The Glorious Frost of December

[Dobbs]

The season’s weather finally drove me inside. Left to my own devices, I decided that it was time for another fleet action.

 

Here’s the line-up, front to back:

French                                                 British 

Orient – 118                                        Royal George – 100

Foudroyant – 80                                  Royal Sovereign – 100 

Genereux – 74                                     Zealous – 74   

Audacieux – 74                                   Outrageous – 74     

Montagne – 118                                  Temeraire – 90       

Argonauta – 74                                   Cornwall – 74     

Jonquil – 74                                        Bellona – 74     

Protee – 64                                         Agamemnon – 64   

2 Concorde Frigates                           2 Amazon Frigates

To help with following the action, look at the ship's yards.  The French upper yards are painted yellow, the British yards are black.

The French have sortied with a large squadron to defend their merchant fleet. A British squadron moves to intercept. They have the weather gauge. If the British can break the French squadron, the merchant fleet is theirs, and economic disaster awaits France...

The morning sees both fleets establish their lines outside of long range with the wind on the port beam.

To preserve order, neither fleet is moving very fast. The British have t’gallants set and are slowly fore-reaching on the French.

The British topmen claw in the t’gallants as their line angles into range. Both lines let fly their opening broadsides. Neither side suffers any fatal blows, though on the French side Montagne loses her entire mainmast. The British line is challenged with an inordinate amount of mast and rudder hits. This wouldn't have been much of a problem, except that the admiral had given orders for the line to wear in unison.

As both fleets reload, holes appear in the British line as it struggles through its turn.

This was a tough moment for the British. The admiral had thought that the line would have reformed in reverse by this point. Instead, a few ships were raked, though nothing crippling.

For the French, the challenge was Montagne slowing down and leaving the line dragging her mainmast.

The British 1^st Rates are around and unleashing their broadsides.

On Orient, the French admiral ponders his situation. He has been shut out of the battle by the British turn. If he wears, he’ll be below the French line and may not be able to contribute. Tacking a 1^st rate under fighting sail is not a sure thing, but could keep Orient in the fight. What to do?

The admiral decides to tack Orient. Foudroyant luffs up at the same time, and loses her foretopmast to Zealous’ broadside. The French admiral signals that the rest of the fleet should wear. Zealous is pummeled by Audacieux and Genereux.

The French line is remaining better organized than the British, but the Royal Navy is starting to sort something out of the fog of battle. At the far end of the line, Agamemnon has engaged Protee in a single ship duel.

Edited January 4 by Dobbs

[Dobbs]

The red hulled 74, Audacieux is raked in the stern by two British 1^st rates. She is staggered, but survives. Much as the admiral feared, Orient hangs with her head to the wind. Even with her damaged foremast and no headsails, Foudroyant makes it across the wind and heads back toward the action. Way down the line, Temeraire batters Argonauta.

Orient still can’t get through the wind, and the battle is leaving Foudroyant behind. Zealous dishes out more punishment to a flagging Audacieux, while receiving a dollop from Montagne. At the far end of the line, Agamemnon and Protee continue a fairly even fight. Jonquil and Argonauta put up a valiant fight against Temeraire and three 74’s; Cornwall, Outrageous, and Bellona.

Montagne has lost her foretopmast as well as her whole mainmast at this point, but still has enough way and fight to cover for the withdrawal of the mangled wreck of Audacieux. Genereux hammers Zealous, while in turn receiving fire from Royal Sovereign.

Down the line, Argonauta exchanges fire with Temeraire. Bellona is dead in the water with a fallen mast alongside. Outrageous is desperately trying to bring her starboard side to bear, since very little is left of her port side. Agamemnon’s captain is trying to figure out how to continue the fight with Protee without ending up in the French line.

Edited January 4 by Dobbs

[Dobbs]

Things are quieting down in the reversed van. Montagne fires at Royal George, while Zealous roughs up Genereux a little more. At the far end of the line, Protee shoots ahead and allows Jonquil a clear line of fire at Agamemnon. Both French ships batter the English ship’s port side to a pulp, but she keeps her masts while topmen can be seen casting gaskets off her t’gallants. In return, the fight is knocked out of Protee by Agamemnon and Corwall’s combined broadsides.

