WWI Western Front Aerial Campaign - Episode 2

Bombing

This is the second episode of a campaign representing fictitious battles in the air over the Western Front during the First World War. It was initially planned to use the Wings of Glory rules, but these were modified to use hex based movement in order to facilitate remote play over the Internet due to Corona restrictions.

Mission Briefing

Spring 1917 – A spy has reported the location of an elite British photographic unit to the German High command. It has been placed in a converted brasserie, Les Trois Magots, in the small French village of Saint-Benoît-du-Saucisse, a fair way behind the front lines. It is used to develop the photographic plates taken by photographic reconnaissance aircraft and also by analysts to interpret the photographs for the British General Staff. 

Because of the importance of the target, the High Command task the crack Kaiserliche und Königliche und Kaiserliche Jagd-Schlachtstaffel with the job of destroying the brasserie. Before dawn, Squadron Leader, Major Fritz Dettermann calls to his office his most experience two-seater pilot, Florian Meier and his Austro-Hungarian observer Jörg Fritzl-Falconi. He tells them to take off at dawn in the squadron’s Roland C.II and to bomb Les Trois Magots in order to put the British Photographic unit out of business. As it is know that the dastardly Premier Escadrille International will be operation in the area, he promises Meier that he will be escorted by two Albatros scouts.

At the crack of dawn, as the first beam of light appeared over the horizon, Meier and Falconi started up their Roland and beside them was Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda in his Albatros D.V. Udo Lockbach should have been flying a second Albatros, but Lockbach was nowhere to be found. As the mission took off, one aircraft short, they were waved at by rider entering the aerodrome; what appeared to be a rather dishevelled German cavalry officer. They climbed quickly to 10,000 feet and then headed west towards Saint-Benoît-du-Saucisse.

As per their standard operation procedure, the Premier Escadrille International sent up a dawn patrol over the village of Saint-Benoît-du-Saucisse at 15,000 feet. The patrol was led by Captain Jack Yates in his Sopwith Camel, still merry after his kill the day before. Yates’s wingman was the French aviator, Alphonse Lacourt. Lacourt’s SPAD had been damaged on landing the day before, so he was loaned the squadron’s Sopwith Triplane. 

Yates spotted the Huns and followed by Lacourt had descended to 12,000 feet when the Huns saw the diving scouts. 

The Action

The Roland C.II continued to make a beeline for the target as the pilots closed the distance between their aircraft.

The aircraft continued towards each other with both the Camel and the Albatros accelerating in front of their companions.

The Camel and the Triplane turned in to intercept the Roland. The Roland expecting that manoeuvre turned away. The Albatros got onto the tail of the Triplane and Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda opened fire.

Jörg Fritzl-Falconi, the Roland's observer, opened fire on Yates's Camel but his Parabellum MG14 machine gun jammed before a single bullet had left its barrel. "Scheisse!!" he shouted, and then he decided "Sabotage!!".

Despite being tailed, Alphonse Lacourt managed to turn his Triplane so tightly that the Albatros couldn't stay on his tail.

Jörg Fritzl-Falconi signalled to his pilot, Florian Meier, that he had a jammed gun and needed time to un-jam it. So Meier flew the Roland directly away from the enemy straight and level while Fritzl-Falconi desperately attempted to un-jam his Parabellum.

Yates had guessed where the Roland was heading, but it took him a little too long to turn his Camel.

The Albatros and Triplane were flying round in circles trying to get a shot at each other.

Yates in the Camel got a snap shot at the Roland and Meier got off a quick burst as the Camel rushed past his nose.

The Albatros and Triplane now met head-on, so Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda and Alphonse Lacourt opened fire at each other at short range.

Meier turned the Roland back towards the target, but the cunning Yates was on his tail in the Camel.

Meier turned the Roland towards the village of Saint-Benoît-du-Saucisse, but Yates was going too fast in the Camel and overshot.

The Albatros and Triplane were, yet again, flying round in circles trying to get a shot at each other.

