2015 Campaign Mission 12 - For King and Country by ShadowDragon
For King and Country – sort of
My version of the 2015 Campaign scenario, For King and Country, by Union Jack:
https://sailsofglory.org/showthread....ng-and-Country
Admiral Wellesley’s well laid plan had run afoul of a common problem in the Caribbean. He was ill with a fever. Alan Cunningham was to be employed on a “prestigious” diplomatic mission – vital for His Majesty and “sure to have Cunningham’s name mentioned in high places”. How could Cunningham resist? But more importantly he would miss the battle with the French that was sure to come. Alas, with Wellesley under the weather command for the squadron would fall to Cunningham. Blasted! Why now would the man insist that he MUST command “for King and Country”.
So it was that Cunningham led the four ships-of-the-line – Victory, Queen Charlotte, Royal George and Malta against the French ships of Impérial, Montagne, Généreux and Bertin.
Horatio Attenbridge commanded the next in line – the QC, while the Admiral’s relative, Henry ‘Hotspur’ Wellesley. Horatio wondered if being the tailed end ship would keep Hotspur out of trouble.
The French fleet hove into sight. The weather gage favoured neither – the wind from the British port and the French larboard as the two squadron’s closed. It was as they the two fleets came into range that Cunningham ordered the fleet to turn to larboard.
“What in blazes!” muttered Horatio. “Why are we giving the French the advantage?” He observed the French fleet turn into the wind to further that advantage.
Horatio cursed the hard-headed pirate, Gabriel. If only he had relented and allowed his fellow pirate, Hal Sparrow to join the fight.
Cunningham had apparently realized his error and now ordered the fleet to port. The zig-zagging of the British squadron must have amused the French, but no matter – the QC and the Royal George were in position to deliver the first broadside against the French flagship.
Cunningham continued to port putting the Victory into a perfect position – as a target. The initial broadsides of the leading three French ships devastated the Victory. The Victory struck her colours. A calamity! The Malta did her best to restore British honour.
Using the Victory as a pivot the QC and Royal George fired full broadsides at the Bertin.
Rather than follow the QC and Royal George, Hotspur directed the Malta straight at the Bertin receiving fire from the entire French fleet.
(Sea-level view of the above action.)
Just then, the pirate ship, the Argonauta, appeared – raking the stern of the Généreux, which struck it’s colours. The Impérial with the French commander fleet on board fled. The Malta and Bertin exchange broadsides – the Bertain struck, but to whom? Hotspur not realizing that the Argonauta was aiding the British feared the battle was over and the Malta also fled the battle.
The Argonauta pursued the Impérial – no doubt Hal had hopes of capturing Amiral Lamontagne since Gabriel had put a handsome price on the Amiral’s head - but the warm sensation in Lamontagne's trousers suggested to him that discretion was the better part of valour, so there was little chance of the Argonauta catching the Impérial. That left the battle to the QC and Royal George versus the Montagne.
The two British ships turned to face their lone foe. The Royal George was the first to fire.
The QC fired at close range while the Montagne raked the Royal George.
The QC grappled the Montange – musketry depleted the crews of both ships.
The boarding action was fierce with the edge to the Montagne.
While the Montagne was holding her own it was still two versus one and her captain had decided it was enough. The grapples cut and the Montange fled but in vain. Broadsides from both the QC and Royal George slaughtered the crew and left the ship a wreck. The battle was over. The Victory would be recovered while they had captured three French prizes – although it was likely the Montange would not make it to port.
It was only then that Horatio noticed Cunningham in a ship’s boat – supposedly Cunningham was intending to transfer his flag to the QC. At least Horatio swore that he had not seen Cunningham and Admiral Wellesley was content to accept that as the truth – perhaps Horatio not mentioning the Malta fleeing factored into the equation. Cunningham, of course, was livid.
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Originally Posted by Bligh
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