Back to the Indian Ocean.

[Bligh]

It had been 20 months since Captain David McBride had departed Bombay and left the HMS Nottingham behind for a full and well needed refit. He had sailed back to England as the most successful captain in the HEIC’s navy, to click his heels in the anti rooms of the HEIC in London. His waiting eventually bore fruit however. After debating his activities and merits in the HEIC boardroom for many weeks they finally agreed to a course of action, and David was now returning to India as the Commodore of the small but highly respected squadron stationed in the Persian Gulf and Oman as far south as the Malabar Coast. To all intents and purpose this position was as senior in the HEIC navy as that of being a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy.
Accompanying him, he took his First Officer from the Nottingham, John Wilkinson, Captain Geoffrey Smithers, destined for the command of the newly commissioned HEIC Bombay, and several of his followers, including his cabin steward, Miles McGinty, and Boatswain John Peel, known to his associates as “Old ding dong” because of his penchant for a good old punch up with the enemy.

[Bligh]

On a mainly uneventful passage to Bombay their ship watered at the Cape, and it was here that they were informed of a recent rather disturbing occurrence. A Royal Navy Frigate, on patrol off the approaches to Simon’s Town, had been forced to run before a fierce storm far into the South Atlantic, and it was whilst she was beating back that she sighted, and shadowed a French 50 gun ship as it bore up and rounded the Cape bound for the Indian Ocean. This addition to the French Squadron presently marauding out of the Isle de France and Reunion would alter the whole balance of power in that theatre of war. Admiral Sir Joshua Pound in command of the Cape station could not spare any of his hard pressed ships to pursue the interloper. It was thus essential that the HEIC dealt with the situation before any real damage could be done by the French. To this end HEIC Bombay took on supplies in double quick time, and sailed, arriving in Bombay some 23 days later. Commodore McBride, setting out immediately for Bombay Castle to inform the Governor of the developing situation, and to receive his new orders.

[Bligh]

Within a few days, having received further news from a country ship of having seen a large French warship heading into the approaches to the Persian Gulf, Commodore McBride had dispatched the Frigate HEIC Bombay together with the HEIC Sloop Aurora in pursuit of the Frenchman to discover their intentions.

[Bligh]

Captain Smithers of the Bombay had been afforded full discretion of action in the orders issued to him. This freedom was a rather two edged weapon in the Gulf, as the many factions and small independent states were in a ferment, and both the French and British diplomatic service were trying to evangel them all to side with their own particular cause, sometimes at the expense of the other states. By supplying aid and arms to one or the other side the French were attempting to destabilise the whole area, whilst the British were attempting to unite the factions against the French interests. This latest French incursion was suspected in Bombay to be a last gasp effort by the French to influence the tribes, by defeating the British and seizing command of the Gulf for long enough to safely dispatch French troops to the area and reverse their waning fortunes in the area. This may even eventually result in a French Army debouching from Egypt overland to invade the Indian sub continent itself in an attempt to wrest power from the British HEIC.

[Bligh]

For more than two weeks the two ships cruised up the Gulf seeking information about the whereabouts of the French ship to no avail, and then finally when a favourable wind occurred, they turned back towards the Indian Ocean, splitting up to check both sides of the Gulf and rendezvousing once every seven days to exchange information.

[Bligh]

It was well into the third week when the Aurora encountered a Xebec fishing off the coast. After purchasing most of the fishermen’s catch it was revealed that a large French ship had put into a nearby bay and was careening close to the fishing village from which he had sailed. Captain Cope at once crept up the coast and confirmed that the Frenchman was indeed in the bay. He then hastened back to inform Captain Smithers of his discovery.

[TexaS]

Another great AAR from you, Rob.

It’s good to see someone still sailing.

I hope to get a fight going, but I’ve mostly been working on my Spanish lately.

[Bligh]

Thanks Jonas.
I'm trying to bet a game a week going, but keep coming up against real life!

Rob.

[Baxter]

Top notch post and battle Rob. I wish there were more books about the HEIC around. I would love to read a series depicting life aboard one of their warships. They must have been very busy days.

[Bligh]

Have you read this series of books by Ellis Meacham Gary?

[Bligh]

I would also like to thank you for the Rep points and comments for the AAR Gary.
Rob.

[Baxter]

Thanks Rob, I will keep my eye out for those.

[Capn Duff]

An excellent action and telling, nice on Rob

[Bligh]

Thank you Chris.
Rob.

[Ferrante]

Nice Action
I enjoyed reading the captain adventure and the naval action.
Regards

[Baxter]

I scored all three of those books Rob recommended this morning in Kindle format. $2.99 each AUD! Cheap and I mean really cheap.

[Bligh]

Glad to hear I have been of service Gary.
I usually get all my novels on Kindle nowadays, and reserve hard copy for Non-fiction. That saves me having to build even more bookcases.

Rob.

[Vagabond]

Back in the Indian Ocean, lots of adventures to look forward to.

I know you are posting 1 picture and text at a time because of the site problems but I like the format. It's a bit like turning the page of a book, reading one post, turn page read next post and so on.

A close fight and a well written one as well.
Cheers

[Bligh]

Cheers John.
It is a bit of a fag doing each one and then having to cut the duplicate picture, but much better than having repeats of every picture.
Glad you like the format.
Rob.

[ShadowDragon]

A close fight there, Rob, but success for the HEIC.

[Bligh]

Thank you for all the rep Paul.
Glad you are enjoying the AAR's. It is quite a while since I stopped doing the HEIC ones, so I thought I would resurrect them for a while with a few of the Offices moved up a notch or two in the meantime.
Rob.