Meier flew as straight and steady as he could towards he village of Saint-Benoît-du-Saucisse and when they were over Les Trois Magots, Fritzl-Falconi dropped the bombs right on target. Immediately after Fritzl-Falconi had shouted "Bomben weg!!", Meier put the Roland into a tight right turn; at least as tight as the lethargic Roland could manage.

Luckily for the Roland, Meier's tight turn caused Yates in the Camel to overshot yet again.

Now unencumbered by bombs, the Roland turned tighter and dived at the same time. Yates turned again onto the Roland's tail but was too high to get off a good shot.

Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda accelerated in the Albatros and came speeding to the assistance of the Roland leaving Alphonse Lacourt in the slower Triplane behind.

The Albatros fired at the Camel.

Having completed the mission, Florian Meier put his Roland into a steep dive back towards the German front line. Jörg Fritzl-Falconi scanned behind them looking for a target, but they had too good a start for the somewhat shot-up enemy to catch them, especially with the Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda protecting their tail in his Albatros.

Jörg Fritzl-Falconi was so happy with his successful bombing mission that he had his portrait painted by the famous artist Toulouse Vinplage. He wrote a letter explaining how he had bombed and destroyed a secret photographic unit that the dastardly Engländer had hidden in a brasserie. He sent both back home to his mother, the Countess Fritzl-Falconi, who lived in the Schloss Schönbrunn.

Leutnant Jörg Fritzl-Falconi - by MW

At the Premier Escadrille International's aerodrome one riddle was solved. Who was the shadow that Lieutenant Lugeau has seen sneaking around after dark? All of the pilots were drunk in the mess, so it couldn't have been one of them. Finally the riddle was solved; it was Malcolm the squadron mascot. Malcolm, the goat, was put into his pen every night by his handler, an Erk named Boyd. But what Corporal Boyd didn't know, was that Malcolm could open the gate whenever he wanted, and wandered round the aerodrome looking for something to chew on.

The Result

Central Powers Victory

Campaign results:

• Florian Meier:  +2 XP, +1 luck 
• Jörg Fritzl-Falconi:  +2 XP, +1 luck
• Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda:  +2 XP, +1 luck
• Captain Jack Yates:  +1 XP, +1 luck
• Alphonse Lacourt:  +1 XP, +1 luck

Campaign Log

The Score:
1er Escadrille International 1     -     KuKuK Jagd-Schlachtstaffel 1

	Missions	Kills	Experience	Luck	Notes
Premier Escadrille International
Charles “Half Pint” Carruthers	1	0	6	1
“Dirty” Bertie Parker	1	0	6	1
Captain Jack Yates	2	1	9	2
Alphonse Lacourt	1	0	1	1
Kaiserliche und Königliche und Kaiserliche Jagd-Schlachtstaffel
Udo Lockbach	1	0	1	0
Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda	2	0	3	2
Florian Meier	1	0	3	1
Jörg Fritzl-Falconi	1	0	3	1

WWI Western Front Aerial Campaign - Episode 1

Photo-Reconnaissance

This is the first episode of a campaign representing fictitious battles in the air over the Western Front during the First World War. It was initially planned to use the Wings of Glory rules, but these were modified to use hex based movement in order to facilitate remote play over the Internet due to Corona restrictions.

Campaign Background

The formation of the squadrons

Early Spring, 1916. Both sides' armies try new measures to preserve the fighting spirit in the war-weary homelands. The latest idea is to strengthen solidarity within the alliances by putting together international air squadrons, whose adventures the newspapers eagerly report on. A whimsical coincidence has placed the "Premier Escadrille International" and the "Kaiserliche und Königliche und Kaiserliche Jagd-Schlachtstaffel" directly opposite each other. Neither of these multinational squadrons has a clue about the complicated and intricate stories they are about to experience.

