We finally played out this Willaumez versus Cochrane scenario last weekend at the Southern Front con in Raleigh NC. Kudos to the participants – Bob and Ron under the Union Jack; Bruce and my goodself beneath the Tricoleur. Bob played the role of Cochrane. Bruce took on the unenviable role of Willaumez as overall French commander, while yours truly played the role of an impetuous Jerome Bonaparte and did his level best to make poor Bruce's life a misery. The scenario details can be found in the first post of this thread.
The game started with the wind blowing out of the S and the French holding the wing gauge.
The British squadron started the game under Battle Sail in line ahead, on a close-hauled ESE heading in good order at one cable interval between ships. However, the British were somewhat hemmed in by the shoal water of St Thomas deemed to lie less than a mile to the N. British order of sailing was : 74 NORTHUMBERLAND (flag), 74 CANADA, 74 ELEPHANT, 64 AGAMEMNON (slow).
The French approached from the SW in the British. The French main body started the game to windward of the British in a disordered line abreast on a NE intercept heading under Easy Sail at about Cannon Shot distance (~900 yards) from the British. French order of sailing from E to W was: 74 EOLE, 80 FOUDROYANT (flag), 74 IMPETUEUX, 74 CASSARD, 74 PATRIOTE. In keeping with his rash nature, Jerome (74 VETERAN) was positioned several hundred yards ahead of the French main body under Full Sail, so far ahead in fact that he was at about Point Blank distance (~600 yards) on the starboard bow of NORTHUMBERLAND and outside her broadside arc.
Things started off badly for Jerome when a slight change of heading by NORTHUMBERLAND brought her broadside battery to bear upon VETERAN. A very good initial broadside dice roll coupled with the excessive sail being carried by VETERAN's resulted in a damaged mainmast and sufficient sail damage to somewhat reduce the Frenchman's speed. In reaction, VETERAN turned away to the E to run out of NORTHUMBERLAND's firing arc until she could reduce sail; efforts by VETERAN to reduce sail to a safe level were however delayed as a result of several successive crew initiative test failures. Meanwhile the main body of the French squadron exchanged a desultory fire with the British as they continued to edge down.
VETERAN, having finally succeeded after several turns in reducing to Battle Sail, turned back downwind with the intention of closing upon the bow of NORTHUMBERLAND and engaging her. However, by the time VETERAN had closed to within Musket Shot (~300 yds) of the British flagship, the main body of the French had caught up with Jerome. Sensing Jerome's rash intentions, the French Admiral Willaumez directed EOLE to interpose herself between VETERAN and NORTHUMBERLAND in order to protect Jerome's person from danger. EOLE bravely closed with the powerful NORTHUMBERLAND and carried on a spirited gunnery exchange at ever-decreasing range, at one point coming into contact and rubbing gunwales with her opponent. VETERAN was completely blocked out of the action by EOLE and became an impotent bystander in the action that followed. Jerome (yours truly) was highly annoyed at being nudged out of the action and made a note to dispatch a furious letter of protest to his brother the Emperor complaining of the effrontery and lack of deference displayed by the captain of EOLE in frustrating his pursuit of a glorious victory over the English dog Cochrane; the scenario designer (also yours truly) was on the other hand delighted that the player (kudos to you, Bruce, if you are reading this) commanding the French squadron was playing so faithfully to the spirit of the scenario.
While the engagement between EOLE and NORTHUMBERLAND raged at the head of the line, FOUDROYANT and IMPETUEUX exchanged broadsides with CANADA and ELEPHANT without any dramatic results. CASSARD and PATRIOTE, through some maneuvering confusion on the French side, tried to press forward to the head of the line and ended up being blanked out of the action by FOURDOYANT and IMPETUEUX; it is uncertain whether they fire fore than a few broadsides in the entire action. Meanwhile, the weak and slow British AGAMEMNON, falling further and further behind her consorts as the action evolved, was ignored by the French. Given the (somewhat arbitrary) convention victory conditions, an attack upon her, isolated as she was at the end of the British line, would have presented the best opportunity for French success.
The game was ultimately decided when EOLE, after a lengthy but uneven struggle against the NORTHUMBERLAND with her powerful carronade battery and superior crew, had her Mizzenmast shot away, which in turn took her tottering Mainmast along with it. With all her after sail lost and therefore unable to escape her British opponent, she was deemed to have been disabled and the game was called in favor of the British. Even with a fifty percent advantage in numbers, an 1806 scenario requires the French to exercise great caution when engaging the British. Experience with the rules has shown that the best French option for this period is to stay outside of carronade range, engage at Point Blank (within 600 yards) and seek to disable the British ships aloft.
