AAR: January: For Honour & Glory

[Union Jack]

Captain Hardy Hanson ordered the anchor dropped as he gauged the distance to perfection.



The signal had just broke from the Flag Ships mast for his newly arrived ship, HMS Ardent, to drop anchor and Captain to repair on board. Hanson wasn’t new to this game and he had anticipated the orders as his ship sailed into port with Proserpine and Thorne following.

His gig was manned and ready as he stepped lively aboard. The pull to the Flag Ship was short. He was met by his old friend Captain Jack Union of the Dunkirk.



They hardly had time to shake hands before The Flag Captain gave orders for Hanson to come below. He waited quite a while before the Admirals door opened and he was beckoned inside.

“I don’t want no fluff, do you hear. I’ve had enough from Union to last a lifetime. Now pass over your report and wait on the poop deck.”

With a quick salute Hanson made his way out of the cabin and awaited the Admirals pleasure on the poop deck.

The Admiral perused Hanson’s report slowly taking in the clear, factual report......

3 bells of the first dog watch lookout reports strange sail on the horizon astern.
6 bells of the last dog watch lookout again reports strange sail on the horizon astern.



I decided as soon as the sun was on the horizon astern that I would shorten sail and turn to starboard. I hope to bring Ardent close to this mysterious sail by dawn.



We have made fast progress and I estimate if we stay on our current course we shall be within sight of the strange sail so as to identify her and learn her purpose.
3 bells of the Morning Watch I have doubled the lookouts.
7 bells of the morning watch the lookout has spotted a sail and we are closing.
2 bells of the Forenoon watch and we can see the strange sail....it is two sail. The lookout has identified one as a merchantman and the other as a French frigate. I have ordered the ship to quarters and shall engage the enemy soon.



4 bells of the forenoon watch, as we made our approach the wind has veered and we are temporarily in irons.



The lookout has reported boats in the water.



The merchant man has struck to the French frigate. I will attempt to close and engage before either ship can get under way.





7 bells of the forenoon watch, I have closed with the enemy as they are hoisting sail. With luck the day shall be ours.



1st bell Afternoon watch, the enemy fired a broadside. Minor damage sustained. The enemy turned to flee and we engaged with our starboard battery. I observed the merchant was from the Americas as the French had not hauled down her flag.



The French frigate engaged with her rear port division and we sustained minor damage. Double shotted guns from the port battery fired a broadside into the French frigate causing much damage. As the merchant was under way I ordered the starboard fore division to fire a warning shot and the French prize crew hauled down the colours and struck.



The enemy had turned and were running with the wind as they engaged us again. Their fire was desultory.



We fired another broadside and many of the enemy crew were felled.



For another hour we traded broadsides. The enemy’s fire weakening with every round. Finally the enemy Frigate hove to. I sent my 1st across and he reported by voice as we closed that most if not all the crew were dead or wounded. The French captain had been killed and the ship had struck.



I noted from my timepiece that the action had ended 10 minutes before 6 bells of the Afternoon watch. The engagement had lasted 90 minutes.

In the cabin, Admiral Lord Henry Percy, turned to his Flag Captain, Captain Smith, and remarked; “Well it’s brief and to the point! What do you make of it?”

“As you said Sir, it’s brief and to the point. Gives no measure of the man at all.”

“Exactly. Can we count on him do you think?”

“Only time will tell, and our first action too of course”.

“Of course. Inform Captain Hanson that I’ve read his report and he may return to his ship”.

“Yes Admiral.”

Butchers Bill:
HMS Ardent

HMS Ardent:
7 hull damage: Repair 1 hull damage free (end of scenario rule) = 6 damage
1 Crew loss

Captain Hanson:
+1 Rep for recapturing the merchant
+2 Rep for capturing a similar size ship
+3 Prize for the Merchantman
+3 Prize (1 for each undamaged hull box on enemy frigate)
Spent 6 Prize fixing hull damage.
Took 1 crew off US Merchantman.

Proserpine


US Thorn