Premier Escadrille International

After long and heated discussions, France has agreed that the squadron is to be led by an Englishman, the hard-nosed Major Brackton. This is a victory for England, but a victory that could only be won by accepting the appointment of a French inspector to investigate how efficiently the squadron works. This system does not bode well for the future – Inspector St Prix has, even before the squadron carried out its first mission, directed devastating criticism at Major Brackton's way of leading the squadron. Criticism that could ruin Brackton's further career. Aggravating the situation, there are rumors that several of the American and Canadian the pilots may have been recruited by a German spy, “Fräulein X”, operating on the passenger ships that brought them across the Atlantic. Even among Europeans, there are individuals worth watching. Sous-Lieutenant Foudrelle writes extensively in his notebook - poetry, he claims - but why may nobody see it? And who is the shadow that Lieutenant Lugeau has seen sneaking around after dark?

Kaiserliche und Königliche und Kaiserliche Jagd-Schlachtstaffel

If the situation is worrying and chaotic on the Entente Powers’ side, then it is even more worrying and confused on the Central Powers’ side. Squadron Commander Fritz Detterman thought he had encountered most things during his years in the colonial police in German South West Africa, but already after a few days at the new the squadron, he faces a series of strange questions. General Schmidt stopped by to say hello and good luck to him. An hour after he’d left, he telegraphed that he had forgotten his bag containing the plans for the Christmas offensive at the squadron - but here no one knew anything about any bag. Was there then reason to believe the rumours that allied spies had succeeded in infiltrating the newly formed squadron? Maybe one of the pilots from Austria-Hungary's unruly small nations, the ones with strange names? And speaking of strange pilots - who actually is the young pilot with memory loss appeared that this morning at the squadron? All he had with him was a pilot's license issued to "Gaspard Hauser", an identification badge of the same name and a backpack with a bible and a pickled sausage. And finally, who are the two identical men who both claim to be the heirs of Sachsen-Zenda?

Mission Briefing

Spring 1917 – The Premier Escadrille International has been tasked with photographing the bridge over the Mosel at Rettel across which a large number of Hun supplies and reserves are passing. To do this they have been allocated a new Bristol F.2B Brisfit two-seater. It has modified to carry a camera with a newly developed lens capable of taking detailed photographs from 15,000 feet. They will be escorted by one of the squadron’s Sopwith Camel scouts. Charles “Half Pint” Carruthers will fly the Brisfit with “Dirty” Bertie Parker as his observer and cameraman. Captain Jack Yates will be escorting them in his Camel. It takes 20 minutes to climb to altitude before heading towards their target. 

They keep a good lookout because it is known that the Kaiserliche und Königliche und Kaiserliche Jagd-Schlachtstaffel is flying patrols in the area with their Albatros scouts.

The Germans had taken off from their aerodrome and were now patrolling over the Meuse bridge at just over 15,000 feet. The patrol was led by Udo Lockbach in his blood red Albatros D.III with the Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda as his wingman flying an Albatros D.V.

The Action

Captain Jack Yates in the Camel (1) spotted the bridge and at the same time noticed the two Huns patrolling nearby. He waggled his wings to alert Half Pint in the Brisfit (2).

Udo Lockbach in the red D.III (3) flew straight ahead while Sachsen-Zenda in the speckled D.V (4) slipped left. Yates and Half Pint headed straight towards the bridge. 

Half Pint decided there and then on his tactics, he would head straight for the bridge to get there as soon as possible while maintaining height and then once Parker had photographed the bridge he would turn for home diving in order to gain speed and hopefully outrun the Hun.

True to his plan, Half Pint in the Brisfit headed straight towards the bridge. His observer, “Dirty” Bertie Parker, had been gesticulating at Yates in the Camel. Yates totally misunderstood this, and turned tightly to the left.

Sachsen-Zenda in the speckled D.V attempted to dive down on the Brisfit and at the same time turn towards it; this unfortunately for him, caused the Albatros to enter a spin.

Udo Lockbach in the red D.III, having predicted that the Brisfit would continue straight for the target, turned in toward it and opened fire.

Somewhat luckily, Sachsen-Zenda recovered from his spin and turned back toward the fight, climbing slowly to regain height.

Evan Yates, realising his mistake, headed back toward the fight.

