HMS Alnwick

HMS Alnwick
Rating: 4th rate.

Class: Macedon-class ship of the line.

Date of Commission: September 4th, 1721.

Current captain: James Wilmore.

Guns: 54.

Crew: 500.

Status: In active service.

Notable action

 *  September 25th, 1721: As preparations for the assault on Cartagena,Sir Wilmore commanded the HMS Alnwick as a part of a smaller fleet of British vessels patrolling outside the port. Around thirty Spanish ships were sunk or captured.


 *  September 25th, 1721: Under the command of Captain James Wilmore the HMS Alnwick took part in the assult on Cartagena. The opposing Spanish fleet constisted mainly of frigates and 3rd rates, while the British fleet had more firepower. Many ships were sunk on each side. However, even though the British did defeat more enemny vessels than the Spanish, they did not manage to take control over the port and had to retreat in the end.


 *  November 9th, 1721: Commodore Sir James Wilmore was ordered to try to even the odds for the upcoming battle of Bluefields with the Spaniards. He took command over the HMS Alnwick, 54 and ordered Captain William Pole to bring his HMS Hussar, 28 to the fleet. The two captains fought bravely together and sunk ten Spanish vessels.


 *  November 9th, 1721: Captain Sir James Wilmore was ordered to take part in the battle for Bluefields. He commanded the HMS Alnwick, 54, and took over as commodore for the green squadron after the current commodore was sunk. The battle was a decisive victory, 18 Spanish ships were sunk (a 1st rate among them)and the port was reclaimed for England.


 *  December 8th, 1721: Captain Sir James Wilmore was ordered to take command of the White Squadron in the assault on West End. He commanded the HMS Alnwick, 54, and lead the White Squadron as part of the Bristish fleet to a glorious victory. The French gave up the control of the port to the British without a fight, and the port was reclaimed for England.


 *  January 22th, 1722: Captain James Wilmore was ordered to take command over a small British fleet of ships and engage the French in the British efforts to capture Orleans. In the heat of battle, many captains (French and British) were sunk. Commodore Wilmore lead his squadron successfully in an engagement of six French vessels. Later, six new French ships attack his fleet. This second squadron of enemy ships turned out to be stronger and more cunningly lead. There was little he could to to avoid having his fleet defeated. From the quartedeck of HMS Alnwick he could see that his ships were sunk of captured one by one, and Alnwick was badly mauled and needed repairs. However, after having done some quick repairs, he set out again, with a new squadron of ships. Again, as Wilmore and the others blockaded the port, they were again attacked by a French squadron. This time they were split up byt their enemies, but on Wilmore's orders the British got away, except for one vessel that was captured by the French. After a long effort of blockading the port and attacking French ships, the British won the day and there is now real contention of Orleans.


 *  February 6th, 1722: Captain Wilmore took part of the assault on Maracaibo, commanding the HMS Alnwick, 54. In total, seven captains from the St.George Squadron participated. The battle was a great success for Britain, as the port was conquered. All 21 Spanish ships were sunk, captured, fled or surrendered, while Britain only lost two frigates.


 *  February 18th, 1722: Captain Wilmore took command over a squadron of three ships to patrol the waters South and East of Irish Point. From the quarterdeck of the HMS Alnwick, 54, he commanded the two frigates HMS Royal Keith, 32, captained by Captain Bosandy, and another 44 gun-frigate under the command of Captain Franklin Klink. The patrol did intercept and defeat some Pirate ships and some Spanish vessels. In the end they three British ships took on an entire French supply fleet, sunk the escorts and captured the galleons for the Crown.


 *  February 19th, 1722: Captain Wilmore sailed the HMS Alnwick, 54 from Santo Domingo to Port Royal, when there was a signal for help out from a British 2nd rate just outside teh British capital. It had been ambushed by six Pirate frigates, and they had now split her off from her escorts. Wilmore and some smaller British frigates tried to defend the 2nd rate, but to no avail. In the end, the HMS Alnwick got boarded and captured as well. Later the same day it was recaptured, however, and Captain Wilmore was again free to fight for king and country.


 *  February 20th, 1722: Commodore Wilmore, captaining the HMS Alnwick, 54, took command over the fleet attacking Cartagena. It was a small British fleet, consisting only of eight ships. Facing a superior enemy of nineteen Spanish vessels, Admiral Wilmore decided to order a retreat. The entire British fleet got away unharmed, but the Spanish kept the port.


 *  March 16th, 1722: Captain Wilmore took the HMS Alnwick out to patrol the waters of Port Royal. Two French merchantmen were captured.


 *  March 22nd, 1722: The HMS Alnwick, 54, under the command of Captain Wilmore, was a part of the large British fleet defending Charlestown and attacking Cabo Raphael. more than thirty Pirate ships was sunk or captured under the broadsides of the Alnwick.


 *  April 2nd, 1722: Commodore Wilmore, in the HMS Alnwick, 54, put together a squadron consisting of himself and the captains Lord Joseph Fletcher, Sebastian Bach, Steve Jones, John Lewis Drake and Lou Riggs. The squadron patrolled the waters of Belize, awaiting the coming French assault fleet. More than thirty French vessels were sunk or captured, from the smallest merchantmen to 4th rated warships.


 *  April 8th, 1722: CaptainWilmore, while captaining the HMS Alnwick, 54, and together with Captain Southwick engaged six Pirates vessels that had attacked some British ships outside Bluefields. Due to poor leadership and poor navigation from some of the other British captains, the Pirate Bloody Sven managed to board the Alnwick her. And even thought the crew fought bravely, they could not resist being so heaviy outnumbered for long. The ship was captured, but was soon liberated and reinstated to service.


 *  June 2nd, 1722: Captain Lord Wilmore, commanding the HMS Alnwick, 54, took part in the assault on Cabo Raphael. Other captains from the St.George Squadron taking part in the battle: Baron Leo Davis, Sir Paul Melhuish, Sir Jonathan Grey, Sebastian Bach, Esquire, Will Hewitt, Esquire, Master Oli Awter and Mistress Kate Somervell. The battle was a close call, but the Pirates defended their port in the end. Many of the British ships, including the HMS Alnwick, were badly mauled and had to be sent for repairs. But our captains fought honorably to the end.