Jack watched as the large Spanish Frigate bore down on Vanguard. Jack shouted down to the gun deck, “ Open gun ports port side. Port batteries by division as you bear.........” Jack watched as the Spanish gun ports on the port side opened and he could hear the squeal of the gun trucks as the guns were pulled into position. “.......Fire.”
The Spanish frigate seemed to judder and slow before the weight of iron hit her. Jack saw sails majestically disappear as by magic and the forward motion of the frigate was reduced. Instead of both ships passing by at speed and only having the rear divisions able to fire, the manoeuvre of the Spaniard meant all guns on both ships would be brought to bear.
The explosion of cannon balls mixed with canister swept many English sailors away. Jack himself was knocked from his feet blood pouring down his left arm. The First Lt lifted him back to his feet, the afterguard lay about the quarter deck like broken dolls, the Mizzen top was down but he gazed over to the Spaniard who had all but stopped dead in the water. He could see she was badly holed in at least 3 places.
“Get that fire under control. Follow Audacity, we have to stop them getting away”. Jack swayed and was caught by the First Lt before he fell. Jack knew no more.
Jack watched as the large Spanish Frigate bore down on Vanguard. Jack shouted down to the gun deck, “ Open gun ports port side. Port batteries by division as you bear.........” Jack watched as the Spanish gun ports on the port side opened and he could hear the squeal of the gun trucks as the guns were pulled into position. “.......Fire.”
The Spanish frigate seemed to judder and slow before the weight of iron hit her. Jack saw sails majestically disappear as by magic and the forward motion of the frigate was reduced. Instead of both ships passing by at speed and only having the rear divisions able to fire, the manoeuvre of the Spaniard meant all guns on both ships would be brought to bear.
The explosion of cannon balls mixed with grapeshot swept many English sailors away. Jack himself was knocked from his feet blood pouring down his left arm. The First Lt lifted him back to his feet, the afterguard lay about the quarter deck like broken dolls, the Mizzen top was down but he gazed over to the Spaniard who had all but stopped dead in the water. He could see she was badly holed in at least 3 places.
“Get that fire under control. Follow Audacity, we have to stop them getting away”. Jack swayed and was caught by the First Lt before he fell. Jack knew no more.
2 days later a battered Vanguard slipped into harbour.
Captain Union was safely in the garrison hospital receiving the ministrations of a surgeon. Jack awoke in great pain after 3 days. The surgeon had had no choice but to remove Jacks left arm at the elbow. The Spanish grapeshot had done the damage.
It was another 3 days before he was allowed visitors. His First Lt was the first visitor and explained to Jack what had happened after he was sent below. Unknown to the First Lt, the surgeon and surgeons mate had been killed in that Spanish broadside. But he followed Jacks orders and was able to engage HMS Audacity before the Spanish could get away.
He had closed and opened fire at long range. Jack could vaguely remember that. Then the First Lt told him that the word had spread that the captain had ordered the guns reloaded. Seemingly the Captain had woken up and shouted out after wondering around the lower gun deck before passing out again.
That action had enabled the Vanguard to fire a long range broadside that stopped Audacity in its tracks and forced the Spaniards to strike.
The large Spanish frigate had already struck as its crew tried valiantly to keep it afloat.
The First Lt had been able to close and dispatch boats to assist and save the frigate from sinking. They had made slow progress back to port.
At the conclusion of his report Jack had fallen asleep.
It took Jack 1 month to fully recover and he was present at the swearing in ceremony of his First Lt as the newly appointed commander of HMS Gibralter.
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