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AAR. Solo mission 1.....When the fog lifts.
As I am only playing the solo campaign intermittently I thought it better to write up my actions here rather than mess up the serious solo Forum.
Bligh.
The adventures of James Roberts RN.
Fourth Lt. James Roberts steadied himself against the side of the Jib sail stay and screwing up his eyes for the hundredth time that morning strained to glimpse a sight of the ship that they had been perusing since early yesterday afternoon.
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The early morning fog made it impossible to see any further than a few yards in front of the bowsprit. That the enemy ship was somewhere ahead of them in the mist was obvious, for every few minutes echoing through the eerie blanket of fog came the unmistakeable slap of flag halliards against a mast, and the creak of the running rigging as the fitful breeze disturbed the draw of the sails.
Why the French Captain had made no effort to lose them overnight, Roberts could not fathom, other than the fact that his Frigate was making a beeline for the port of Marseilles, with a spymaster on board who had information on the British dispositions in the Mediterranean.
his thoughts were curtailed by a whispered message from one of the Leading hands stationed out on the bowsprit end.
"Fogs thinning at last sir."
Roberts replied,
"Thank you Jakes." and added."Mr Lawler please inform Captain Stewart"
"Aye aye sir." came the whispered response from the Boatswain who hurried aft to tell the Captain.
A few minutes later, ghostly figures started to appear on deck taking up their battle stations at the forward Carronades.
The Boatswain re appeared, and tugged his forelock.
"Cap'ns compliments sir, and would you please take up your position on the gun deck."
As Roberts moved aft, the breeze suddenly picked up and blew a gap in the fog bank. Without warning a French Frigate appeared from the mist, not more than four cables length off the Starboard bow, and heading straight for the Peveril.
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James heard Captain Stewart curse, as he realized the Frenchie had stolen the advantage of surprise.
Putting up his helm to avoid a collision, he ordered the Port side battery to fire as they came to bear.
The French Captain obviously had a similar idea as he also steered to Starboard.
James peered out through the gun port, as the ships drew abreast. Then the two batteries fired almost simultaneously.
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Balls from the French Frigate ploughed through the gun deck overturning cannon and maiming seamen with the splinters from the planking and gun ports.
James was blinded by the smoke, but could hear the Master gunner issuing orders to swab out reload and run out, as swiftly as the now depleted crew could do so.
Having the wind gauge and the upper hand, the Frenchman now put his helm hard over, and came about, crossing the stern of the Peveril in an attempt to rake her. unfortunately for him the French gunners could not reload fast enough to carry out his wishes.
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As both sips came about, HMS Peveril delivered another broadside, which was returned by the Frenchman. Firing high the French ship swept the Quarterdeck and also decimated the British crew and Marines on the Poop. The French also lost the men at the wheel in the exchange.
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With no helm control the French Frigate swung into the wind and was taken aback.
Grasping the opportunity Captain Stewart brought the Peveril about and headed for the French vessel which he could now see clearly through his glass as Le Galatea.
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Regaining steerage before the British Frigate could stern rake her, Le Galatea came about and delivered a raking shot into the bows of the Peveril instead.
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In this exchange Both Captain Stewart and the First Lt. Andrew Rother fell, along with the Master and both the steersmen.
The ship fell off the wind and before it could gather way, Le Galatea completed its turn.
Gathering way The third who had now taken control of the Peveril managed to force the Frenchman into a similar situation coming into the wind.
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The French Captain was up to the situation, however, and letting his Frigate fall off the wind was able to fire another broadside into the Peveril.
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This time the Third Lt. was the victim. Severely wounded he was carried down to the Surgeon on the Orlop deck, having passed word for Mr. Roberts who was the only remaining officer standing to take command.
Arriving on what remained of the quarter deck and with the ship in Irons once more still taking fire from Le Galatea, Roberts ordered the ships carpenter to get repair below decks in hand, whilst he got the ship under way once more before the Frenchman could come alongside and board the badly mauled frigate.
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As the Frenchman got in a last parting shot, Roberts headed the ship away from the coast and Marseilles.
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Having won the action Le Galatea resumed its course and its mission to deliver the spymaster to France.
Roberts was left to save the Frigate, and somehow get it back to Gibraltar with half its crew dead or injured and the pumps going full tilt to keep the sea from claiming the ship.
The Butcher's Bill.
A nasty mauling for HMS. Peveril.
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A successful mission for Le Galatea.
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Footnote.
Not the way I would have liked the outcome to work out, but after the first broadside from the French, I was under gunned and could never quite keep up.
A steady drain on the crew made things critical, and to cut and run was the only way to save the Frigate. Whether the Lords of the Admiralty will see it that way remains to be discovered.
Bligh.
