traditions of the day :)
Thanks Dave.
High praise indeed. I am glad you like it, and that I managed to find an action relevant to the date.
Rob.
A great A.A.R., Rob! :thumbsup::salute:
Nice AAR, Rob.
Unlucky approach of the Marengo at all... :hmmm:
The luck of the AI Sven. It should have done better with that first Broadside. If Blenheim had carried straight on it would have been a stern rake too.
Rob.
Thanks for the Rep Sven and Dave.
Rob.
Great action and photos. storey telling not bad as well. Long time since I have seen a large and complicated action Mr manly and yourself deserve some recognition points for the idea and the action
WELL DONE!
Thanks Andy and thanks also for the Rep.
Rob.
Grand action report, the name tags help but your writing style makes it all very clear what is happening. An enjoyable read.
Cheers
Again thanks John for the very nice crit. I am glad you like the Name cards. I intend to extend them to my Wings AAR's as soon as I get time. Some of my colleagues on there already do this.
If you enjoyed this you may like the AAR's we have done in the Solo campaign threads.
Rob.
Thanks for the info, I have been reading some of the old Solo Campaign games, I started with the oldest and I'm up to 2017 although I keep forgetting where I've got to, I'm just not organised enough to bookmark where I've got to. :happy:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bligh
You will find that the die out about the middle of 18 John. after that only I completed the year, and with no other contributors so far this year I have stopped writing them for now although I know that Captain Kiwi has played at least two of them, it is easier for us to just game together. if enough interest is shown i may re institute the Solo campaign.
Rob.