AAR. Scenario Two: April 2018. 'There are never enough frigates.’

[Bligh]

PREAMBLE.




Captain Joseph Porter had never before stepped inside Government House Cape Colony previously, but then it had only been in the hands of Britain for a couple of years, and he had never been an acting Commodore up until this point.
He waited nervously in the Anteroom with the portrait of the previous governor Sir David Baird scrutinizing him from above the doorway,



and the current incumbent Du Pre Alexander, the second Earl of Caledon, from the portico opposite.



Then he was quite suddenly ushered into the Governor's inner Office.
Several unknown Officer's were present, both naval and Army.

Apart from the Governor, the ones he instantly recognized were his own Admiral, Sir Joshua Pound, Captain Daniel Florrin of the Agamemnon, and Captain Angus Groat of the Amelia, both of whom were to serve in his Squadron. After all the formal introductions had been made, the Earl passed the proceedings over to Admiral Pound.



" As you will know gentlemen, the Army has been ordered to render the Isle De Napoleon, non persona gratia to the French." He briefly indicated the Senior Army Officer standing in the background of those assembled. " To this end Colonel Keating here intends to embark with his Brigade and a strong force of Naval personnel plus Marines to wrest the Isle from the French."
You may recall that in order to clear the way for this expedition, two of your colleagues, Commanders Shilling and Guinea in their Sloops cooperated with Captain McBride of the HEIC, in capturing one of the large French Frigates which was threatening our enterprise. To cut to the chase gentlemen, documents were retrieved from the Frigate which revealed a much greater threat to our plans. The French have dispatched a Squadron from Brest under the command of Commodore Jaques Hamelin to intercept Indiamen in the South Atlantic who are bringing reinforcements to the Cape.




His Flagship is the 74 Redoubtable, accompanied by several Frigates and smaller ships.This could not have happened at a worse time for us here at the Cape. Most of the Fleet is away blockading Isle de Napoleon, or refitting here. The only Vessels available to counter the French threat are HMS Phoenix, Agamemnon, and Amelia. You gentlemen must do all you can to destroy the French Squadron, and retake any Indiamen without harming the British soldiers who will be prisoners aboard them.

I am sure that under Commodore Porter's command you will acquit yourselves in the true spirit and best tradition of the Royal Navy."


Bligh.