Just finished playing this. Another corker scenario to play. Will post the AAR later tonight.
Just finished playing this. Another corker scenario to play. Will post the AAR later tonight.
Did you have fun? Anxious to see how it all turned out. :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Union Jack
Yes I did. Had just about everything in it.
Great to hear! That, after all is said and done, is what it's all about!! :happy:Quote:
Originally Posted by Union Jack
(Using herkeybirds solo sheets (similar to the WoG sheets he posted on the sister site))
Treasure Islands:
Soon after their arrival in Gibraltar with the treasure ship Captain Jack Union and Captain George Belfrey were summoned to the Admirals cabin at Gibraltar. Seemingly he wanted to know where the gold off the treasure ship had gone. Jack had no knowledge. The admiral was none to pleased and dismissed both captains with a wave of his hand.
Later they were summoned again. One of the prisoners had talked and let slip that they had stopped off several times in the Azores and his captain had arranged for the gold to be hidden and retrieved at a later date. However, there was some confusion as to just where these different hoards were hidden. He knew the island but only that each hoard was buried by a group of 3 palm trees with a fourth lying between the trunks of the other 3. Jack was tasked with sailing to the Azores and retrieving the gold. Both captains were given specific search areas and were told not to come back without the gold.
Some days later HMS Beaver lay off the Azores sailing north towards the island of San Georges just south east of Calheta. There were four small islets and the main coast line to search and the only area around the island where palm trees grew in clumps. No sense in hanging around as Jack ordered full sail to catch the light breeze and headed for the eastern end of his search area. No sooner had they approached an islet when the sharp eyed lookout cried “sail ho. Bearing so’ west”. Jack sprang to the port rail and trained his eyes until he saw the sail.’ Damn a Spaniard!’ He thought to himself. No sense in panicking, yet. Jack ordered the ship to clear for action and prepared to slow down and drop a party off in the gig.
Attachment 12284
With time on his hands the gig was dropped and quickly rowed across to the small rocky islet with 3 palm trees. 15 minutes later the bosun’s mate waved the red flag he had. Success. Retrieval took awhile and the two chests were taken below.
Attachment 12285
It seemed the Spaniard too was after the gold as he sailed between two islets himself and lowered a boat.
Attachment 12286
Jack had meanwhile turned west along the coast and had dropped off another boat. No luck this time. Damn!
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The Spaniard had had no luck with his first landing but as he neared the far side of the headland he dropped another boat with more success.
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Jack was having no luck at the second small islet he had passed. He was also trying to gauge the reactions of the Spanish frigate to their own search. At sometime they would engage.
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As the Beaver lay hove too the Spaniard, with his lateen rigged frigate managed to close and fire a broadside into HMS Beaver. “Rudder’s hit sir”, called out from the sailing master. Slowly getting under way the Beaver tacked round the islet, which gave them some cover. It also gave the sailing master and his repair crew time to repair the minor damage to the rudder.
Attachment 12290
Jack seeing the Spaniard was bow on as the Beaver rounded the islet ordered Fire as you bear” to the starboard gun captains. The Spanish frigate reeled at the terrific blow that Beaver had dished out. Canon balls flying over the deck had laid flat many of the crew and to make matters worse one of the carefully aimed balls had struck the fore mast bringing down the sail.
Attachment 12291
Jack’s well trained crew had repaired all the damage sustained by the Spaniards opening salvo.
Attachment 12292
Not so the poor Spanish frigate.
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But the Spaniard was game and came on trying to close and board the Beaver. Jack turned north again as the Spaniard fired with their forward starboard guns. At close range the damage was sustainable.
Attachment 12294Attachment 12295
Starboard broadside reloaded, Jack ordered the guns to fire again.
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Caught changing direction a few balls had skimmed the waves and struck the Spaniard below the waterline. The remainder flung sailors out of the rigging as they changed sail. The Spaniard tried to reply.
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Jack’s attention was on the Spaniard and he took the Beaver too close to the headland. He mistimed his tack!
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Having caught up to the Beaver the Spaniard raked the Beaver from stern to stem.
Attachment 12299
Then suddenly, instead of closing and finishing the Beaver off the Spaniard turned and continued on with hunting down the gold. Jack wondered if the Spaniard thought they had chased him off. Well they were in for a surprise. Needing time to fix the leak caused by the last broadside from the Spaniard, Jack hove too in the lee of an islet and decided to search it whilst the repairs where being carried out. Another red flag, success. They had found two of the four hoards they were looking for. They were definitely in the right place.
Attachment 12300
The Spaniard had sailed into range and Jack ordered the starboard battery to engage the enemy again.
Attachment 12301
With no where left to search the Spaniard realised that the British frigate must have found the rest of the gold. The Spaniard closed on the Beaver. Jack prepared his crew. Hidden below, out of sight, were the marines and the port battery crewmen all armed with pistols and muskets. The starboard battery was ready to fire at close range. They fired at the same time. Beaver’s crew outnumbered the Spanish crew and it told. The broadside blasted some lumps out of the side of the Spanish as their broadside replied in kind. But as they closed further Jack’s men stood up and fired a devastating volley into the Spanish waiting to board. Their captain down and most crewmen either dead or wounded the Spaniard struck its colours.
Attachment 12302
Jack now in possession of all 4 gold hoards and another handsome prize, set sail for Gibraltar.
Butchers Bill:
Attachment 12303
HMS Beaver top
Goma bottom
Summary
1. Used herkeybirds solo sheet for frigates. Worked very well.
2. Allowed the Goma to sail closer to the wind as she was a lateen rigged frigate.
3. Although the Beaver collided with the shore I took this as a glancing hull strike but still drew the required amount of chits x 2 (8).
4. The devastating musket volley at the end did for the Spaniard.
5. It was funny at times as the Spaniard went for the hoards, then the Beaver, then back to the hoards. Must have had a dodgy crew!
Very enjoyable AAR (great photos and narrative). Plus you are the only one, as far as I know, who's managed to take out the enemy ship. Well done, sir! :salute:
It was close. If they had just gone for the Beaver I would have had it after being raked the first time.
Still catching up with these early AARs Neil.
You managed to pull that one off very well.
I enjoyed the cometary as usual, and the photographs.
Plenty of scope for a game for me to play when I get the time.
Let the Spaniards do the work finding half the treasure, and then go board them.
Rob.