"How does one take down a first rate with light ships? " Topic

"So this match didn't go so well for my team. We tried to kite from the back by shooting at his rear and sails but it wasn't enough.

One of my favorite tactics is to kite a slower ship from the front but I haven't had the chance to do this against a much bigger ship than mine…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Just a bit divorced from reality there.

Not sure what their current game mechanics are, but watched the posted video for a bit and ranges were a bit long and damage effects were off – light guns doing too much to a large ship and heavy not enough to the light.

You don't. No small ship Captain in their right mind would voluntarily take on a first rate ship that was not already critically damaged.

Surface to surface missile….

Follow her at distance. Wait for her to reach a port. After dark when everyone is drunk or ashore sneak up in long boats and board.

It worked for Gregory Peck.

set your ship on fire?

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

With a little luck and a lot of skill you might get this to work:

link

Any game (computer or otherwise) that allows a handful of brigs to take down a 1st rate (as in THIS link) is flatly ridiculous.

light guns doing too much to a large ship and heavy not enough to the light.

Definitely. The one exchange where Victory fires off a broadside into that topsail schooner would have resulted in the schooner becoming so much floating splinters.

The only thing that comes to mind is the use of fireships by the Greeks during their War of Independence.

Grelber

That crossed my mind as well Grelber.

Greek historical movie – The Pirate – was about a rather shady captain who became involved in the War of Independence and used his newly built sloop as a fireship taking out the 3 deck Turkish flagship. Went on to become a rich merchant selling caviar to the Catherine the Great.

Forget the name of the actual Greek hero.

Then there is the 1821 game that was posted by KTravlos a bit over a year ago – lots of fireships as the Greeks don't have even frigates to start with.

Captains (historical) are even rated on how effective they are with fireships.

P.S. In the book – The Frigates – by James Henderson CBE, he gives the account of the action in which Sir Edward Pellew with two frigates (and a tempest) took on and eventually ran aground the Droits de l'Homme. Considered an one of the most exceptional feats of arms and seamanship of the era. Actually, this deserves its own post.

Thanks for the info!.

Amicalement
Armand