"War of 1812 Great Lakes Naval what-if" Topic

Snooping around online, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a small naval arms race had started as a result of both the British and American efforts to gain control of the lakes by building some rather formidable ships.
By late 1814, each side had on the stocks 2 ships of the line (American: battleships "New Orleans" 2800t 200'keel, 56'beam 62 32# long guns, 24 32# carronades, and "Chippewa" of surmisedly similar dimensions, both at Sacketts Harbor, NY) and a large frigate of 1750-plus tonnes burthen.
Now, given a few tweaks of history--Wellington not declining to come to America to take over the British forces and possibly have a different outcome of the Battle of New Orleans, negotiations coming to loggerheads and the Treat of Ghent being tabled, and a renewed ferocity in the Americans due to provocations by their enemies, the War of 1812 carries on into 1815, the ships on the Great lakes are completed and equipped, and the larger, more powerful fleets meet to destroy each other.

Anyone planning on a Fighting Sail game at Fall-In this year? Here's a freebie idea!

Britain had more then ships on the stocks HMS St Lawrence was launched as a 112 gun First Rate ship of the line .

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This second Wikilink gives a brief history of the navla campaign on Lake Ontario plus details of the ships involved. If the war had gone into 1815 both sides would have had at least three ships of the line each with possibly more. Both sides would have needed more aggressive commanders as both Chauncey and Yeo were viewed as cautious since both knew that if they lost their fleets their side would probably have lost the War.

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Sounds great. 15mm Thouroughbred stuff is made for such scenarios.

GMT had a sale last month that I used to pick up Flying Colors, Serpent of the Seas (1812 stuff) and scenario pack, in acknowledgement that my age of sail minis project is a long, long ways from completion. So stuff like this will be great to throw into the game as what-ifs, thanks.

So how long could the British maintain this fictitious campaign, unless you write Boney's return from Elba out as well?

The Great Lakes could probably go on for quite a while, as it was largely local supplies.