Game Set up.
I lay out the twenty odd ships from the battle in the formations as depicted in David Howarth’s the Nelsons touch. This gives the British there historic advantage of the wind and splitting the French line unless they are total fool’s and decide to trade broadsides. The Rules are home spun and bloody we tend to lose ship’s faster than historically accurate but the game is focused on entertainment and keeping twenty people engaged.
I lay out the twenty odd ships from the battle in the formations as depicted in David Howarth’s the Nelsons touch. This gives the British there historic advantage of the wind and splitting the French line unless they are total fool’s and decide to trade broadsides. The Rules are home spun and bloody we tend to lose ship’s faster than historically accurate but the game is focused on entertainment and keeping twenty people engaged.
The models.
Of the highest quality produced by a small manufacturer called Forged World.
Of the highest quality produced by a small manufacturer called Forged World.
The Grog.
All we can say about the grog is two bottles of Tesco value rum + 3lbs of sugar + the juice of 12 lemons an undisclosed quantity of water = one very drunk Scotsman and a very, very drunk Chairman and twenty unable to operate heavy machinery (say a ship of the line) members of the club. Still all those lemons mean it’s one of your five a day.
(The York Wargames Society accepts no responsibility for the actions of it’s member’s or anyone else whilst under the influence of grog. Please enjoy responsibly ;-))
All we can say about the grog is two bottles of Tesco value rum + 3lbs of sugar + the juice of 12 lemons an undisclosed quantity of water = one very drunk Scotsman and a very, very drunk Chairman and twenty unable to operate heavy machinery (say a ship of the line) members of the club. Still all those lemons mean it’s one of your five a day.
(The York Wargames Society accepts no responsibility for the actions of it’s member’s or anyone else whilst under the influence of grog. Please enjoy responsibly ;-))
The battle.
Each commodore or captain was given a log sheet to keep chart of events so unlike many Wargames reports this is the version of events according to twenty sets of eyes.
The approach.
The head.
Due to a twist of history Minotaur and Spartiate found themselves opposite the Head of the French column Lead by Formidable. The French and Spanish moved first and Formidable bravely turned across the wind but it all went wrong and Formidable lost several masts. There was much cursing from her Captain identified in the log as a drunken Scotsman. Moments later Mont-Blanc managed an even more disastrous turn and lost three masts effectively putting her out of the fight, there was much merriment on Formidable.
The Centre and rear.
Victory and Royal Sovereign led there columns toward the enemy line. After the debacle of seamanship at the head of the line non of the French or Spanish ships attempted to cross the wind. Victory seemed attempt to split the line behind Santisima Trinidad and Royal Sovereign the Santa Anna. Gunfire erupted on both sides as the ships moved into short range.
Each commodore or captain was given a log sheet to keep chart of events so unlike many Wargames reports this is the version of events according to twenty sets of eyes.
The approach.
The head.
Due to a twist of history Minotaur and Spartiate found themselves opposite the Head of the French column Lead by Formidable. The French and Spanish moved first and Formidable bravely turned across the wind but it all went wrong and Formidable lost several masts. There was much cursing from her Captain identified in the log as a drunken Scotsman. Moments later Mont-Blanc managed an even more disastrous turn and lost three masts effectively putting her out of the fight, there was much merriment on Formidable.
The Centre and rear.
Victory and Royal Sovereign led there columns toward the enemy line. After the debacle of seamanship at the head of the line non of the French or Spanish ships attempted to cross the wind. Victory seemed attempt to split the line behind Santisima Trinidad and Royal Sovereign the Santa Anna. Gunfire erupted on both sides as the ships moved into short range.
Contact.
The head.
Formidable fired on Minotaur inflicting the heaviest damage possible. Minotaur bravely held on and managed to stern rake Formidable as she broke into the enemy line. The captain of formidable made mention of his crew’s origins as his ship was rapidly becoming a hulk. Minatour also inflicted heavy damage on San Francisco de Asis. The San Francisco de Asis then fired on the Minotaur for the last time before boarding Minotaur who’s crew after a short skirmish gave up the fight and struck. Spartiate made for the centre to join the rest of the fleet whilst trading shots with San Augustin.
The Centre and rear.
