Action off Montserrat

[Dobbs]

After escaping from Rhode Island, the plan was to cruise south separately and rendezvous off Montserrat.

Unfortunately, it seems like the plan was not a secret well kept, and as Lexington and Saratoga make their rendezvous, a third guest makes an appearance.



Adamant has also made the rendezvous!



She has the weather gauge and moves to cut off Saratoga before the two frigates can unite.



Saratoga and Adamant exchange opening broadside ms. Note that we play that 32 gun frigates subtract -1 from their numerical damage in a broadside to reflect the 12 pdr guns. With Adamant throwing 24 pound balls, the exchange is uneven.



Things look up for Saratoga has she gets a bow rake at point blank range. Meanwhile, Lexington works her way to weather.



The weight of shot begins to tell. I want to get Saratoga away before she can't take any more.



Lexington has tacked. She has the weather gauge and the battle will be ours, Saratoga just has to live long enough...



It isn't to be. On Saratoga, the foremast comes crashing down and the crew has had enough. The ensign comes fluttering down. But Lexington is coming on!



Adamant is starting to feel the fight. She and Lexington exchange broadsides. It's rough for Lady Lex, but a fair exchange.

...at this point, I got caught up in the struggle and didn't take any more pictures.

The two ships battered away at each other and it was pretty even until Adamant luffed up, got caught in irons, and when she fell off, fouled Lexington. They became entangled, and Adamant couldn't bring her great guns to bear. She hauled down her flag, and shortly succumbed to numerous flooding hits. Saratoga was liberated, and putting in to an allied French port had everything put to rights in a few days.

Suzanne and I played the frigates while my solo rules controlled the Portland. The AI did well except for the luffing up in the end. I think it was an error in the way I was figuring
probability on the 2nd red table and have corrected it. I'll post the revision later.