AARs 2018.

[Bligh]

Will try and get this read tomorrow Bill. Don't want to rush it.
It deserves savoring properly.
Rob.

[Wentworth]

2018 Solo Campaign Scenario Five -- Letters of Marque -- "Cutting it Fine"

This scenario has my frigate approaching an enemy harbor at night and attempting to cut out enemy ships within the harbor. The sloop (Alligator) has a valuable gold shipment and possibly an enemy agent on it. The Alligator is escorted by the Courageuse, both of which are currently docked in the recesses of the harbor. The harbor is guarded by two fortresses, a boom closing off access to the harbor, and a harbor patrol boat. I didn't have a harbor patrol boat model, so I built and painted a GHQ 18 gun sloop in an afternoon for this mission. The painting touch up, rigging, and ratlines will have to wait for another day (please don't judge me!). The mission is to approach the harbor under the cover of darkness and launch boats containing three boarding parties. The boats must test if they are "smoked" at different points of the mission by drawing a card from a deck to determine if they are undiscovered or if they are noticed and the alarm is sounded.
My set up was as follows--
> The southernmost fort:



> The northernmost fort:



> The boom and patrol boat:



> The harbor patrol boat:



> The target ships moored in port:



Turns 1 & 2

Lower boats, load boarding parties (quietly...ever so quietly...):



Turns 3 & 4

Boats away!







Turns 4 & 5

The boats make their approach to the harbor with greased oar locks and muffled oars:



Turn 6

The boats pass under the guns of the fortress...are they smoked? NO! safe for now...



Turn 7, 8 & 9

Turns 7 & 8 spent approaching the boom -- turn 9 the boats attempt to force the boom -- are they smoked? NO! ...still safe for now...



Turns 10 & 11

The boats cross the harbor and approach the target ships (thankfully the harbor patrol boat skipper is ashore having a pint or two):



Turn 12

As the boats pull alongside the target ships they must once again test to see if they are smoked...NO! boarding parties away!



But now luck deserts the boarding parties....the Courageuse's watch is quickly overcome, but the more heavily guarded Alligator (with the gold and possibly the enemy agent) puts up a fight. The sound of muskets and pistols fill the quiet port's air alerting the guard at the forts that something is afoot (it takes two turns to man and arm the fort's guns) -- the alarm is sounded. My boarding party fights a successful boarding action to take control of the sloop carrying the gold -- but is the enemy agent aboard as well? I dice to see -- evens he is on board and we have him, odds he is ashore and we've missed him:





We've got him! Now the tricky bit -- getting past those fortress guns...

Turns 13 & 14

The captured ships cut cables, hoist sail, and head for the harbor entrance and freedom. Constitution maneuvers to cover their escape...



Turn 15

Forts open fire on Alligator who returns fire by touching off guns previously loaded by the ship's crew. Constitution fires on the fort. The southernmost fort takes 3 crew hits, the northern fort takes 3 damage points, but the Alligator takes 11 damage points including two hull leaks.











Turn 16

Constitution and Alligator come alongside each other as gold and captured agent is transferred to Constitution as Alligator may sink next turn. Courageuse fires broadside on northern fort with guns previously loaded by its crew -- good shooting! Courageuse inflicts 6 damage points and 1 crew hit.



Turn 17

Courageuse, Constitution head for high seas, Alligator limps along. Fort fires parting shot on Courageuse inflicting 1 damage point and a sail damage.



Turn 18

The flotilla heads for open seas...

Butcher's Bill:















This was a very exciting scenario to play -- I was actually tense every time I had to turn over a card to see if my boarders were discovered. Once the alert had been sounded so early in our escape, I didn't think the ships would make it past the forts -- luck was with my crew on this one!

I can't seem to get the Butcer's Bills photos right side up...sorry!