AAR May Who Fired the First Shot?

[Loki 13]

Very nice battle.

[Union Jack]

Part 2: A battle lost!

Josephine was drifting away from the battle. That left 4 to 3 in our favour!.


Our starboard battery gave her a parting kiss! But only on the lips, damn.


I ordered a turn to port as Blyth barrelled in on our starboard bow. Captain Tombs had cut it very close. Only by shear chance did we steer clear of a collision. Rochefort had sailed under our fore guns and with Ramilles, Blythand our Hyperion we gave her what for. Thats said we paid the price but came away lucky than most as Rochefort raked us from bow to stern.

The 2nd informed me that Orient had opened fire on HMS Crecy. Crecy had replied in turn.


HMS Blyth blocked our route and we had no choice but to turn toward Orient. Ramilles with Blyth following were off our starboard beam as Orient unleashed hell.



The weight of iron heeled Hyperion over hard. It seemed awhile before she even keeled herself. Our foremast was carried away, bodies littered the main deck. I ordered the foremast cut away. We would do without it for the remainder of the battle.

A shout from the lookout, signal from the flag....Engage the enemy closer! Damnation if we could we would and did.


The French Admiral on Orient had hoisted his own signal. What now from the enemy? I am sure we would find out soon enough.


Blyth and Crecy had tacked round and were engaging Rochefort. Incredible closed and fired into our port side as we responded.


Sorely hurt was Hyperion but Ramilles was sailing off our starboard beam and we could not turn away. Instead Ramilles used us as a shield! Damn her captains hide! Captain Keel, our gallant leader, had the affront to hail us with his speaking trumpet and order us to bare away so He had more sea room.

Orient was taking some damage but Hyperion I feared would not last the battle with her current damage.


Rochefort thundered a close range broadside into Crecy as Blyth barely replied in kind.


Blyth was then engaged by orient and Rochefort as Crecy swept between.
We could not turn out of Ramilles way as her aft guns fired towards Incredible.

Josephine turned to rejoin the fray!


Blyth and Crecy were now taking on 4 French ships including the 120 gun Orient! This was not going to end well. I ordered Hyperion to starboard to give Ramilles sea room to turn behind us.


I have noted that as Crecy passed between Orient and Rochefort she engaged with both batteries and caused extensive damage to both French ships. Josephine had fired a ragged broadside at Crecy but I note no major damage. Blyth has added her weight of iron to the attack on Orient.

If Ramilles would only shorten sail she could turn astern of us instead of complaining that I am not giving her sea room!


The rear French 74 has passed Orient. But Orient has struck. Her damage to crew must be severe. Her newly arrived consort has not even slowed to pass a tow but has sailed past. The battle between Rochefort, Josephine and Blyth and Crecy continues.


Incredible has now joined the fight against Blyth and Crecy as Josephine has sailed beyond. At long last we are free of Ramilles and we both have turned to port to rejoin the battle.


Incredible has turned across Crecy’s stern and fired a devastating broadside down the length of the ship. My lookout has called she is afire. Blyth has engaged Rochefort and Rochefort is ablaze too.

I am stricken. The log now shows that at 4 bells of the afternoon watch Crecy blew up.

Some small consolation that Rochefort has struck to Blyth! And the new cry of Jospehine has sunk. The Blyth crew have swarmed aboard Rochefort as HMS Blyth began slipping beneath the waves.




I have dispatched a prize crew to Orient as Ramilles and Hyperion tack to port to take our revenge on Incredible.

It has taken us some 4 hours to close down the Incredible but she has aided the chase by turning towards us on numerous occasions to fire off long range shots. Now we are in a position to finish the battle.

Ramilles had turned and fired a raking shot down Incredibles length from her bow. Both forward division guns of Incredible had managed to return fire. Hyperion threw what weight of iron we could at Incredible.


Ramilles crew swarmed over to Incredible as the flagship sank beneath the waves.


A battle won!
For the loss of 3 74’s our small squadron had captured 2 74’s and a 120 gun 1st rate. Small recompense for our loss.

Butchers Bill:
The British Squadron
Captain John Goodman: Hyperion/RTP/3 points
Captain Stephen Keel: Ramilles sunk/RTP/4 points
Captain Howard Tombs: Blyth sunk/RTP/1 point
Captain William Swift: Crecy blew up/KIA


The French Squadron
Orient 120 Captured
Rocherfort 74 Captured
Incredible 74 Captured
Josephine 74 Sank



Summary
1. Used signal flags.
2. Faster play, ships used best card to obey signal.
3. AI ships don't you hate them! Just when you think they've gone and are out of it they return and scupper your plans. (Josephine)
4. Crecy blew up as they had 2 fires in quick succession.
5. Blyth and Ramilles were in contact with enemy ships so took them as prizes when their own ships sank.
6. Would I play this or something similar in size again...damn right.