Half Pint disliked being shot at and decided that his original plan wouldn't work. Instead he slipped the Brisfit in towards the red Albatros hoping that the Hun would overshoot and that Parker in the rear seat would get a good shot.

But Udo Lockbach in the D.III was sneaky, and he turned tightly and ended up on the Brisfit's tail at close range!

Udo Lockbach opened fire doing good damage from the tailing position. Luckily for Half Pint and Parker Udo hadn't managed to position his Albatros in the blind spot created by the tail assemblage, so Parker returned fire with his Lewis Gun. His first couple of bullets hit a fuel line and flames could be seen coming from the Albatros. But before Parker could finish off the Albatros, his gun jammed!

Both Albatros scouts headed toward the bridge where they expected the Brisfit to be. But Half Pint had decided that the bridge was a little to hot for comfort and he turned left giving Parker a chance to unjam his Lewis and hopefully time for Yates to return to the fight.

Both Albatros scouts, realising that they had missed the Brisfit, turned back towards it. 

Half Pint turned sharply right towards the bridge and got in a quick shot at Sachsen-Zenda in the D.V while Parker in the rear seat was unjamming the Lewis and attempting not to be thrown out of the violently manoeuvring aircraft. Half Pint's shot was a lucky one, and smoke started pouring out of the D.V. 

Yates had now got the Camel up to full speed, and was heading back into the battle. He opened fire on the red D.III and damaged the tail fin. It would take a while before the D.III could turn left.

Yates in the Camel was now back in the fight, he opened fire on the smoking D.V. 

Udo Lockbach turned sharp right, trying to get his tail fin working again.

Half Pint flew a straight run in toward the bridge to give Parker in the rear seat a good shot with the camera. Parker did his duty and took the photograph, despite being severely tempted to pick up his Lewis and shoot at the circling red Albatros.

Sachsen-Zenda, in the damaged and smoking D.V, headed for home.

The Camel and the red Albatros were circling round each other, trying but failing to get any good shot.

Half Pint in the Brisfit had also decided that it would be wise to head for home, both Albatros scouts had made nasty holes in his new Brisfit. Parker in the back seat, fired a Parthian shot at the D.III. This shot hit Udo's engine causing it to loose power.

Realising that the D.V had left the pitch, Half Pint decided to have another go at the lone red Albatros before play ended so he turned back.

With both engine damage and fire damage, Udo in the red Albatros decided that discretion was the better part of valour and turned to follow Sachsen-Zenda's D.V home to their aerodrome.

Yates had turned his Camel tightly to the right, and whether by skill or fluke, had ended up on Udo's tail.

Yates's shot was at long range, but yet again Udo's engine was hit. The engine seized up immediately.

Udo put his D.III into a dive and glided down. He performed a dead-stick landing in a farmer's field near to the bridge. He was feasted in the officers’ mess of a Prussian infantry regiment who wrongly believed that Udo had stopped die Engländer from bombing the bridge while they had been marching across it. He was returned, on horseback, to his aerodrome early next morning with a huge headache.

When the photographic plate was developed, Charles “Half Pint” Carruthers and “Dirty” Bertie Parker were treated to a slap up meal in the officers' mess by their Squadron Leader, Major Brackton.

Charles “Half Pint” Carruthers and “Dirty” Bertie Parker
outside the officers' mess - by MW

The Result

Entente Powers Victory

The score so far:
1er Escadrille International 1     -     KuKuK Jagd-Schlachtstaffel 0

Campaign results:

• Charles “Half Pint” Carruthers:   +6 XP, +1 luck
• “Dirty” Bertie Parker:   +6 XP, +1 luck
• Captain Jack Yates:   1 kill, +8 XP, +1 luck
• Udo Lockbach:   +1 XP 
• Erbprinz Rupprecht zu Sachsen-Zenda:   +1 XP, +1 luck

Age of Sail - The Admiral's Nephew

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 have also a set of campaign rules (KAOS CAMP) which can be used to follow the adventures of the captains through the scenarios.

