Chris will be playing the Native Caribs, the English and anyone else who opposes Spain...
I will be playing the Spanish.
MISSION 1: Control Conception Island's Deepwater Bay
Captain Manuel de Camarero was new to the Caribbean only having been there a month and already he missed the courts of Spain. The fine wines, beautiful women and lavish lifestyle. He was sent out here because of a duel gone wrong and his father needed time to straighten
things out, so he called in some favours from political friends high up.
Now he was tasked to take control of Conception Island and establish a town and forward base from where the majestic galleons and other ships of Her Majesty's Most Catholic Navy could resupply without interference from the English and other lesser nations ready to steal Spain's rightful treasure. Conception's main bay also had the added bonus of a deep bay so the galleons could come fairly close to shore.
Captain de Camarero was fuming, the storm had scattered his fleet of five ships, all he had left were 3 ships under his command, his own Frigate "Amarillo", the Brigantine "San Pedro" and Sloop "Sirena".
Land ho had been called 30 minutes ago and now another call came down "MASTS in the bay, English flags". Captain de Camarero frowned, the English shouldn't be here? They must have been sheltering from the storm, but still their presence was of real concern as their nations were at war. He simply had to ensure only that they do not take word away of the Spanish occupation force "Prepare the fleet, load all cannons, make sure none escape"...
English
Captain Tobias Smythe has been around the block a few times. He loved it out here, all the different sights and people, a far cry from London where he was originally from.
At the minute he was provisioning and bartering with the locals for fresh meats, water and trinkets, aboard his pride and joy, the Brigantine "Makeshift" along with the sloop "Lion's
Whelp" All of a sudden, a cry went up from the lookouts, "Sails on the horizon" "Spanish flags, three ships!!!".
Smythe wasted no time as he had none to spare, the weather gauge was clearly in the Spaniards favour and his men were still ashore... " Get those men aboard", "Clear the decks", "Weigh anchor", "Get those sails Unfurled", "Man the cannons". Between bellowing orders, Smythe gave orders to his trusted leftenants that should the battle go badly, they were to head back to shore, regroup and hinder and harass the Spaniards at every opportunity...
Mission objective:
Spanish Stop the English escaping.
Special rule: Each Spanish ship take one lucky hit (from storm damage)
English: Get either ship off board.
Special rule: Two English units will be placed in long boats rather than on the ships (to account for returning men ashore). These will be selected at random.
Game last for 6 turns...
The Forces of Spain
On board the Light Frigate Amarillo:
Manuel de Camarero, Veteran Guarda Costa Captain
2 x 8 Trained Milicianos (Sailors replacing Drilled), 1 x 6 Milicianos, 1 x 8 Marineros
On board the Brigantine "San Pedro"
Pedro Santos, Inexperienced Guard Costa Captain
11 Lanceros, 8 Miliciano Indios, 6 Milicianos, 6 Marineros
On board the Sloop "Sirena"
Miguel Mortez, Inexperienced Guard Costa Captain
6 Marineros, 10 Milicianos
2 x 8 Trained Milicianos (Sailors replacing Drilled), 1 x 6 Milicianos, 1 x 8 Marineros
On board the Brigantine "San Pedro"
Pedro Santos, Inexperienced Guard Costa Captain
11 Lanceros, 8 Miliciano Indios, 6 Milicianos, 6 Marineros
On board the Sloop "Sirena"
Miguel Mortez, Inexperienced Guard Costa Captain
6 Marineros, 10 Milicianos
The Forces of England
On board the Brigantine, "Makeshift"
Tobias Smythe, Veteran English Buccaneer Captain, commanding the Brigantine
7 Boucaniers, 2 x 7 Sea Dogs, 1 x 6 Sea Dogs
On the Sloop "Lion's Whelp"
William Ormerod, Inexperienced English Buccaneer Captain
8 Filibustiers, 8 Freebooters, 7 Sea Dogs
7 Boucaniers, 2 x 7 Sea Dogs, 1 x 6 Sea Dogs
On the Sloop "Lion's Whelp"
William Ormerod, Inexperienced English Buccaneer Captain
8 Filibustiers, 8 Freebooters, 7 Sea Dogs
TURN 1
The English Sea Dogs on the "Makeshift" got a lucky event, allowing them to raise sail quickly. The Spanish Frigate came in with the wind behind her, the Sirena off to Port, planning to blockade the bay...
The initial set up, with the English long boats quite a distance from their ships...
As per the special rules, I let Chris roll for the lucky hits against the Spanish and its fair to say they weathered the storm well, with no damage to the smaller ships, and only a minor leak on the Amarillo, which was repaired promptly...
With the Spanish bearing down on them, the English set sail abandoning those still making their way back. Additionally, the "Lion's Whelp" seemed to struggle to raise their sails, stalling their ability to make headway out of the bay
Too much grog and not enough time, the Forlorn Hope and Freebooters look on forlornly as their ships look to abandon them...
