AAR - Frigate Action north of Algiers at 38°13'32“N and 2°41'54“E, 5th of March

[William Bush]

After the original date for this game had to be postponed on short notice, finally got together for this game on 5th of March 2023. As two of the players needed to be at home in the evening, it would only be a one-round match.

As this was only our second meeting altogether, we used the Standard Rules with following Optional Rules being in effect: Let The Men Drink (can't do without it...), Entanglement, Continuous Fire, First Broadside, Boarding, Surrendered Ships. We forgot about Double Shot and misplayed First Broadside by using it only once per ship and not once per the ship's both sides.

To get more acquainted and familiar with maneuvering, we chose a frigate action, which would also allow „Capt. Ganzorro“ a first try of his newly bought Spanish frigate Ifigenia and my own („Lt. Bush“) yet unplayed British frigate HMS Mahonesa.


Ifigenia 1795 (Spanish) – Capt. Ganzorro:
Burthen 3, Veer 7, Sailing Profile A, Guns 34, Crew 288, Point Value 73

Courageuse 1778 (French) – Capt. Brugueler:
Burthen 3, Veer 7, Sailing Profile A, Guns 34, Crew 280, Point Value 74

HMS Mahonesa 1796 (British) – Lt. Bush (Acting Capt.):
Burthen 4, Veer 7, Sailing Profile K, Guns 36, Crew 260, Point Value 80

HMS Orpheus 1780, (British) – Capt. Heald:
Burthen 2, Veer 8, Sailing Profile C, Guns 32, Crew 220, Point Value 69


Point Values of both squadrons were almost identical with 147 for the French/Spanish and 149 for the British.

The scenario was the „Basic“ scenario „Enemy In Sight!“. In the pictures, top = south, bottom = north, right = west, left = east.


In the Mediterranean Sea north of Algiers at 38°13'32“N and 2°41'54“E, 5th of March in the afternoon a small British squadron consisting of the frigates HMS Mahonesa (36) and HMS Orpheus (32) was alerted by the lookout to two sails on the horizon. The British closed on a south-westerly course identifying the unknown vessels as a pair of enemy frigates, the French Courageuse (34) and the Spanish Ifigenia (34) on a north-westerly course with a fine breeze blowing from the east.

Turn 1:
All hands at battle stations, HMS Mahonesa attempting to maintain the weather gauge, while HMS Orpheus falling off a bit to the west with the intention to envelop the enemy frigates.


Turn 2:



French Courageuse holds her fire vs. HMS Mahonesa, who cannot bring her guns to bear yet. HMS Orpheus has just contrieved to bring herself into position for a raking shot and fires her first boadside at long range vs. Ifigenia. The Spanish frigate is lucky as only some shots hit home while most miss closely.


Turn 3:



HMS Mahonesa has maneuverd behind Courageuse, avoiding the covered arc of the French vessel's full broadside while bringing her own to bear for the first time at close range with devastating effects on the crew of Courageuse. Unfortunately, it turns out that HMS Mahonesa is just in long range of the full broadside of Ifigenia, thus there is a lot of incoming return-fire. Luckily for HMS Mahonesa, the sturdiest of all vessels, the damage can be accomodated in two damage boxes plus one Crew damage. Ifigenia is further able to fire long-range from its frontal covered arc at HMS Orpheus causing some hull damage.


Turn 4:



While Courageuse holds course, HMS Mahonesa deftly turns westward setting the French frigate up for a raking shot at long range using Continuous Fire causing some damage, while it cannot be targeted by any enemy fire. While Ifigenia has to reload both broadsides, HMS Orpheus fires through the rear covered ard at long range but draws to blanks. So far, Ifigenia has been lucky as only two of eight chit draws against her weren't zeroes.


Turn 5:



HMS Mahonesa is safely out of reach while reloading. Courageuse cannot target any British ship. The hot blooded Spanish Ifigenia cuts in front of Courageuse in order to deliver a full broadside at short range vs. HMS Orpheus. It appears as a collision might be immient next turn. But first, the Spanish cannon balls tear into HMS Orpheus. As Ifigenia has taken some damage before, she can draw only two damage chits, one of which is a zero. This could have been worse...