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

British Briefing
Captain Kestrel of the 18-gun sloop STORK was called into the Admiral's cabin aboard the flagship, HMS PRINCE, anchored in The Sound. Kestrel was there introduced to the Admiral's nephew, a young and up-and-coming Lieutenant commanding the 10-gun cutter WEASEL. Kestrel was to take his ship along with the WEASEL and another 18-gun sloop HAZARD to patrol the channel looking for French prizes and to give the Admiral's nephew his first enemy action in command of his own vessel. The three ships headed out into The Channel from Plymouth with the morning tide. Late  in the day, as the sun was beginning to set, they spotted two French ships.

The officers of HMS STORK - by MW
Captain Kestrel and his trusty First Lieutenant 

French Briefing
You have been ordered to sortie out from the naval base at Brest and attack any British shipping in the channel, hopefully picking up some nice prizes coming in from the Atlantic. As well as your own 28-gun frigate La Bayonnaise, you will be accompanied by her sister ship Brune. You were patrolling up and down, across the channel, when as the sun was beginning to set you spy three vessels, smaller than yourself, heading down the channel towards the ocean.

Start)
The British sloops HMS STORK(6) and HMS HAZARD (7) accompanied by the cutter HMS WEASEL were broad reaching under easy sails with the wind from starboard. The French 28-gun frigates La Bayonnaise (11) and Brune (12) were running under easy sails.

The two forces started 12 hexes apart, well out of cannon range. The wind marker shows the wind blowing from the bottom of the picture.

1)
The French frigates continued downwind. The British sloops continued forward, but the Admiral's blue-eyed boy in WEASEL turned downwind and crossed the bow of STORK forcing her Captain to let her sheets fly to loose way.

2)
Even the British sloops now turned downwind so that both forces were now sailing in parallel.

3)
The French frigates continued downwind. The British reduced sail and let the French move ahead.

4)
The French frigates and British sloops continued downwind. WEASEL reduced sail to let the sloops move ahead.

5)
The French frigates continued downwind and then La Bayonnaise turned in toward the British. The British sloops continued downwind and yet again WEASEL reduced sail to let the sloops move ahead.

6)
La Bayonnaise continued to close her enemies with Brune following in her wake. STORK turned in to meet the French. HAZARD continued downwind and WEASEL reduced sail to let her pass.

7)
La Bayonnaise opened fire and raked STORK. Brune closed with STORK. HAZARD continued downwind and WEASEL reduced sail to let her pass.

8)
La Bayonnaise and Brune fired their broadsides into STORK and she returned fire. WEASEL reduced sail to let HAZARD pass across her bow.

9)
La Bayonnaise and STORK exchanged fire as did Brune and HAZARD. WEASEL followed along behind HAZARD.

10)
La Bayonnaise fired into STORK causing her to strike her colours. Brune and WEASEL exchanged broadsides. HAZARD fired into La Bayonnaise causing severe damage to her hull.

As night fell, the damaged La Bayonnaise decided that discretion was the better part of valour and turned towards Brest with HAZARD following for most of the night before loosing her in the dark. Brune's final broadside did grave damage to WEASEL's hull and then Brune turned to follow her sister ship towards Brest.

STORK signalled WEASEL to remain in company. Luckily for Captain Kestrel of the STORK, his carpenter was among the best in the fleet. Together with the crews of STORK and WEASEL he worked tirelessly throughout the night so that when dawn came both the hulls were repaired.

STORK and WEASEL were soon joined by HAZARD and they returned to Plymouth where they anchored in The Sound.

The flagship HMS PRINCE soon signalled for Captain Kestrel to repair onboard accompanied by the Admiral's nephew. Luckily for these two, the carpenter's work was so good that both their vessels appeared to be in good order, at least when seen from the flagship.

The admiral was so pleased to see his nephew returned that he handed out bumpers of port. On hearing his nephew's report, he decided that he must be reward for his gallant fight against the French frigates of much superior force. He resolved there and then to take the STORK away from Captain Kestrel and give her to his nephew. His nephew was worth such a vessel, blood always tells, and after all the admiral had never once heard Captain Kestrel say "balcony".

