Jimmy set up another game from the campaign for us, once again using the Black Seas rules. I hadn't taken part in the previous battle, where the French pulled off a miracle and managed to burn one of the British frigates. This time, the remaining frigate was escorting a merchant ship loaded with supplies for British outposts in the region when a French squadron of three brigs sailed out to intercept them.
UMPIRING: Jimmy
1. Forces.
2. The Game.
It was another French attack on a British convoy. Both sides were already depleted from previous battles, and the number of available ships was severely limited, but the French still had the numerical advantage. This time, Andy, Jimmy, and I, captains of French brigs, faced Alasdair, who commanded both British vessels. The British were tasked with getting the convoy through safely, while the French were ordered to prevent it.
This time, the wind favoured the French. We drove straight toward the convoy, skimmed past it, and plunged into a brief firefight. We managed to hit a British frigate, but the fire we started was quickly put out. While Jimmy and I slipped past the British with no serious damage, Andy was far less fortunate. His ship took a full broadside from a merchantman, sparking a blaze aboard the French vessel. Andy couldn't bring the fire under control, and his badly damaged ship was forced to withdraw from the battle. That left two French and two British ships still in the fight.
Thanks to a successful manoeuvre, we managed to get behind the British convoy. The British frigate had overstepped its mark and left the merchantman far behind. This allowed Jimmy and me to fire on the British ship with impunity. We should have continued, pounding the ship and forcing it to surrender, but I couldn't think of anything better. Instead, I decided to capture the ship by boarding her. As it turned out, it was a "brilliant” decision…
I sailed up to the merchantman and tried to board her, but my first attempt failed. I tried again and failed once more. The second time, however, I found myself facing a British merchantman that was forced to ram my ship, and the collision nearly proved fatal. My crew was on the verge of collapse and close to surrendering, but a swift withdrawal and a few makeshift repairs allowed my ship to leave the battlefield safely. Jimmy remained behind on the field of battle.
Meanwhile, the British frigate turned and moved to support the merchant ship, which was fighting alone. Jimmy, however, chose to take advantage of this. He manoeuvred his vessel between the frigate and the merchantman and opened fire in both directions. This time, his shots found their mark and inflicted devastating damage. The merchant ship hoisted a white flag, while the frigate burst into flames. The fire was uncontrollable, and the British warship nearly raised a white flag itself. In the end, the British frigate was forced to flee. Thanks to Jimmy, the French fleet emerged victorious, but it was a Pyrrhic victory, given the damage to the French ships and the long time required for repairs.
The campaign is ongoing…
3. Links.
SESWC:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/631841809210352
FLICKR:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333168220
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