AAR. October Mission Solo Scenario.

[Bligh]

October Mission AAR. Cutting it fine.


McBride decided to recon the enemy position a few days before the dark of the Moon, What he saw caused him to change his plan of action, as he obviously did not have sufficient Marines to capture the two substantial forts covering the bay.




There was also a Boom across the entrance and guard boat on hand.




Two nights later, and two days before the ships were destined to sail, the Nottingham slipped along the coast to the East of the forts.



As the forts came into view, the Moon was just setting.



McBride slipped in even closer.



And then set his sales so as to lose way and drop a kedge anchor just off the forts.



Silently his ships boats made their way into the inlet.



They successfully slipped past the forts without raising an alarm .



As they neared the boom the crews hearts were in there mouths.



Lt Pullford in the leading boat, listened out for any sound of the guard boat, and finally gave the word for the Boatswain's men to saw through the Boom.This was eventually also achieved without arousing suspicion.




As the boats with muffled oars and rowlocks greased with slush entered the inner harbour, the revels of the seamen could be clearly heard across the water as they enjoyed themselves in the seaports many taverns and Bawdy Houses.



As they came alongside the Sloop and Frigate, The boats feathered oars. It was obvious to Pullford that most of the crew must be in town, and if any Anchor watch were aboard they were also well into their cups. Splitting his men up One boat of sailors boarded the Sloop whilst Pullford lead the other part of the crew and the Marines to take the Frigate.




With great trepidation they scaled the ships sides expecting a warm welcome. To their surprise no enemy were awake on either ship, and both were taken and readied for sailing in absolute silence.


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Soon, with the Anchor cables cut to avoid the sound of the clanking pawls being heard as they were raised, they were underway with the boats in tow.




However as the Sloop slipped past the Boom disaster struck. The patrol boat's crew having refreshed themselves at the lookout tower now discovered the cut Boom and fired a signal rocker to alert the forts.



Both ships could now be made out from the Forts, and in a ruse de Garre Pullford fired his chaser at the sloop as if he were giving chase in the Frigate.



The sloop ran close in under the guns of the fort which could not depress enough to hit.




However, as she cleared the entrance, bothe Forts came to life and fired on the Sloop, doing very little in the dark with their first ranging shots.



Pullford now added to the drama by again firing his chaser at the Sloop. He had almost run the gauntlet of the forts by sheer deception.



By now the false dawn was in the offing .and HEIC Nottingham added to the chaos by getting underway and firing a broadside at the nearest Fort.



Whilst not achieving much damage it did slow down the fort's gunners in reloading.



All three ships were now running out to sea and Pullford raised his colours which could now be made out by both forts to be British over the French tricolor.



This drew some desultory fire onto his vessel which missed.but distracted the aim of the fort's gunners.



McBride gave the other fort a farewell salutation as he came about and shepherded his prizes out to sea.



He took a slight amount of damage in return.



Pullford also had a slight altercation with the other fort as he cleared the area and daylight started to outline the ships.



By the time the forts had reloaded and heated shot was available the small flotilla was well out of range, and McBride could breath a sigh of relief that all his Officers and men were safely restored to their ships.



The only thing to dissapoint Mcbride as they sailed away was that the enemy Agent had been ashore roistering with the crew and thus escaped being detained.



Bligh.