Age of Sail - Off the Brittany coast

I have been working on a modified set of hex based naval rules (called KAOS) for fighting medium sized Age of Sail battles on hexes based on the old Avalon Hill Wooden Ships & Iron Men rules and using ships from the Sails of Glory range.

I plan to use a playing area with 40 mm hexes but for this test (under Corona-isolation) I used the grass green 35 mm hex playing are that I had readily available and hastily made ship bases.

This second battle was between four 74 gun ships of the line, the Royal Navy's HMS BELLONA and HMS VANGUARD verses the French Navy's Commerce de Bordeaux and Generaux.

Because of the Corona situation, the battle was fought via a Skype link.

HMS BELLONA closely followed by HMS VANGUARD leaving Spithead for a cruise in The Channel.

Off the coast of Brittany, HMS BELLONA with HMS VANGUARD following in her wake, were broad reaching under easy sails with the southerly wind from larboard. Having recently left Brest, the Commerce de Bordeaux with Generaux following in her wake, were broad reaching under easy sails with the wind from starboard.

They started 12 hexes apart, just out of cannon range.

1)
Both squadrons headed towards each other, with the French lead ship, Commerce de Bordeaux, turning downwind at the last possible moment and opening fire with her starboard broadside at medium range without the British being able to return fire.

2)
The french closed with the British, while HMS BELLONA copied the French previous tactic and turned downwind to fire of her larboard broadside raking the Generaux.

3)
The Commerce de Bordeaux turned downwind to bring her starboard broadside to bear. HMS BELLONA continued downwind with HMS VANGUARD following in her wake. The Generaux turned close hauled into the wind bringing her larboard broadside to bear on HMS VANGUARD. All ships fired off a broadside.

4)
The British ships turned to close the French. The Commerce de Bordeaux continued downwind, while the Generaux fell off to regain speed and manoeuvrability. Commerce de Bordeaux fired upon HMS BELLONA and HMS VANGUARD raked the Generaux.

5)

HMS VANGUARD and the Generaux exchanged broadsides.

HMS BELLONA collided with the Commerce de Bordeaux and they became fouled. HMS BELLONA grappled the Commerce de Bordeaux and then boarded whereby a melee occurred.

6)
HMS VANGUARD and the Generaux continued to exchange broadsides.

The captain of HMS BELLONA realised that the Commerce de Bordeaux had a large crew which was wearing his down and attrition would eventually beat him. So he ordered the his crew to un-foul the ships and cut the grapple.

7)

HMS VANGUARD and the Generaux were now running parallel downwind while continuing to exchange broadsides.

HMS BELLONA and Commerce de Bordeaux were now moving under sail again and exchanged broadsides By this time HMS BELLONA's rigging was looking shabby and her speed reduced.

8)
HMS VANGUARD and the Generaux were still running parallel downwind while continuing to exchange broadsides. The Generaux  now had severe damage especially to her hull.

HMS BELLONA and Commerce de Bordeaux continued their duel. Both fired broadsides into their opponent, but HMS BELLONA managed to cross the Commerce de Bordeaux's stern and fired a raking broadside at point blank range.

9)
The Generaux struck her colours as HMS VANGUARD fired a broadside raking her stern at point blank range.

HMS BELLONA and Commerce de Bordeaux continued their duel. Despite having more damage to hull and cannon, Commerce de Bordeaux had an advantage because she was still more manoeuvrable than HMS BELLONA.

The Commerce de Bordeaux used her superior speed to retire from the action. On HMS BELLONA, the boatswain set about splicing the rigging, but it would never be repaired in time to catch her opponent.

HMS VANGUARD took possession of the Generaux.