AAR - NAtion v Nation May: The Blockade

[Union Jack]

The French squadron had their prayers answered. The wind had veered and allowed them to sail down the river and gain sea room for the dash to join the rest of the fleet.



The frigate Seraphim led the way followed by the squadron flagship, the 80 gun Pluto, to the rear of the flagship were the 74’s of Neptune, Saturn and Venus.



In the bay a lone British frigate, the 40 gun Dunkirk, kept station as the British blockading squadron were further out to sea trying to beat back to their previous blockade position. Such is the fickle nature of the wind.



“Sail ho on the port side”, came the cry from the masthead lookout. “Ah bad timing, the squadron is still not in sight. Let’s see what we can do to slow them up”. The Captain said to no-one in particular.



(just to note the dice roll for the squadron entry was a 6!)

No sooner had HMS Dunkirk engaged the French frigate when the cry came from the masthead “another Frenchies leaving the river, a big un...looks like an 80 gunner, and I can see 2 more masts behind it”.



Dunkirk tacked across the stern of the French frigate and both frigates again fired a broadside as the 80 gun French ship of the line sailed on.



“Winds veering Captain and the French frigate is afire”. The first officer stated. “Good, keep this up and hopefully the squadron will join us soon”.



Badly damaged the French frigate commander had already decided to head back to port as the 2nd Ship of the Line cleared the mouth of the river. Captain Union ordered a parting shot as the frigate turned away from his ship.



“Deck there, 4 French sail of the line. An 80 gun followed by what looks like 3 74’s.” “Well done that man, an extra ration of grog for you when this days done”. Captain Union was not to know that the man would never receive his extra rum ration when this day was done. “The winds changing again sir”. “I know, I know. Hopefully it will blow the French squadron back into port”.



“Deck there, sail in sight of the starboard bow”. “Can you make them out?” “I sir, ‘tis the squadron”. “Now we have them, now we have them!”



With the wind changing the French squadron had to tack back towards shore.



It wasn’t long before the remainder of the squadron joined the Dunkirk.



The fight was on. (To be continued)

[Union Jack]

“Signal from Flag sir; Well done, take position to windward”.
“Acknowledge if you please”.
“Aye, aye Sir”.



The French squadron were not having it all their way! With the changes in wind what was an advantage was turning into a disadvantage as they began to tack across the wind to break away from the British squadron.



“Signal from the flag sir, continue as ordered, remainder tack together”.
“Good now we must keep out of the squadrons way as they engage. Steer a course to intercept the lead ship”.



As the squadrons closed the Royal Sovereign was engaged by Pluto and Neptune.



Captain Union decided to throw in his broadside with that of HMS Northumberland to slow down the lead French ship as HMS Royal Sovereign engaged Neptune. “That lead ship be the Pluto sir. Know her anywhere”. “Thank you for that add the details in the log”.



Neptune was afire and Pluto had taken heavy damage. The foremast came crashing down onto the deck of Pluto as she veered to starboard, narrowly missing Dunkirk in the process. However her port gun ports now exploded in reply! Dunkirk reeled under the weight of iron discharged towards her at nothing but pistol range.



HMS Africa continued forward and took the combined fire from Pluto, Neptune and Saturn which should have slammed into HMS Royal Sovereign instead. Captain Jack Union was thrown to the deck as everything exploded around him. Men in the tops fell like leaves and the afterguard lay beside the shattered mizzen sail flapping useless in the wind.



Pluto continued her plunge across the wind as HMS Royal Sovereign fired and HMS Northumberland raked her from the stern.





The damage and devastation was too much. Pluto hauled her colours down and struck. HMS Africa had turned to port and was sailing down the French line towards the unengaged Venus.



Sailing between Neptune and Saturn, HMS Royal Sovereign slammed into Saturn and the cry ‘Boarders away’ resounded from both ships. Royal Sovereign fired a bow rake as the two ships closed as Northumberland took fire from Neptunes rear guns and Saturns fore guns.



As the titanic struggle between Saturn and Sovereign continued, Northumberland gave vent as she passes as Venus poured a stern rake into the now anchored Africa.



Royal Sovereign managed one final starboard broadside stern rake as Neptune made good her escape.



The final blow was taken by HMS Royal Sovereign when her colours were shot away and everyone thought the Flagship had struck. This allowed Venus to escape and join Neptune.

[Union Jack]

Butchers Bill:


Pluto: struck 8 hull/8 crew
Neptune: escaped RTP/7 hull/2 crew/+20pts
Saturn: Struck 5 hull/10 crew
Venus: escaped 3 hull/1 crew/+20pts
Seraphim: returned to original port/7 hull/0 crew/+10pts
Points = 50


HMS Royal Sovereign: RTP/6 hll/12 crew/Captain wounded/Admiral Wounded
HMS Norhumberland: RTP/2 hull/6 crew
HMS Africa: RTP/6 hull/5 crew
HMS Dunkirk: RTP/3 hull/7 crew/Captain Wounded

+25pts ID all 5 ships
+40pts 2 prizes taken
+15pts 1 ship forced to return
80pts

[Hjl]

Looks exciting so far!

[Dr.Maturin]

Anybody's game at this stage? This posted after Part 1 of course!

[Hjl]

Mine is currently on my whiteboard. Fleets set up and ready for deployment and time to play!

[Union Jack]

I need a new fleet!