Santa Anna and Beaucentaure opened fire on Victory and inflicted moderate damage the British were relieved that the enemy had not held their fire longer. Santisima Trinidad held her fire the enormous 120 gun ship moved toward Spartiate who was busy dealing with other threats. Royal sovereign received three broadsides before she opened fire Bahama, San Leandro and Fougeaux inflicted some damage but the range saved her from suffering Minotaur’s fate. Things get very confused from here on in all we know is Victory opened fire on Redoubtable. Victory then attempted to board her but the British were fought off by Captain Dickinson’s fine crew. In the chaos Santa Anna Stern raked Ajax, Beaucentaure crept up on the crippled Ajax and put in one last broad side, Ajax succumbed to her wounds moments later. Santa Anna Was sunk with all hands after being boarded then fired on repeatedly by both Victory and Neptune. Little is known of the actions of Royal Sovereign and Belleisle there commodore Known only as Manners succumbed to the grog and their logs we not the most readable or indeed printable. Royal Sovereign was boarded by San Leandro but fought them off.
The head.
Formidable fired on Minotaur inflicting the heaviest damage possible. Minotaur bravely held on and managed to stern rake Formidable as she broke into the enemy line. The captain of formidable made mention of his crew’s origins as his ship was rapidly becoming a hulk. Minatour also inflicted heavy damage on San Francisco de Asis. The San Francisco de Asis then fired on the Minotaur for the last time before boarding Minotaur who’s crew after a short skirmish gave up the fight and struck. Spartiate made for the centre to join the rest of the fleet whilst trading shots with San Augustin.
The Centre and rear.
Santa Anna and Beaucentaure opened fire on Victory and inflicted moderate damage the British were relieved that the enemy had not held their fire longer. Santisima Trinidad held her fire the enormous 120 gun ship moved toward Spartiate who was busy dealing with other threats. Royal sovereign received three broadsides before she opened fire Bahama, San Leandro and Fougeaux inflicted some damage but the range saved her from suffering Minotaur’s fate. Things get very confused from here on in all we know is Victory opened fire on Redoubtable. Victory then attempted to board her but the British were fought off by Captain Dickinson’s fine crew. In the chaos Santa Anna Stern raked Ajax, Beaucentaure crept up on the crippled Ajax and put in one last broad side, Ajax succumbed to her wounds moments later. Santa Anna Was sunk with all hands after being boarded then fired on repeatedly by both Victory and Neptune. Little is known of the actions of Royal Sovereign and Belleisle there commodore Known only as Manners succumbed to the grog and their logs we not the most readable or indeed printable. Royal Sovereign was boarded by San Leandro but fought them off.
Closing stages.
The head.
Captain Allington made of with his prize the Minotaur as rapidly as possible. The San Augustin, Mont-Blanc And Formidable tried to reach the centre to fight on but heavy damage and a lack of masts made this impossible, despite the ranting of her captain.
The Centre and rear.
After much manoeuvring Santisima Trinidad opened fire on Spartiate with a fresh broadside a stern rake at point blank range. Spartiate could take no more and after a short boarding action San Augustin lead her away as a prize. In all the cofusion of boarding actions and point blank gunnery the Captain of HMS Revenge made his fortune he boarded the badly damaged Monarca and captured her and also snagged the drifting Pluton who after a long fight with HMS Dreadnought was adrift with no crew. Captain Stubbs fortune secure beat a hasty retreat, all in the finest tradition of the Royal Navy.
The head.
Captain Allington made of with his prize the Minotaur as rapidly as possible. The San Augustin, Mont-Blanc And Formidable tried to reach the centre to fight on but heavy damage and a lack of masts made this impossible, despite the ranting of her captain.
The Centre and rear.
After much manoeuvring Santisima Trinidad opened fire on Spartiate with a fresh broadside a stern rake at point blank range. Spartiate could take no more and after a short boarding action San Augustin lead her away as a prize. In all the cofusion of boarding actions and point blank gunnery the Captain of HMS Revenge made his fortune he boarded the badly damaged Monarca and captured her and also snagged the drifting Pluton who after a long fight with HMS Dreadnought was adrift with no crew. Captain Stubbs fortune secure beat a hasty retreat, all in the finest tradition of the Royal Navy.
Victory.
The British ability to make good their prizes won them the day. By sadly at the end of it all Admiral Horatio Betts lay dead was it the grog or a French bullet no one will ever know.
The British ability to make good their prizes won them the day. By sadly at the end of it all Admiral Horatio Betts lay dead was it the grog or a French bullet no one will ever know.
