AAR: Our ships were British oak, and hearts of oak our men - and nerves of iron.

[TexaS]

Watching the effect of his broadside from the quarterdeck.

The smoke obscured his view, but as it drifted off in the wind he could see a few holes in the thick sides of the Océan. "Even at this range..." he thought to himself, content.


Racing alongside each other Indefatigable presses past and moves to get in front. Fire!

Turn 8, Full broadside for Indie and forward arc for the french. AI reached half crew, and turns to round the island and return to port. Captain unhurt.

- "Endeavour to keep us ahead of her broadsides, Mr Dashwood, if you please." Wentworth said to his lieutenant, waiting for his next broadside to be ready "...and continue starboard."
- "FIRE!" Wentworth cried out as loud as he could just as Océan aligned with his ship.
- "That last broadside made big gaping holes in her side, sir"
- "I told you our 24 pounders would have effect. If we only can keep out of her full broadside we can still prevail." Wentworth said confidently.
- "She's firing at our sails." Lt. Dashwood remarked, "That could be our undoing, sir."
- "She turns! She turns." came from the crew.


Although being faster, Indefatigable moves a longer distance loosing her advantage.

Turn 10, Firing outside the arcs of the french ship. That rudder damage would have made leaving the harbour impossible early in the game. Now it made no difference and wasn't even repaired.

- "Make the turn tighter still." Wentworth said to Dashwood "I want us out of the broadside. Even though I believe we have unmounted many of their guns and jammed some gun ports, there's still a hefty bite left in her for sure."



Turn 11, Still out of the fore arc.

- "Tighter still. I want us to rake her."



Turn 12, Finally in front. Pity it's only the rear arc. Musketry from the first rate.

- "Quickly now with the guns. As they bear, fire into her bow!"
The smoke was blown back into their faces, partially hiding them from the musket fire from the french marines. How he wished he hadn't sent nearly all the muskets with the landing party.


View from the top.

- "She's on fire! She's burning!" came from the top, them having a better view of Océan. A sheer rose from the crew of the Indefatigable.



Turn 13, Return fire from the first rate fore arc just barely touching the base of the Indefatigable, but its weak due to all damage.

The cheer was cut short when the foremost guns of the Océan fired into the stern.
- "We're being raked, sir." Dashwood said stepping in front of Wentworth as if to shield him with his body. It wasn't needed but Wentworth noted the gesture.


Indie getting raked (but not technically a rake) by a partial broadside from a very worn down first rate.

- "We must turn harder to starboard as soon as we don't risk running aground on the island. That would undo us."



Turn 14, Fire from the Indefatigable and the battery. I don't have the shore battery pack so I might have played it wrong. It had taken damage and was played as being reduced from FP 3 to 2.

Passing the island the Indefatigable turned hard starboard yet again. She managed to get a few guns to bear to great effect starting yet another fire aboard the Océan.




Turn 16, Just barely in range a broadside doing just barely enough damage together with the fire that is doused to fill the last box and the french strikes a move or two from returning to harbour.

Easing up on the rudder, striking sail and making another tack Indefatigable fired a final broadside into Océan making her strike her colours.


Final broadside that made the first rate strike to a frigate.

A great sheer rose from the Indefatigable and Wentworth smiled to Dashwood.
- "Lighten sails and take possession, Mr Dashwood. And pick up the marines off the island, if you please."
"I wonder what Mr. Haggerston will say to this." Wentworth though concerning his man of business. This must fetch a good sum.

Climbing aboard the Océan Wentworth met Contre-amiral Alphonse Bissette on the quarter deck. There were dead bodies lying on the deck, moved to the sides and pieces from the rigging strewn about. The Contre-admiral was steadied by another officer and looked pale. He had an arm in a bandage. He had been hurt, but he would live. He was still lucky to survive this slaughter, thought Wentworth to himself. The admiral handed Wentworth his sword with his unhurt arm. Taking it and admiring it Wentworth thought of how humiliating this defeat must be. How wounded his pride would be. A first rate striking to a frigate, although aided by two batteries and the winds themselves. He handed it back to him.
- "You may keep your sword, sir." he said and added "What is your name, sir?"
- "Contre-amiral Alphonse Bissette, monsieur." was the answer in a tired, broken English.
- "Je vous attends à dîner." Wentworth said, feeling tired and hungry.

[Bligh]

Magnificent Jonas.
I was there on the Quaterdeck with Wentworth and Dashwood for every choreographed movement.
It was like a Ballet at sea.
What a Captain! What a writer! It was like reading the adventures of Aubrey and Maturin or Ramage.
Superb pictures and use of additional props brought the whole story to life.
Superb.
Rob.