Battle of the Choptank

[Dobbs]

April 15,1813

After an early Spring foray into the Atlantic, the Baltimore clipper Enterprise was returning home. Just west of Sharp's Island on the Chesapeake Bay, she found her way homeward blocked by HMS Swan. The wind was fair and from the west.



Being a close match, her captain chose to engage. At the very least, she only had to force her way past and run to windward.



The captain of Swan, realizing his handling disadvantage, moved quickly to gain the weather gauge and get the first shot.



The clipper bore off, and Swan turned to follow.



...swinging right into a raking broadside at close range from Enterprise.



More to come...

[Dobbs]

After her broadside, Enterprise fell off downwind to avoid being raked at close range. Swan followed in pursuit. Enterprise wore ship and bloodied Swan's nose again.

[Dobbs]

As Swan continued to follow Enterprise and exchange broadsides, the wind veered and dropped to a light breeze. Here, Swan's captain made an error. Expecting Enterprise to bear off instead of tack, he suddenly found that he had firmly lost the weather gauge (the wind is blowing from the right side of lower picture).

[Dobbs]

Swan, now being pursued instead of pursuer, exchanged partial broadsides with Enterprise.

The chase continued until Swan headed up and Enterprise wore.



Suddenly the wind backed, throwing Swan into irons. Since she was moving at Backing Sails when the wind shifted, her next move took her backwards with a 2 hourglass turn to starboard. The following turn, she was stationary as the wind filled her sails again.

Meanwhile, Enterprise came around to press her advantage, but, cutting it too close, suffered a minor collision. During the collision, Swan got off a partial, but telling, broadside from her port quarter.

[Dobbs]

The ships didn't foul and neither crew attempted to board.
The ships exchanged musketfire and moved into the clear.



Both ships were showing the wear and tear of the engagement, but the exchange during the collision had swung things in Swan's favor.

At this point, the wind increased, and it seemed likely that,
given an opportunity, Enterprise would break and run for Baltimore.



While reloading, Swan crossed Enterprise's bow and hardened up, cutting off her escape.

Realizing his position, the badly battered Enterprise's captain hauled down her ensign. The engagement was over.

[Dobbs]

Suzanne relaxes after the close-fought action, and takes some time to follow the adventures of another captain in Patrick O'Brian's "Post Captain".

[Comte de Brueys]

Great AAR with an uncommon ship, Dobbs.

[MrMo]

Whats that for extra sheets for SoG, they are looking very nice and usable?

Regards
Marco

[Baxter]

Good battle and photos. Thank you for sharing.

[Bligh]

Very neat little action Dobbs. Shows what fun you can have with these smaller craft.
Thanks for posting.
Rob.

[Dobbs]

Whats that for extra sheets for SoG, they are looking very nice and usable?

Regards
Marco

If you'd like to give them a try, here are some examples I've uploaded:

https://www.sailsofglory.org/entry.p...-Damage-Charts

If you have any questions, you know where to find me.

If you try them, let me know what you think.

[Dobbs]

Thank you, gentlemen, and thanks for the rep.

Rob, if you have a moment, could you work your magic and rotate the 3rd picture from the bottom? My darned phone continues to be arbitrary about which way is up.

[Capn Duff]

Nice action and report there Dobbs, enjoyed the read

[Bligh]

Job done Dobbs.
Rob.

[TexaS]

Very nice battle!

It was a fun read.

[Naharaht]

Thank you for the good A.A.R., Dobbs.