The "Amarillo" lets off a ranging shot at the "Lion's Whelp", and the Guarda Costa are on form, not only getting a raking shot but rolling a lucky hit which damaged the steerage, making turning more difficult for the English sloop, as well as dropping a few men along the way. (Pretty sure having the priest on the bow bellowing the word of God inspired my men)
As the "Amarillo" fired the opening shot, the "Sirena" headed up directly to envelop the "Lions Whelp" should it move out into the bay. The "Makeshift" was already moving, so the "San Pedro" moved right to block the channel there. The Spanish ship advantage looked to be crucial early on...
The row boats head back to shore realising that the "Makeshift", although heading their way, wouldn't be slowing.
The "Makeshift" engaged the "San Pedro" and vice versa, neither fire doing anything significant.
"Makeshift" also had to contend with the "Amarillo", which sustained no damage.
The English longboats head for the beach (a cunning tactical withdrawal in the face of the Spanish superiority)
The "Makeshift" continues to engage in futile cannonades against the "Amarillo" at long range. However, the Boucaniers manage to pick off two Miliciano from its fore-deck...
Without the Lords blessing, the mid deck of the "Amarillo" fail to rake the "Lions Whelp"
END of TURN 1. The "Lions Whelps" struggled to make way, while the "Makeshift" engaged both Spanish ships on its starboard...
TURN 2 The English activated first, the captain on "lions Whelp" failing to get a repair to the steerage but moving off slowly none the less, while his Filibustiers opened fire on the "Sirena" main deck, hitting three Milicanos... Who promptly save all three saves, and the resulting fatigue test...
The Spanish chose to close with their ships movements, and the English quickly moved again, allowing a rake down the length of the "Sirena", which took a total of 6 hits including starting a fire. But the crew didn't take many casualties...
The fire was promptly put out on the "Sirena", who bided their time for retaliation...
The return cannon fire inflicted 5 hull points of damage, meaning both sloops fortitudes had dropped, and some seadogs went to Davy Jones Locker...
The cannon fire from the English finally did some damage, putting two points on the Spanish Frigate, with a hole on the waterline. Also, Boucaniers on board the "Makeshift" continued to target Father Juan Pablo, reducing his unit to half strength. However, their faith in God held their resolve...
Given my earlier dice, and with range closing quickly and having weathered the incoming cannon fire, CaptainDe Camarero ordered, the "Amarillo" turn to starboard for a full broadside against the "Makeshift" (my first ever), which decimated the hull for 8 points of damage therefore doing critical damage (on the sails, reducing the speed of the English Brig). They also shored up the leak...
END OF TURN 2
The Spanish Frigate was pounding hard, while the Sloop and Brig sought to envelop the English ships...To their credit, the "Makeshift" was battling two ships valiantly, and the "Lions Whelp" was holding its own despite being badly positioned with steering damage and struggling to manoeuvre against the wind...
TURN 3
As the "Sirena" manouvered at speed around the struggling English sloop, trying to get an aft raking shot off, Captain Miguel Mortez made sure they kept their distance from the English grapples..
However, his inexperienced showed, as the English sought to box-haul and engage... The inexperienced English Captain and the fatigued sea dogs, failed to accomplish this, however, the wind was in their favour and the Lions Whelp" drifted back into grapple range. Fortunately, the Filibustiers proved unable to secure the ships...
Fortunately, the Sea Dogs were old hands at this, and promptly pulled the sloops together. However, their first storming party was rebutted by the Guarda Costa Milicianos...
On the other side of the bay, with the "San Pedro" effectively blocking the channel on the Eastern side, Capt Smythe ordered a turn into the wind to cut behind the "Amarillo" and bring his port guns to bear. Despite their proximity, the English gunners had no success with their cannons as the Spanish counterparts frantically reloaded. As the "Amarillo" sought to turn 180, the English Brig crashed into the aft portside, but they did not foul and Captain De Camarero praised his luck...
TURN 4
The English were quickest of the mark, as young Captain Ormerod led the Filibustier onto the "Sirena" aft deck. The veteran French devils made short shrift of the Spanish Marineros as they and Captain Mortez were overwhelmed...
However, as the two sloops drifted together towards the shore on the west side of the bay, the "Makeshift" failed to turn into the wind, drifting backwards and fouling the rigging with the "San Pedro". Although the Spanish Captain thought this could be an ill wind, the Miliciano Indios seized the opportunity and stormed the rear deck, wiping out the Freebooters there and taking Captain Smythe captive With them securing the aft deck, the English would have to shift them to cut loose the snagged rigging... As the Brigs drifted, the "Amarillo" failed to tack and also drifted...
As the Frigate cam around, the Boucaniers again took aim at the fore-deck, reducing Father Juan Paulo's flock by another Miliciano...
On board the "Sirena", the Milicianos desperately fought off the Sea Dogs (or rather the Sea Dogs took pity on the beleaguered Spaniards and rolled poorly...