Luckily for the admiral, there was a frigate in Plymouth Dock, the captain of which had gone up to London to take his seat in Parliament. So together with words of weak praise - but no more port - this was offered to Captain Kestrel.

Age of Sail - Get the Treasure Home

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 have also a set of campaign rules (KAOS CAMP) which can be used to follow the adventures of the captains through the scenarios.

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

British briefing:
After the capture of the treasure galleon, a Spanish 74 named Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, the frigates PHEOBE and DRYAD escorted the captured Spaniard northwards towards England while the CAROLINE headed off on a separate mission. The  treasure galleon had only a skeleton prize crew, with the Spanish crew confined in the hold without their officers. The ships passed the Groyne and headed out into the Bay of Biscay. As they neared soundings somewhere WSW of Scilly they sighted two strange sail ahead. These sail turn out to be two French 38-gun frigates patrolling.

French briefing:
You are patrolling the western entrance to la Manche, North-West of Île d'Ouessant in the 38-gun frigate Hébé with her sister ship Sibylle in company, when you spot three sail coming up from the South-West. You identify the first two sail as British 36-gun frigates and the third sail as a much larger vessel, probably an East Indiaman and as such a very nice prize indeed.

The British frigates HMS PHEOBE (4) and HMS DRYAD (9) followed by the captured treasure galleon, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves(2), were broad reaching under easy sails with the wind from starboard. 

The French frigates Hébé (11) and Sibylle (12) were broad reaching under easy sails with the wind from larboard. They could now see that the third British sail was not an East Indiaman, but instead a rather battered Spanish ship of the line.

They started 14 hexes apart, well out of cannon range. The wind marker shows the wind blowing from the bottom of the picture. 

1)

The French frigates continued to close with the British. 

PHEOBE reduced speed in order for DRYAD to close up the gap.

2)

Hébé, PHEOBE and DRYAD turned downwind, Hébé and PHEOBE exchanging broadsides as the did so.

3)

Sibylle followed in the wake of Hébé. Both French frigates opened fire.

4)

The British frigates PHEOBE and DRYAD collided and fouled their rigging.

Hébé with Sibylle still followed in her wake, turned in front of the British and opened fire. Sibylle's fire raked DRYAD.

5)

PHEOBE and DRYAD attempted to un-foul their rigging.

The Spanish treasure galleon was raked by Hébé, while Sibylle continued to fire into DRYAD.

6)

Hébé boarded the Spanish treasure galleon and a melee was fought. Sibylle continued to fire into DRYAD.

PHEOBE and DRYAD attempted to un-foul their rigging.

The seamen now spotted that a change in wind was on its way, the wind was going to veer.

7)

PHEOBE and DRYAD drifted downwind while still attempting to un-foul their rigging.

Sibylle continued to fire into DRYAD.

Hébé's crew, aboard Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, released the Spanish crew from the hold and the opened fire on the DRYAD.

The wind now changed direction, veering 120 degrees. The wind now blowing from the top left corner of the picture.

8)

PHEOBE and DRYAD were now no longer fouled and under way. 

Almost all of Hébé's crew were now manning Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, only a skeleton crew was aboard the frigate.

A broadsides from Sibylle caused DRYAD to strike her colours.

PHEOBE raked the stern of the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. Nuestra Señora de las Nieves returned fire and a lucky cannon shot killed the PHEOBE's captain.

9)

PHEOBE, now with full sails set, moved out the the French ships' arcs of fire. 

Sibylle boarded and secured the DRYAD. Hébé's crew secured the Spanish prize.

The French watched as the PHEOBE disappeared into the distance towards England, two prizes were enough for the French, they let PHEOBE escape.

The French sheeted home and headed for the naval base at Brest.

Age of Sail - The Treasure Galleon

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.

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

British briefing:
The Admiralty has received intelligence that the Spanish are sending a Treasure Galleon named Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (74-gun Ship of the Line) under the command of Juan Esteban de Ubilla from La Habana in the Americas back to Cadiz in Spain. You have set up a chain of three 38-gun frigates – HMS PHEOBE (9), HMS DRYAD(10) and HMS CAROLINE(4) - across the Treasure Galleon’s probable course.

