An affair in Morocco . July Mission:- Sounding out the enemy.(Part One.)

[Bligh]

Characters introduced into the story thus far.
Algerine and Moroccan Persona.

The Dey of Gizzanoffa: Kamel Mudanyaei.
His Vizier: Amin Giffar.
The Dey’s: Admiral Kulin Bey.
The late Captain of the Al Mukabir: Camel Mujadine
The new Captain of the Al Mukabir: Rashid Suleiman

American persona.
The Squadron commander: Commodore Silas Goldberg.
The captain of USS Constitution: David Frazer.
The captain of USS Essex: Andrew Millington.
First Officer: Paul Swift.
Sailing Master: Hezekiah Bramley.
Essex’s Captain of Marines: Davy Weiss.
Essex’s Master Gunner: Hamish Fyffe.
Essex’s Master Carpenter: Amos Grady

The captain of USS Syren: Lieutenant Gregory Hardman.
Lieutenant Guy Falconer.
Sailing Master: Simeon Prentice.
The Captain of USS John Adams: Cyrus Gregory
John Adam’ First Officer: James Stone.
John Adams’ Gun Captain: Will Bridewell.

Captain of the USS Schooner Enterprise: Lieutenant Andrew Sterett.
Captain of an unknown Algerine ship: Mustapha Kamil.
Sterett’s second ic: Lt. Jim Prentiss.
Ships Master: George Varley.
Master Gunner: Jim Cowley.
Ship’s carpenter: George Temple.

Schooner: Captain Richard Glover (nicknamed Iron fist amongst the hands.)
His ships Master Gunner : Ralph Watson.(“ Old deaf head” to his mates.)
New persona:-
Schooner: Nautilus: Lieutenant Richard Somers.

[Bligh]

The Briefing.


Commodore Silas Goldberg read over the Dispatches which had arrived from Congress on the latest addition to his Squadron, the schooner Nautilus Lieutenant Richard Somers stood to one side, as the Other Officers summoned by the Commodore filed into the Great cabin of the USS Constitution. When the final Officer had arrived the gathering comprised, Goldberg’s own Captain, David Frazer, the captain of USS Essex: Andrew Millington, his
First Officer Paul Swift, Essex’s Captain of Marines, Davy Weiss, and her Sailing Master, Hezekiah Bramley. After introductions had been made to young Lieutenant Somers, who was now feeling rather out of his depth in the present company, Goldberg got down to business by reading out the Dispatches to the assembled officers.
The gist of the Dispatches were instructions to continue to blockade Kamel Mudanyaei in the port of Gizzanoffa, but to dispatch a small unit of ships to Tripoli where the Pasha Yusuf Karamanli had been demanding a tribute of $225,000 Dollars from the new American Administration as protection money for their merchant shipping in the area. This was refused and the Pasha declared war on the United States. Congress had now instructed all American armed vessels to seize all shipping and goods of the Pasha and carry out any other actions justified by the state of war existing between the two protagonists. Commodore Prebble was about to be dispatched to the area in command of an expanded force, and it was therefore, important to scout out the approaches to Tripoli in advance of any considered action there.
To this end the Frigate Essex accompanied by the schooner Nautilus was to survey and take soundings on the approaches to the port.
Two days after the meeting on the Constitution Captain Millington and Lieutenant Richard Somers sailed in their ships for Tripoli, hoping to improve on the old 1740 chart with which they had been provided.

[Bligh]

A week later both ships were off Tripoli just below the horizon to any observer from the town. Andrew Millington had decided that prior to risking Lieutenant Somers frail schooner to any unknown perils close inshore, he would trail his own coat-tails to try and draw out any unexpected nasty surprises which the Pasha may have prepared.

[Bligh]

To this end with the wind in his favour, on the following morning Andrew approached the outer limits of the outer shoals, and launched a ships boat commanded by his First Officer Paul Smith, and Midshipman George Green to begin taking soundings along the shoals.

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The work had been underway for about an hour, when the masthead lookout reported the sighting of a ship rounding the nearby headland.

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It was seen to be a 50 or 60 gun ship and obviously hostile as it was proceeding well within the range of the towns formidable batteries.

[TexaS]

Nice action. Well done!

[Bligh]

Thanks Jonas.
I seem to be a lonely voice crying in the wilderness again as far as AAR's go.

Rob.

[TexaS]

Yes. There's been someone else posting a while ago, but I haven't sailed in something like two years now.

And I'm just one AAR from a medal too...

[Bligh]

It is incredible how many shipmates dropped out with just a small shortfall.
If you look at the Solo Campaign posts over all the years, quite a few have four AAR's for the year when just one more would have got them the medal.

Rob.

[TexaS]

I think I have five of each at least, but I know that I have played all six of most of them, but then the last one drags out from when I played it and then I cant make the text and pictures match and when my memory fails due to it being too long since I played it... I think I ended up only posting five of some of the bimonthly campaigns. It's enough for the medal but still feels a bit unfinished.

I have even played and not written a scenario I will have to replay to be able to put it together that would earn me that AAR medal.

[Bligh]

I will check all the Campaign senarios for you Jonas.
Rob.

[TexaS]

Don't worry, Rob. You have already checked that before and not much have happened for a long time.

[Dobbs]

I really like your shoals, Rob. I'd like to imitate them. Is there anything under the sand or is it glued directly to the base (it kind of looks like there's a bit of a hump in the pictures)? I sure wouldn't mind some close ups.

[Bligh]

Hi Dobbs.

For the shoals i progressed as follows by cutting out a print of the contours taken from the map in today's episode of the story. I blew it up to the size required and stuck it with Prit-Stick to Plasticard. Then cut out the shape on my scroll saw, and removed the paper template. Taking some large pebbles from the rock garden, I ground one side flat on my Belt Linishing machine and superglued it in place on the Plasticard. After a coat of watered down PVA on the rest of the card I painted the blue seascape, adding sand coloured patches and green algae with very thin green inks both in the water and onto crevices in the rocks. Next comes another watered down PVA layer to which Railway modellers sand and small stones from their wagon ballast packs. I only put the PVA where I want the sandbar above the waterline. No sand should go on the seascape parts. You can repeat this process when the PVA is dry with another layer until you get the required height. Finally paint the sea parts with Satin coat varnish. Also any areas you want to appear wet such as the tide line on the beach or wave swept rocks, standing pools etc. All that leaves is dry brushing the rocky outcrops to taste.

I will get som pictures up tomorrow for you.

Rob.

[Bligh]

Here you go Dobbs.

[Vagabond]

The big advantage of coming to this late is that I have a series of stories to read. Excellent.

Essex had a fortunate opening to the battle, 2 unretrurned broadsides is hard to come back from.

Now for the rest of the action.

[Bligh]

Captain Smithers did recover in time for the next action as you will see John. he had actually put his back out gardening and could not drive his car.
Rob.