Battle - 1721 - July 26 - Reclaiming West End

Ships in Action:
British Fleet

Captain the Lord Fletcher - HMS Torbay, Poseidon-class 4th-rate

Captain Sir Will Collister - HMS Africa, Wended-class 3rd-rate

Captain Nathan Blatchford - HMS Argonaut, Heavy Hercules-class 5th-rate

21 other British ships, consisting mostly of heavy frigates with a few lineships.

French Fleet

21 French ships, mostly heavy frigates.

Action Setup:
The battle took place on the Wild Keys map, Britain was attacking.

While finishing up my quarterly accounts of provisions aboard the Argonaut off New Providence, I was interrupted by a midshipman carrying a note from the naval authorities in Nassau. I was informed that a British fleet under Admiral Courtney had just rounded the southern side of the island, and had then headed NW to anchor outside West End to prepare an assault to retake the town. I was to slip my cable and rendezvous with the Fleet at the anchorage without the loss of a minute: The French land forces had been reinforced by a strong fleet under the French admiral le Danoìs, and it was imperative that the attack was started before the Frenchmen could prepare a full defence.

Reaching the rendezvous I was gladdened to see Sir Will's majestic Africa anchored by the lineship group, her captain in full dress uniform standing on her quarterdeck, and to recognize the ensign of Lord Fletcher flying from the Torbay. After a quick explanation of the initial plan of action, given by the Admiral aboard his flagship, I was assigned to Red Group under Commodore Harris. Lord Fletcher and Sir Will was assigned to the heavy Black Group, while the rest of the Fleet's frigates were assigned to groups Green and Pink.

The Action Itself:
We had a steady breeze from the E as we formed our groups into two lines astern, heading NW towards the Bay of West End. As soon as the first gun emplacements tipped the horizon a furious hoist of signals broke out aboard the forward British vessels: Enemy of inferior force NW, heading SW. The Frenchmen had managed to gather 21 vessels to defend the town and was standing out to sea with their entire force. The two foremost British groups, Red and Green, were ordered to head directly W to fire on the Frenchmen's sterns, while Black and Pink headed WSW to engage the centre of the enemy line. The French admiral would have none of it though, and the entire enemy fleet reversed their line and headed N, driving the foremost Red Group in range of the gun emplacements guarding the Bay. At this point Red and Green were recalled to join Black and Pink, but Red, caught in the crossfire of the French fleet and the shoreguns, had a difficult time of it as they had to tack through the wind in order to follow Green. The rest of the Fleet quickly headed NE however, and managed to effectively screen Red Group from the enemy's fire, though not in time to save the ship of Commodore Harris. The French now turned W, and seeing that the Fleet could repeat its initial manoeuvre Admiral Courtney ordered Black and Red to charge the centre of the enemy's line, while Green and Pink made an attempt on the sterns of the enemy. The French fleet quickly turned SW and managed to outrun the northernmost British ships however, and as Black Group came within point-blank range of the enemy fleet, Green and Pink headed SW on a course parallel with the Frenchmen, leaving Black Group with minimum support right in the middle of the enemy fleet.

The staggering shock of a lineship's powder magazine erupting in flames reached the Argonaut, for a moment becalming her sails. The French fleet was now a scene of total chaos, the blinding smoke distrupting communications. "Flag signalling for Black Group to return, sir." "Thank you, Mr. Peterson." The rearmost ships of Black Groups could be seen repeating the signal and turning SW to join the main British line that was now forming some 700 yards to the SE of the French line. "Sir, Flag signalling, if you please: Red, Green and Pink: To the N, engage, U - It's alphabetic, sir, Engage U - B - F, no, U - B - E - R - T". Turning towards my First Lieutenant I said "Mr. Bradshaw, your glass if you please.", and upon recieving it I went over to the larboard side to focus it on the northern vessels of the French line. And quite right, at the rear of the enemy line the flagship of Admiral le Danois could be seen, stern-to and completely cut off from the rest of the French fleet. "Starboard battery, there!" I cried, "To the north, you see that ship flying the flag of a French admiral? The brown-painted ship, stern-to? Let him have it, waste not a shot!", and presently the cries of the midshipmen as they repeated my orders to their divisions. A deep thunder began to the NE as Pink and Green opened fire on the French flagship, closely followed by the great roar of Red Group's guns. Met with almost 6000 lbs. of roundshot, the French admiral quickly had his stern windows smashed in, his mizzen- and mainmast gone by the board and his surviving crew and officers running for the boats as his ship sank from under him.

Black Group had now reached Red Group, and the most damaged ships were able to manoeuvre behind the British line to repair. Seeing that the Fleet had again a chance at manoevring on the enemy's stern, Pink and Green turned NW while Black and Red engaged the French sailing on a parallel course. This proved to be successful, and after losing yet another ship, the French turned NW in retreat. The Fleet followed in chase, manoeuvring to cut them off with the rearmost groups (that was now Black and Pink). The retreat turned out to be a ruse however, and the French fleet suddenly turned S to charge Black and Pink. Green and Red were at this point already sailing for the enemy's rear, and the British vessels being charged was to block and board the enemy, everything to slow them down long enough for Red and Green to close on their sterns. This they managed, and presently the remaining 8 French ships retreated in ernest, eagerly chased by the Fleet. While some French ships managed to escape to the open sea, the nearest Frenchmen struck their colours, surrendering their vessels to the British fleet.

The Result:
British victory.

The French lost 14 vessels, the British lost 7.

Lessons Learned:
Several times British ships were saved from sinking by blocking, and by focused fire we were able to steadily sink the enemy.

Battle Schematic:
Work in progress.