[Hjl]

Good lord, the sovereign took an absolute beating! As you won the day I'm sure she can be salvaged and recrewed, but what a huge blow!

[Bligh]

That was a mammoth action Neil.
I'm surprised that it was not even more costly.
The new repair rules should help a bit though.
I am in awe of your photographic angles in the introduction. They really set the scene beautifully.
Commentary from Captain Union was entertaining as usual, although he did go a bit quiet towards the end if the action.
All in all another first rate AAR.
Rob.

[Dr.Maturin]

Hard fought Sir! Hard fought! My congratulations to you and your crews. Their Lordships of Admiralty will be most pleased at the outcome I am sure, but perhaps tempered in thier praise by the high repair bill.

[Union Jack]

Commentary from Captain Union was entertaining as usual, although he did go a bit quiet towards the end if the action.

"They've hit the Captain..arrghh"', "The officers are down...arrgh", With most of the crew wounded but with little hull damage the Dunkirk drifted clear of the action. The surgeon and lobloly boys were kept busy it was only the drifting sounds of 'huzzah' told them that victory was theirs.

Hope that clears Captain Unions silence up......

[Union Jack]

Hard fought Sir! Hard fought! My congratulations to you and your crews. Their Lordships of Admiralty will be most pleased at the outcome I am sure, but perhaps tempered in thier praise by the high repair bill.

I'll get round to the clearing up and refit later today.

[Bligh]

It was as I feared then Admiral
I do hope that Captain Union is not too hard hit.
Bligh.

[Union Jack]

Rolls to follow...from somewhere.

It was as I feared then Admiral
I do hope that Captain Union is not too hard hit.
Bligh.

[Union Jack]

HMS Royal Sovereign: RTP/6 hll/12 crew/Captain wounded/Admiral Wounded
Captain rolled 3 - 1 (all crew boxes filled) = 2 = roled 3+1 (miss2-4 scnearios) = 4 = miss 4 scenarios
Admiral rolled 6 - 1 (all crew boxes filled) = 5 = a minor scratch and irritation
HMS Royal Sovereign plays the grog card and regains 1 crew box
HMS Royal Sovereign repairs 1 hull box during game
HMS Royal Sovereign repairs 1 hull box at end of scenario for free
HMS Royal Sovereign has 4 Hull damage and 11 crew boxes of damage
50% of hull strength = 5 (rounded down) no damage above 5 left so remaining 4 hull boxes are reparied automatic
50% of crew boxes = 6 = 6 crew boxes of crew are returned automatic
Royal Sovereign has no hull damage and 5 crew loss

HMS Norhumberland: RTP/2 hull/6 crew
HMS Norhumberland plays the grog card and regains 1 crew box
HMS Norhumberland repairs 1 hull box during game
HMS Norhumberland repairs 1 hull box at end of scenario for free
HMS Norhumberland has 2 Hull damage and 5 crew boxes of damage
50% of hull strength = 5 no damage above 5 left so remaining 2 hull boxes are reparied automatic
50% of crew boxes = 5 (rounded down) = 5 crew boxes of crew are returned automatic
HMS Norhumberland has no hull damage and no crew loss

HMS Africa: RTP/6 hull/5 crew
HMS Africa plays the grog card and regains 1 crew box
HMS Africa repairs 1 hull box during game
HMS Africa repairs 1 hull box at end of scenario for free
HMS Africa has 4 Hull damage and 4 crew boxes of damage
50% of hull strength = 5 no damage above 5 left so remaining 4 hull boxes are reparied automatic
50% of crew boxes = 5 (rounded down) = 4 crew boxes of crew are returned automatic
HMS Africa has no hull damage and no crew loss

HMS Dunkirk: RTP/3 hull/7 crew/Captain Wounded
rolled 4-1(musket) = 3= miss 1 scenario

HMS Dunkirk plays the grog card and regains 1 crew box
HMS Dunkirk repairs 1 hull box during game
HMS Dunkirk repairs 1 hull box at end of scenario for free
HMS Dunkirk has 1 Hull damage and 6 crew boxes of damage
50% of hull strength = 4 no damage above 4 left so remaining 1 hull boxes are reparied automatic
50% of crew boxes = 4 (rounded down) = 4 crew boxes of crew are returned automatic
HMS Dunkirk has no hull damage and 2 crew loss
(As the Captain will miss 1 scenario the crew loss will be recruited free of charge by missing 1 scenario)


That was the long winded explanation showing how I work the damage crew loss and repairs plus wounded captains. I would not expect you to put all this down just the end line, like I have put in bold.

The Prizes:
Pluto RTP/8 Hull/8 crew therefore 6 rep points for the burden factor only and 6 prize.
Saturn RTP/5 Hull/10 Crew therefore gains 5 rep points for the burden factor and 5 prize.

Each of my Captains will take: 11 rep/11 Prize
1 Rep/1 Prize for being on the winning side. = 4/4
3 Rep/3 Prize to Admiral for commanding. = 7/7
2 Rep/2 Prize to RS Captain for Pluto. = 9/9
2 Rep/2 Prize to RS Captain for Saturn. = 11/11

Just another way of doing it please feel free to comment.

[Bligh]

Thanks for that Neil.
It points the way I hope.
I will try to do my own sums after the current game is published.
Rob.

[Hyperfocal]

Well played sir, well played.