AAR. A hard nut to crack off Madagascar.

[Bligh]

Back in the Indian Ocean for the monthly solo game. A bit late because of the Trafalgar game.


Reports had arrived at Bombay of French incursions and merchant ships going missing in the area of Madagascar. As a Consequence, Captain Thomas Hardie of the HEIC Frigate Cornwallis, accompanied by the EIC Sloop the Earl of Mornington was dispatched to patrol the Mozambique Channel in the hope of intercepting the commerce raiders.


After several fruitless weeks of searching, a chance encounter with a local fishing boat provided them with the information they needed. Following a severe storm the fishermen had spotted a French Frigate accompanied by a larger vessel sheltering in a secluded cove whilst apparently carrying out repairs to the storm damage incurred by the larger ship.
Armed with this intelligence, Hardy immediately dispatched Mornington to reconnoitre the bay prior to an attack on the enemy ships.

[Bligh]

Making a rapid passage, Mornington cruised by the bay two evenings later, and observed not only the two ships, but also camp fires ashore and in an old abandoned fort on the headland. Armed with this information, Mornington’s captain George Simpson rendezvoused with Cornwallis, and the two captains laid their plan of action.

[Bligh]

On the following evening both ships approached the bay, and Mornington made a detour to the next bay along the coast where she could land the Bombay Marines from both ships, to undertake a clandestine march and dawn attack on the old fort, in order to remove it from the game.

[Bligh]

The Marines were disembarked in the early hours of a moonless night and silently marched toward the fortification.

[Bligh]

Their progress went totally unremarked by the French, and one sole picket was silenced without any alarm being raised.

[Bligh]

The Marines reached the walls of the fortification totally undetected.

[Vagabond]

Another fine action Rob, I wonder if the French Captain regrets not blowing the sloop out of the water with a raking broadside before entering a slugging match with the frigate. C'est la guerre.

I started to read your report this morning and the initial pictures were so dark I couldn't see them. Then I realized I had the brightness turned down on the tablet from reading your previous game last night. Once I turned it to daylight settings all was revealed.

Thanks for posting the game, I do enjoy reading them.
Cheers

[Bligh]

Yes John, it was a very dark night with no moon. I drew for the French Captain's reaction as soon as he realized that the Sloop was making for the gap he had left so that his anchor spring could be deployed. He had decided that if he worked his spring covered by the Fort he could destroy the Sloop, but not get back to prevent the Frigate getting in the first telling broadside free whilst he was springing back with his first fire advantage already used up to boot, so he chose the course of which we see the result. (Shades of the Nile I fancy.) As it happens the fort should have been in our hands before the fight started, but they put up such a strong resistance that it took most of the game to shut them up. As soon as the Sloop was in range they gave it a pasting as you saw, but by then the damage was already done, and before they completed reloading the fort had only enough troops left to fight and not reload. It was a close run thing.
As you will see from this weeks game when I get around to posting it, I seem to be developing a perchant for close run things just lately.

Rob.