AAR. May scenario. Nation v Nation The Blockade.

[Bligh]

Rear Admiral Sir Joshua Pound paced restlessly back and forth in the State Cabin of HMS Royal George.


It was now three months since his Fleet had rendezvoused south of Madagascar in search of a Spanish Squadron which had entered the Indian Ocean in an attempt to link up with the French. Finally run to earth at the port of Mahalivona on the eastern side of the Island, his Fleet had blockaded them for eight long weeks. The Spanish had shown no inclination to emerge, until a storm of powerful dimensions had driven the British ships way out into the Indian ocean.



After a tempestuous three days, he had still only managed to round up one 74 and a couple of Frigates, one of which had brought him tidings that the Dons were emerging from the harbour.




As the Sun finally broke through the clouds, he made his decision.





Still several miles away from his station Pound made signal for full sail and with the Frigates to his port side he followed the 74 as swiftly as he could to intercept the Spanish Squadron.


Don Miguel de Sanchez, Carburuna, De la Vega was very pleased with his squadrons alacrity at slipping out of port as soon as it was obvious that the British had been dispersed by the storm.





One by one they progressed down the channel with a gentle offshore following wind. Despite the fact that the wind gradually veered, all the ships maintained perfect position on each other.
Finally, all four. his own flagship 80 and the two 74s plus his Frigate were clear of the land and coming about to round the final shoals setting a heading for a rendezvous with the rest of the fleet.




Just as the lead ship the Hero set her topsails, the wind started to veer still further, but as all ships were now out of the channel, De la Vega maintained his course with the wind now just off his port bow, and still no sight of the English. Progress was stately.




Suddenly with a sudden gust the wind veered still further, and the first two ships Heroe and Ifigenia were taken aback.




In an attempt to correct course Ifigenia, much the faster sailor, ran aboard Heroe and their sails and rigging became entangled.









The same fate befell Argonauta and Neptuno, although no entanglement ensued in this case.






Damage was, however, quite substantial.



Just as De la Vega was starting to hoist frantic signals to sort out the mess, his masthead lookout informed him that the English Squadron was in sight.

Bligh.