Action - 1720 - October 12 - It's Party Time

NOTE: Though this action is technically a duel, I'm filing it under Actions because it was an effort at coordination between several captains

Ships in Action:
Officers:
 * James Maddox - HMS Adversary - Speed fitted sleek Conquistador-class frigate
 * Virgil Kyle - HMS Striker - Sleek Conquistador-class frigate
 * Everett Wick - Dauntless-class frigate

Enemies:


 * PARTY TIME - Hercules-class sleek frigate

Action Setup:
Attempting to run the red zone of Puerto Cabezas, contractor to the Navy Board, Samuel Pepys, was attacked, and his ship sunk. Captains Kyle, Wick, and I were already prepping for a PVP venture, outfitting Wick's new Dauntless.

We decided to sail to the Puerto Cabezas red zone. Captain Kyle took command, as he had a plan to surprise and sink the most hated pirate on the Burning Sea. Long plan short, I was to act like bait, and Kyle and Wick were to join the battle before the clock ran down. When in battle, I would use my speed to run Party Time down and keep him busy while Kyle and Wick would hammer him.

It was a good plan, and one we thought required cunning, because if Party Time saw all three of us, we thought he would run.

If Captain Kyle would care to detail his plan, he may do so here:

Captain James Maddox is indeed correct that I wished to trap Party Time in a three-vs-one battle, one in which he would be hard-pressed to escape, and highly unlikely to win if   caught. Captain Maddox was to act as bait for the plan, as his ship was by far the fastest of our little wolfpack, and thus if he was forced to fight one-on-one with Party Time, he   would have the highest chance of being able to escape. I was to act as general support, given that my ship was not particularly specialized, and Wick's Dauntless would act as the muscle. The plan was to trap him in a battle to the northeast of Puerto Cabezas, as he would then be as far away as possible from reinforcements coming from any of the adjoining ports. He would attack Captain Maddox, I would reinforce from the northeast, and Wick would steam up from Bluefields to provide support, assuming we could catch and tie up Party Time until he arrived to help deliver the killing blow. Unfortunately, although I did my best to take every precaution to maintain our subterfuge, Party Time must have sensed our plan, and he   attacked Captain Maddox from the northeast and chased him south, towards Bluefields. I   sailed with all haste after the despicable rat, but, alas, I could not close with him. Maddox can recount the rest...

Kyle stayed Northeast of PC. Wick went into Bluefields to outfit some sails I had given him. I went into PC as bait, but found the place empty. I was just about to leave when I saw Party Time standing on the dock, glaring at me. He jumped into the OS.

I jumped out. Party Time was to the Northeast, between me and Kyle. Kyle didn't want to be seen, though I could see him on my map, so Party Time probably could too. Party Time steered for me. I directed my ship to Bluefields. Wick was closer and ready to jump out. Party Time tagged me, and battle commenced.

The Action Itself:
Kyle, as it turned out, was too far away to make it into the battle. He was hoping I'd steer north, but Party Time's position on the OS made me not want to do that. Wick jumped out and made it to the fight, but couldn't enter, because his ship was busy preparing.

I knew I was out-gunned, so I ran before the wind. Ideally I would close-haul, because the Adversary excels at that, but the make-up of the map, and the starting wind direction would have put me right in Party Time's broadside. I took my best point and spread all sail. I had just tested it and knew I could make 24.9 knots, but to my dismay, Party Time was easily gaining. How fast could that thing go!? He hit me with his bow chasers, and I knew I'd have to fight.

I've learned that a sleek Conquistador isn't much good in a broadside fight, especially against a Herc, so I steered to ram him and board. First I loaded star shot, but after one volley, I thought better of it, and switched to canister. After sweeping his deck he only had about 100 men. I believe I had over 200. I'm not positive. I was waiting for my boarding light to flash, but to my surprise Party Time already grappled me! It should be noted that I have a grapple defense of 24.

As he boarded I was in the better position on paper. I had more reinforcements, and am no slouch at hand-to-hand combat. But I knew Party Time was good, and Kyle was briefing me on his tactics.

I set my men on Hold the Line to hopefully make up for Party Time's Push. I also set out to attack his men. Unfortunately, his men cut through mine very quickly, and then would rush me, and cut me down before my reinforcements would arrive. It was a good battle, but I ended up on the losing side. I believe I cut through one, perhaps two of his waves, but Party Time never fell.

The Result:
It was a loss, and tactically, as a group, a total failure, however even in defeat there is success, because we learned a lot.

Lessons Learned:

 * OS tactics are important, but don't get too clever. It was my mistake not to steer to Kyle. Even if Party Time had attacked me it would have been a shorter distance for Kyle to have to make. However, once I started heading toward Bluefields, Kyle should have immediately steered to sandwich Party Time. There really was nothing he could have done by then.
 * The Prep timer! Ooh! Remember, if you come out of a battle or town, you are not only invisible for a set time, you are also prepping your ship, so you can't attack. Wick decided he should have just come out when I left PC. Again, what could Party Time do?
 * If you're going to outfit a ship for speed, go all out. I'm always worried about the drag on my structure or crew defense, but if Adversary is going to be a tackler, it has to be 9-slot speed-fitted.
 * A lot of these pirates are dirty fighters. We have to either board with a dirty fighter (Kyle, for instance) or find better ways to counter the tactics.

Final Notes
We've decided this will be the first official meeting of The Redtails, and we not only learned a lot, but had a lot of positive discussion about PVP. We certainly think that with study and practice, and after burning through a lot of ships, the SGS will have a formidable presence in RVR once again.