Anyone near Raleigh Durham should consider a visit to the Souther Front convention. Good people, great time. My thanks to all who participated.
B
SCENARIO DETAILS
Cochrane versus Willaumez at Tortola
July 6th, 1806
Background
The two squadrons described below actually did encounter one another on the 6th of July, 1806 in the waters off the Caribbean island of Saint Thomas, although no action ensured. British Admiral Cochrane, responsible for the very valuable Jamaica Convoy soon to arrive in the nearby anchorage at Tortola, did not wish to risk battle with the powerful French force. French Admiral Willaumez had orders to avoid pitched battle and, more importantly, was responsible for preserving the health of the impetuous Jerome Bonaparte, younger brother of Emperor Napoleon and captain of one of his ships. A half-hearted French pursuit was broken off and the moment slipped into historical obscurity.
This scenario assumes that Admiral Willaumez has been goaded into attacking by the hot-headed Jerome.
French Order of Battle
80 Foudroyant
74 Veteran
74 Cassard
74 Impetueux
74 Patriote
74 Eole
Foudroyant – Flagship of Admiral Willaumez.
Veteran – under command of Captain Jerome Bonaparte.
British Order of Battle
74 Northumberland
74 Elephant
74 Canada
64 Agamemnon
Northumberland – Flagship of Admiral Cochrane.
Tactical situation
Lay out the table with the long dimension running E-W. Beyond the northern side of the table are the shallow coastal waters of St Thomas Island. The entrance to Tortola anchorage lies to the East.
The wind is Moderate, blowing out of the South.
The British squadron may start the game anywhere in the center third of the north half of the table, in good order, in any formation and at any sail setting desired by its commander.
The French squadron may start anywhere in the SW quarter of the table, in disorder, but otherwise in any formation and sail setting desired by its commander. The French ship closest to the British at the start of the game must be Jerome's ship.
French goals
The objective of Admiral Willaumez is to destroy or drive off Cochrane's squadron, while ensuring the physical safety of Jerome Bonaparte. The death or capture of Jerome will end the career of Admiral Willaumez ….. or worse.
Jerome Bonaparte's goal in this engagement is to close with and capture or destroy an English warship. The player controlling Jerome's ship may ignore any orders to the contrary from Admiral Willaumez. However, each time Jerome's ship is obliged to make a morale check, throw 1D10 in addition. A score of 1 indicates that Jerome has been incapacitated and the ship must immediately seek to withdraw from the action. If incapacitated, there is a 50/50 chance of Jerome being killed or suffering a clearly mortal wound.
British goals
Admiral Cochrane must force the withdrawal of the French as a threat to the large and highly valuable Jamaica Convoy which is soon to assemble at Tortola.
Driving off the Opponent
In consideration of the limited time available in a convention game setting, at umpire's discretion, a squadron will withdraw from action and end the game in favor of its opponent upon the occurrence any of the following events -
(a) Loss by capture or destruction of any friendly ship;
(b) Disablement (loss of an entire mast) of any ship, if French;
(c) Death or mortal wounding of either Admiral (as per rule for risk to Jerome above).
Scenario Note
The British side should not be made aware of the involvement of Jerome Bonaparte.
Miscellaneous Notes
This scenario was designed for my Steer to Glory rules with close attention to historical details. As such, armament and tonnage statistics may not transfer easily to other rule sets. For those so interested, the fiddly bits are outlined as follows:
French
> Foudroyant is a large 2300t 80 with 24lbrs on the middle gun deck.
> Veteran, Cassard and Impetueux are large 1900t 74s.
> Patriote and Eole are middling 1800t 74s.
> Morale of all French ships is considered average.
> French gunnery is at one-half British rate of fire and incapable of targeted hulling fire.
> All French ships have meager carronade armaments.
> French are somewhat inferior in shiphandling and maneuver.
British
> Northumberland is a large 1900t 74 with a heavy carronade armament.
> Elephant and Canada are common class 1600t British 74s with no carronades.
> Agamemnon is a typical 1400t 64 with carronade armament; slow ship.
> Morale of all British ships is considered high.
> British gunnery rate of fire is double that of the French ships and all British ships are capable of targeted hulling fire.
> British are better than the French in shiphandling and maneuver.