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Thread: AAR February – ‘Our ships were British oak, and hearts of oak our men.’

  1. #1
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    Default AAR February – ‘Our ships were British oak, and hearts of oak our men.’

    Sir Henry Boneville, commodore of the squadron, sat with his captains around the table listening once more to Captain Keel tell of his luck in sinking the Spanish 74.

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    The squadron

    “Well done Sir, again well done. Now one of those prisoners was carrying dispatches sown into his coats lining. Your coxswain should be well rewarded for finding them too Captain Keel. I will send him a bottle to wet his whistle. The dispatches inform us that the Spanish will muster their ships into one force, meet with a convoy off Bilbao and sail for Cadiz and then to their lands in the Americas. We must stop them or delay them. I’ve sent word to the Admiral and hopefully he will reinforce us or we will join him to crush the Spaniards before they can muster their full force.” The commodore paused for breath and to let his words sink in.
    “I am ordering Mars, Orion and Renown to cover these ports. Gentlemen you must delay, capture or sink any Spanish men of war that attempt to sally out of these ports. I will retain Britannia, Northumberland and Belleraphon, I know Keel but your ship is under strength. Beaver, once she has returned from delivering my dispatches to the Admiral, and Success will maintain contact with your ships and myself. Now any questions? One further matter I intend to reinforce the three ships with compliments of marines taken from the rest of the squadron.”
    There were none and the dinner carried on until near midnight when the captains repaired aboard their respective ships. The dawn saw the squadron break up as the three 74’s sailed to cover the enemy ports.

    A day later and HMS Renown, captained by William Swift approached the port of Mundaka, on the northern coast of Spain. Swift was a man of decisive action. He had decided to land a party ashore and storm the battery on the Isla de Izaro covering the entrance to the port on a small island. The renown would wait, hove too, for the Spaniards to come out.

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    Renown’s arrival was known. She had been observed sailing towards the port. The Spanish commander knew the ships in harbour had to leave for Bilbao the next day. He only hoped they could slip past the enemy ship. The 74 and 32 gun frigate would leave on the morning tide.

    A night action
    Lieutenant Dawson peered into the dark. He was leading two of Renown's boats.

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    He had with him marines from HMS Belleraphon and a few from Renown with sailors needed to man the battery on the island. His eye was true for just after midnight the boats scrapped ashore on the beach.

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    Leading his men from the front he was surprised to see no sentries, either they were indoors or asleep, no matter. Within an hour the battery had been stormed and the garrison under lock and key. The two sentries were asleep! Luck was with them. He spent the remainder of the night ensuring that both batteries were loaded. Tomorrow he would only have enough to load one not both. The signal was given to the Renown by hooded lantern that all was secured.

    Swift hove the Renown too. Tomorrow would be the day, he was sure of it.

    Enemy in Sight
    As dawn broke a cry broke out from the mast head, “Sail Ho. Two ships leaving port. A 74 and a frigate by the looks of them”.

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    Swift asked the direction that the 74 was sailing and was rewarded that the Renown was facing the right direction to take her on. The battery could cover the frigate.

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    The Renown slowly picked up speed. Swift could see the 74 was trying to break out of the northern channel whilst the frigate was heading for the eastern channel.


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    BOOM, the shot echoed from the land as the battery on the island opened fire on the Spanish 74. The Spanish captain was too far out to try and tack back to port now. He would have to brave the fire of the battery and the English ship attempting to cut him off.

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    Renown opened fire as the battery on the island fired too. The Spanish 74 reeled under the impact. Masts, spars, rigging were falling all around him, crew lay writhing on the floor. He had to clear the English ship and hopefully get back into port.

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    HMS Renown cut across the Spaniards bow as musket balls peppered both ships. Captain Swift looked on as crewmen were cut down along the length of his ship. He only hoped they were doing more damage to the Spaniard.
    “Prepare to repel boarders”, he shouted as he saw a collision was inevitable. Lt Dawson shouted to the eastern battery “lads, don’t let the frigate get away, Renown is on her own now”.

    The Spanish crew were stopped in their tracks by musket fire and the ferocious English counter attack. The attack was that ferocious it spilled back aboard the Spaniard. In the end the hand to hand fighting was one sided. The Spanish Captain hauled down his colours and surrendered.

    The Spanish frigate had tacked across the wind and managed to elude major damage from the battery to escape to the south.

    2 hours later the landing party returned. “Guns spiked, charges laid in the magazines sir. We also have 80 prisoners.” Lt Dawson reported.
    “Well done Dawson, well done. As you have done such a sterling job, I have one more for you. Take your landing party straight over to the prize. I’ll have your orders written before you set sail for England.”

    Dawson was gobsmacked. He had 30 sailors and 15 marines to help him sail the captured 74 back to England. Within 3 hours the prize was sailing over the horizon back to England. Captain Swift sailed back to join the squadron and made his report.


    Summary and Butchers Bill:
    Captain Swift: RTP/2pts
    Renown: RTP
    More pictures of the gunnery.

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    San Leandro takes a battering

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    Musket fire can be deadly too.

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    The frigate is engaged by the shore battery

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    4 rounds of boarding and the San Leandro strikes. (A close, hard won fight).

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    Final shots at the escaping frigate.

    1. With 2 plus 2 crew off the ship I only counted the 4 boxes from the right as active on the battery. Made for some very slow firing.
    2. I also diced to see which ship Dawson would engage. He chose the 74!
    3. Diced to see which of the 3 British 74's this action would be by.
    4. With 2 crew missing and casualties taken during the firing the hand to hand was very close indeed.
    5. Hope you enjoy playing it as I did.
    Last edited by Union Jack; 02-16-2015 at 06:54.

  2. #2
    Admiral of the White
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    Enjoyed the AAR very much. The photos, dialog and action certainly keeps one attentive. Congratulations on a successful mission.

  3. #3
    Midshipman
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    Great AAR!
    Which rules did you use for the boarding?

  4. #4
    Stats Committee
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    Great story that was fun to read!

    Having the extra miniatures like the rowboats added a lot o the visualization!

  5. #5

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    Really nice camera work and AAR

  6. #6
    Master & Commander
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    SoG.

    Quote Originally Posted by spiessbuerger View Post
    Great AAR!
    Which rules did you use for the boarding?

  7. #7

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    Great write up UJ!

    Jolly Fine Show by Captain Swift, there's Admiral's material in him!

  8. #8
    Admiral of the Fleet.
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    Every minute detail added to the suspense and the action.
    Ships boats were the one thing i lacked when i sailed my game.
    Really enjoyed that one.
    Rob.

  9. #9
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    Excellent work and write up, Neil!! Keep them coming!!
    "War is the greatest game Man can play!" BG George B. McClellan

  10. #10

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    Missed this thread for 3 month, but I'm still amazed by it!

    Very carefull arranged and brilliant made pictures, Neil.

    It was fun to watch and read this story.

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