Spanish briefing:
You have been ordered to transport a large sum of gold and silver from the mines in the Americas safely back to Spain. You have a 74-gun Ship of the Line, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, in which to make the voyage. You have loaded the treasure in San Cristóbal de La Habana and are now bound for Cadiz. A keen-eyed lookout spots a chain off frigates across your path, and they are soon identified as Royal Navy. Unwilling to capitulate, and resigned to the fact that you cannot reach Cadiz without first sinking or disabling the faster and more nimble enemy vessels, you order the decks cleared for battle.

 Nuestra Señora de las Nieves leaving port and heading out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Actually a French 74 with a Spanish ensign added by Photoshop.

The British frigates HMS PHEOBE, HMS DRYAD and HMS CAROLINE were spread out in a chain, close hauled, heading towards the probable position of the treasure galleon. Nuestra Señora de las Nieves was running before the wind, heading for Spain.

They started 20 hexes apart, well out of cannon range. The wind marker shows the wind blowing from the bottom of the picture.

1)

DRYAD and CAROLINE continued forward while PHEOBE fell off in order to wear.

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves set her sights on the rightmost frigate of the chain.

2)

DRYAD and CAROLINE continued forward and PHEOBE continued wearing.

The Spaniard continued to head for CAROLINE.

3)

DRYAD and CAROLINE continued forward and PHEOBE completed wearing.

The Spaniard continued to head for CAROLINE.

4)

All ships moved forward.

5)

DRYAD fell off in order to wear. All other ships moved forward.

6)

DRYAD continued wearing. PHEOBE moved forward. CAROLINE turned away from the Spaniard which turned early having misjudged CAROLINE's manoeuvre.

7)

DRYAD completed wearing. CAROLINE decided to keep her distance from the Spaniard. PHEOBE turned away.  Nuestra Señora de las Nieves headed for CAROLINE.

8)

The British ships formed up together as the Spaniard attempted to close.

9)

The British ships manoeuvre in a rather confusing fashion as the Spaniard continued to close.

Now within carronade range, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves fired her initial starboard broadside into DRYAD.

10)

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves turned and fired her initial larboard broadside into CAROLINE.

11)

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves and DRYAD exchanged fire at close range while CAROLINE opened fire in support. PHEOBE was behind both ships and cannot open fire.

12)

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves raked DRYAD at point blank range, but the Spaniard's gunnery was poor.

13)

The Spaniard exchanged fire with PHEOBE.

14)

CAROLINE raked, at point blank range, the stern of the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves which in turn raked PHEOBE.

15)

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves fired a raking braodside into PHEOBE just as both ships collided. PHEOBE's crew gallantly boarded the much larger Spaniard and started a melee with her more numerous, although poorly trained, crew.

DRYAD and CAROLINE collided.

16)

PHEOBE's crew were sacrificing themselves to stop the Spaniard from escaping. They were gradually being overwhelmed by the Spaniard's larger crew, but luck was on their side and they were gaining time as DRYAD and CAROLINE charged to the aid of PHEOBE. 

17)

As the melee continued, DRYAD and CAROLINE grappled the Spaniard and boarded to aid the struggling PHEOBE.

18)

PHEOBE's self-sacrifice had gained time and the crews of DRYAD and CAROLINE tipped the balance of the melee back in favour of the British. With the captain of CAROLINE leading the boarders from the front, and after a prolonged fight, the Spaniard's ensign was hauled down and replaced with the White Ensign.

PHEOBE's brave but decimated crew returned to the their ship with their wounded. DRYAD and CAROLINE put a prize crew onboard the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves.

Damage was quickly and efficiently repaired although the damage done to the Spaniards hull required that the prisoners pump to keep her afloat. 

The ships set course for England with every man jack aboard thinking about the prize money. Even the smallest share should be enough to buy a small pub while the captain's share would be enough for a fine manor house.