At the end of the day, the French withdrew to leeward and the British to weather, keeping the weather gauge and continuing to shadow the French squadron and merchant fleet. Both sides have a lot of wounds to lick, but the strategic value suggests that this shouldn’t be over.

[flash]

Bravo, Dobbs, what a scrap, thanks for taking the time to post the action. 
I was initially confused as, from the ship list, I thought the positions were reversed until I saw Royal George's colour's as she turned.
A clean and thoroughly enjoyable AAR   

[Dobbs]

Thanks, Dave!  I see what you mean, so I reversed the names.  I stuck the AAR here, since I didn't see a specific spot for non-campaign AAR's.

Later today I plan to post the charts showing individual ship damage.  Then I have to figure how I'll do at sea repairs.

Edited December 25, 2024 by Dobbs

[Dobbs]

The Butcher’s Bill:

My method of damage recording is somewhat more elaborate than traditional SoG, but still uses the chits. I’m sure this will give you a feel for the action. The Ship Charts are shown from front to back in the line.

After the opening, Orient was pretty much excluded from the fight, so she came through with minimal damage.

Royal George kept her hand in it, but aside from her crew being brutalized, she’s still in pretty good shape.

Foudroyant’s starboard side is still pretty sound since the British reverse left her out of much of the fight. The loss of her foretopmast and headsails will keep her from tacking.

Royal Sovereign is in pretty good shape all around. She’s missing her mizzen topmast, but replacing main and fore sails will put her in pretty good order.

Genereux and Zealous have both been roughed up pretty equally.

Both Audacieux and Outrageous have taken it as far as it can go without capitulating. Outrageous still has a slight advantage with the loss of her mizzen topmast, as compared to the missing foretopmast on Audacieux.

 

Edited December 26, 2024 by Dobbs

[Dobbs]

Montagne was probably the most engaged ship in the battle and it shows. Her completely missing mainmast, and foremast foreshortened above the course are evidence of this. With her mast hits and rudder damage, she was never able to wear ship, so the brunt of her damage was absorbed on the port side. Temeraire also was in the thick of it. While rarely a target, she suffered the unfortunate foretopmast loss.

Argonauta will be ready to resume action with a few new sails. She’s knocked about a bit, but still a threat.

Bellona’s hull is still pretty sound, but she is hurting for masts.

[Dobbs]

Jonquil is ready to retire with her battered hull, and with a mostly intact sailplan, no one but the frigates could stop her.

Cornwall is in pretty decent shape, even without her mizzenmast.

Protee is hurting, but came through without losing a sail or mast.

Agamemnon was doing fine until Jonquil added her broadside to Protee’s. Her sailplan is still fine except for the missing fore t’gallant, but her port side could use some work.

The British will continue to shadow the French. Once both sides have made repairs, their respective admirals will have to make a decision as to if their squadrons can make a play for victory.

[flash]

Thanks, Dobbs, that layout makes things much clearer now.
Not being of the SoG Boaty persuasion I don't understand how the damage charts work though I do see a load of red marks that make some sense with the tale told.
As a past avid reader of Patrick Ryan, C.S Forester and the like, I appreciate a good ship action, so I look forward to seeing the continued action if the Admirals take the chance.
And no, I still don't get why Sails didn't take with me either !  💥Dave

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Superb action Dobbs. The last time I saw that many ships on the table was when we did the battle of Trafalgar.

Rob.

[ShadowDragon]

Great action, Dobbs!  Looking forward to the rematch.  I need to play another game soon as well as I reposting old campaign games. 

[Vagabond]

Well done Dobbs for kicking this off,  you must be expecting a long cold spell with so many ships on the table this looks like its going to be a 2 or even 3 day action.

[Dobbs]

The night following the action, in spite of her crew's valiant efforts to prevent it, the French squadron loses Audaxieux to the sea.  In the British squadron, a heavily damaged Agamemnon suffers the same fate.