Despite his initial foreboding as the ships entangled, Captain Pedro Santos on the Brigantine quickly ordered his Marineros aboard the "Makeshift" to take advantage of the Indios quick thinking... However, the Marineros had learned to respect their English counterparts, and rather than charge onto the mid-section, they opted to loose their pistols onto the Sea Dogs, dropping three in some impressive close quarter marksmanship. However, the lone Sea Dog passed the resolve test, and sought to go down with his ship...
Although not officially in charge, the orders of Father Juan Paulo to his two remaining Milicianos was followed. They fire at the boucaniers who had been harassing them all battle, but unfortunately they failed to hit (but did roll a one). NOTE:As the two entangled ships were effectively one large structure, Chris thought that I shouldn't be firing at the ship, with the ongoing fighting on board... Without going into the nuances of the rules regarding separate decks/rooms of structures, I suggested we let me fire and any 1's would hit my men. So, duly I did and it hit one of my super Indios, killing him and the unit failed both its fatigue tests, sending them scuttling away back on board the "San Pedro"...
Fortunately, the English were not in a position to take advantage and the Spanish Milicianos reinforced the Marineros on board...
TURN 5
The Spanish pressed home their advantage, as the Sloop's beached and the Brig's drifted. The Marineros assaulted the Sea dogs, losing two men to pistol fire, but killing the sole survivor of one unit and forcing the other unit of 4 back as they were shaken...
Over on the "Sirena", the Milicianos succumbed to the Sea Dogs, while the Filibustiers and Captain Ormerod abandoned ship and headed in land, after giving the remaining crew orders to stop the ships falling into Spanish hands...
Having taken two-thirds of the ship, Captain Pedro Santos pushed the Lanceros onto the foredeck, wiping out the English on board. However, one of the French Boucaniers held his resolve, and though overwhelmingly outnumbered, prepared to take some Spanish with him...
That's him, to the middle left, with the highly innappropriate white feather in his ca. He activated, and killed a native "Spaniard". Bad enough facing English without them adding French "skinners" in too.
TURN 6
The Sloops are set alight by the remnants of the English Sea Dogs and Freebooters...
The Lanceros impale the last of the Boucaniers, no mercy for the French!!! Despite a valiant effort by the rallied Milicianos Indios, they cannot untangle the masts and avoid the Brigantines beaching on the East beach of the bay.
END of GAME
Both sloops are burning, and the Spanish have captured Captain Tobias Smythe and his ship. However, they will have to unbeach their own while repairing the "Makeshift". The "Amarillo" is relatively unscathed, and patrolling the bay...
Captain Ormerod watched the Spanish Frigate secure anchor in the bay, as the Spaniards from the beached Brigantine took stations to secure the beachhead. It wouldn't be long before they set off up the beach to the village, and only his Filibustiers were in any shape to assist the natives at present, if they could get there in time. He used his spyglass to scour the beach, and his gaze fell upon the pair of longboats hauled up well off the water, plenty of disturbed sand around them. The Spanish hadn't yet had time to launch them ashore, and he knew his own compliment were not all on board. A smile played upon his lips as he wondered how many of his men were on the far side of the bay... It soon disappeared as the crumpled form of Captain Smythe was carried off the Spanish ship, the demeanour of the Spanish natives levy and their occasional threatening gestures in his direction suggesting he was still very much alive!!!
Ormerod gathered his men, and set off inland...
Well what can I say, I had some awesome dice early on that thinned out the English a little, which undoubtedly helped me achieve the victory... Of course, a Spanish victory was expected given the extra ship and manpower (once the row boats turned tail and tactically withdrew). It was really fun game, with a few early rakes and Chris burning his fortune points in turn 1 & 2 due to awful dice. I actually finished the game with 1 left. The game could have turned had the collision between the "Makeshift" and "Amarillo" allowed the English to grapple. The men they had there would have been a match for my Frigate crew. They were outmatched against the relatively unscathed crew of the "San Pedro", and my Miliciano Indios were very lucky in their assault as Smythe's men were unloaded...
The final tally of dead was actually quite close, the English force losing 23 Seadogs, 7 Boucaniers, 3 Freebooters and a captured Veteran Captain, so 34 models all told. They also lost both ships, one destroyed and the damaged Brig captured...
However, I certainly didn't have it all my own way, given the loss of the "Sirena" and losing 16 Milicianos, 10 Marineros, 3 Indios and 1 Lancero, as well as one Inexperienced Captain.
So, for the next mission I'll be looking to launch an Amphibious attack on the native village... I hope my missing ships turn up with reinforcements, as too many English escaped ashore for me to feel comfortable.
Additionally, the way the game panned out gave Chris a couple of extra ideas for what's to come... Perhaps an attempt to rescue Captain Smythe? Or a native/English ambush of a logging party sent to get wood to repair the captured Brigantine? Undoubtedly a sabotage job on the beached Spanish Brigantine? Assuming I can subdue the natives of course!!!
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