The French squadron is tasked with safeguarding the merchant fleet as it makes best speed toward the West Indies.  With her wounds, Montagne is no longer able to make the 7 knots required to stay with the fleet, and departs with a frigate to escort her home.

Shadowing the French, the British lose Bellona from their line due to her mast damage. She also gets a frigate to keep her company. 

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I see the plot thickens sir!

Bligh.

[SkeenaH]

Bravo Dobbs for the Christmas AAR and a great way to start off this forum. 

[flash]

2 hours ago, Dobbs said:

The night following the action, in spite of her crew's valiant efforts to prevent it, the French squadron loses Audaxieux to the sea.  In the British squadron, a heavily damaged Agamemnon suffers the same fate.
The French squadron is tasked with safeguarding the merchant fleet as it makes best speed toward the West Indies.  With her wounds, Montagne is no longer able to make the 7 knots required to stay with the fleet, and departs with a frigate to escort her home.
Shadowing the French, the British lose Bellona from their line due to her mast damage. She also gets a frigate to keep her company. 

I take it that things are taking shape as the first light of dawn breaks on the following day, Dobbs, I eagerly await the next action.   

[Dobbs]

After the Battle

Days of Repair Later

As the sun rose, and the sky turned from a morning pink to the day’s blue, Capitaine Charles LeGauss stood on the quarterdeck and surveyed his command. Considering that no less than three capital ships had been firing on her in the battle three days ago, Montagne had fared quite well. Of course, she had lost her whole mainmast and her foretopmast. Their loss had forced her to drop out the squadron escorting the merchant fleet, but she was still a formidable, if slow, warship.

 

For the last two days, the weather had remained mild, with northerly winds at 7-12 knots and Montagne lay hove to as her crew worked to jury-rig a foretopmast and mend her battered port side. After the first sunrise, a level of urgency had been added to the work, as the lookouts reported the English third rate Bellona a few miles away, also being repaired by her crew. While Montagne’s crew conducted their repairs, their escorting frigate, Concorde, played a game of cat and mouse with the British escort, Thetis, as each side tried their best to sniff out the opponent’s intentions without the situation devolving into a premature shooting match.

 

Now, the third day had arrived, and it was obvious that the British liner meant to restart the prior engagement. Charles pondered the tactical situation. As was their national affectation, the Englishmen had insisted on the weathergauge. There was no issue there. Montagne was beam-reaching on a starboard tack, putting her best battery to windward. If Bellona wanted to re-engage, she would have to sail into Montagne’s sharpest teeth.

 

Capitaine LeGauss clenched his hands behind his back and glanced at the ship’s wheel and let his gaze drift into his ship’s waist. There were his two weaknesses. The helm was still being problematic, and there was an obvious sparseness to the number of men standing at their stations. Montagne had never been a spritely boat to maneuver. Now, with her injured rudder, she was less so. As to the crew, while his ship had performed handsomely in the battle a few days ago, the number of casualties caused by the close fight had been grim. Still, if the British intended to match Montagne broadside for broadside, Charles was sure there could be only one outcome, and it was not one that the English would like.

Capitaine LeGauss smiled, the British certainly were brave, to present their bows while steering for a first rate’s broadside. Now, if only they would maintain that heading until they were in range.

Bellona turned as sharply as she could back to a starboard broad reach. The British plan became clear. The third rate was merely keeping Montagne busy while the frigate closed on her undefended stern. Concorde’s captain had seen the approaching danger and began to turn to intercept. With a roar, the liners exchanged their opening broadsides. Montagne came out much better, as Bellona was only able to bring her forward guns to bear.

As the liner’s gun crews worked frantically to reload, the British frigate’s impending tactic continued to unfold in silence. With her limited maneuverability, there was nothing Montagne could do to prevent what was coming. Concorde was coming around, but she wouldn’t be in time to prevent the rake, only to avenge it. Still, how much damage could a frigate do to a first rate?

Montagne’s broadside tore into the beleaguered Bellona again. From her mediocre reply, it was obvious that the third rate couldn’t take much more.

Moments later, Capitaine LeGauss was thrown to the deck as Thetis fired into Montagne’s stern. The cacophonous shattering of glass and splintering of wood, intermixed with the screams of injured and panicking men meant that Charles had his answer. A frigate’s opening broadside could do a lot of damage to a first rate!

Edited January 4 by Dobbs

[Dobbs]

After her raking attack, Thetis put her helm down and danced away on a port tack before the lumbering Montagne could turn far enough to catch her at close range. As the first rate let fly with her aftermost guns, Concorde added her forward guns in an attempt to punish the English frigate.

Bellona was drawing ahead of Montagne, and the first rate could only bring her forward guns to bear while receiving the third rate’s full, though reduced, broadside. Once again, Montagne shrugged off the British liner’s gunfire. The French ship was doing fine, but the rake from the frigate had left her crew decimated.

Meanwhile, both frigates threw themselves into the wind to tack back toward their larger sisters. While their blocks squealed as their braces swung, both exchanged partial broadsides. A French ball smashed Thetis’ furled fore t’gallant yard.

Both frigates easily cleared their tacks and headed back toward the liners.

Capitaine LeGauss gritted his teeth. Bellona’s port side was wreckage. She could no longer mount a meaningful broadside. But, she had speed. She had maneuverability, and she had men. These things, Montagne did not. Bellona was closing.

Still dashing back to the liners, the frigates continued to harass each other, but neither scored a meaningful blow.

Using her superior speed and maneuverability, Bellona managed to avoid the worst of Montagne’s broadside, though a lucky shot shredded her furled maincourse on its yard. Bellona was getting closer still. Charles knew that if it came to musketfire and boarding, his remaining men did not have it in them. His only hope was to somehow duck the oncoming British ship.

It was not to be. Even with her sheets cast off, Montagne still had enough way on to plow into the side of Bellona. As musketfire peppered the deck around him, with almost nothing to be heard in reply, Capitain Charles LeGauss walked with slumped shoulders to the taffrail and the flag. A quick slice with his ceremonial sword parted the halyard, and the ensign came down in a rush.

The frigates continued their running battle. As Concorde’s captain saw Montagne’s ensign come down, he realized that it was time to leave, but Concorde might still leave her mark on the English.

Bellona and Montagne were firmly entangled, and no matter how many lines were cut and how hard the British sailors pushed with poles, the two ships remained joined as one. Concorde came on…

Bellona still couldn’t break free as Concorde swept across her bow and raked her. The battered third rate could do nothing but absorb the damage. On Concorde’s port side, she and Thetis exchanged fire. Concorde put a ball through Thetis’ foretopsail, eliminating any chance of pursuit, but otherwise neither inflicted any mortal damage.

[Dobbs]

On Concorde, her t’gallants were sheeted home, and the frigate picked up speed on a broad reach. Thetis fired a parting shot, but was unable to part anything vital on Concorde.

 

Bellona’s hull was a mess. It wasn’t until the following day that the carpenter was able to report that the water level in the well was dropping. It was going to take a lot more work to get the two liners home.

The Butcher’s Bill

[Marco89]

Top! They will be able to come back home?! 😁💪🏻

Ps. How do you use your sheet?

Tnx!

[Dobbs]

I'm sure they'll be just fine, Mother Nature permitting.  Stay tuned for what the rest of the fleet is doing.

If you're interested, I'll have to upload the Ship Charts that work with the SoG cards.  I came up with those before these.  These sheets reflect that I've modified my movement to allow for more than the 3 speeds of traditional SoG.

Edited January 4 by Dobbs

[Marco89]

Wonderful! I'm interested in both and to understand better the way you modified the movement rule! 😀

[flash]

Another gritty action, Dobbs, and away from the main objective, I'd been hoping we'd see this.
A victory for the British tars, a capture and shares all round, that'll keep them happy ! 💰 Dave

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Keeps us happy indeed Dave, but one swallow and all that. I feel that there are still a few more nautical miles left to run in this conflict. Congratulations to Dobbs on yet another well contested feat of arms and AAR.

Rob.

[Vagabond]

Nice one Dobbs. Looking at your charts it would seem that Montagne's structure was in better shape than Bellona. Was it the broadside from Thentis that made all the difference by reducing the crew numbers so much?