Battle - 1720 - September 20 - Port Battle to Defend Nassau

Ships in Action:
ALLIES:

Virgil Kyle - HMS Aspis ('Raa' Mastercraft Frigate)

-23 other British ships, consisting mostly of heavy frigates and ships-of-the-line

ENEMIES:

-French fleet consisting of 21 vessels, mostly fast frigates, with a few fourth-rates

Action Setup:
Prior to the port battle, I was stationed aboard the HMS Aspis, my 'Raa' mastercraft frigate, and was completing some missions out of San Marcos in Haiti. While resting on the docks of this sleepy French settlement, I received an urgent communique informing me I was needed to help defend Nassau from a dastardly French attack! As in the last port battle, I found myself yet again sailing a ship that was less than ideal for such an engagement. However, being assured by my fellow captains that my help would still be appreciated, I set full sail towards Nassau, to confront this affront to British sovereignty.

Upon arriving, I found the ready room somewhat more hectic than in the battle for Fort-de-France. This was no doubt due to the fact that everyone knew the French would throw everything they had at us in this particular port battle. Having no group into which my ship's abilities would neatly dovetail, I was assigned to one of the main battle squadrons, designated 'Red Group'. We entered the field of battle from the east, and quickly sailed forth to meet the enemy!

The Action Itself:
Upon entering the battle, my squadron was ordered to take a position roughly in the middle of the line of battle. After assuming what I believe is one of the most beautifully constructed lines-of-battle I have e'er witnessed before, we sailed south towards the bay where the battle would commence. After we rounded a peninsula to the south of the bay, we turned to the west in preparation to enter the bay, all the while keeping a near-immaculately constructed line-of-battle. It was at this time that we spotted the French fleet, which was divided into two parts situated both inside and outside the enclosed bay. Our spearhead pushed into the bay, with the fleet stretched out behind, and what followed were some of the most thrilling minutes I have ever experienced in my entire naval career!

Despite their apparent attempt at making some sort of tactically-sound attack, the French forces quickly fell into massive disarray. From this captain's vantage point, it seemed as if every single French captain suddenly started pursuing their own agenda! Within a couple of minutes, the core of their fleet was demolished, and the fighting quickly turned into one massive melee. French ship after French ship began to fall under the withering fire of our heavy frigates and ships-of-the-line. I personally was able to engage 2-3 enemy vessels with my group over the course of the battle, including a Dauntless frigate and an Alexander fourth-rate. Despite being surrounded and heavily outnumbered, those that stood their ground fought with admirable ferocity, and died just as hard. Those that ran, well... they only died tired.

The Result:
Victory!

The French thought that they could challenge our supremacy, but they were gravely mistaken. The final numbers tell the tale quite well: 24 British captains alive and well, and 21 Frenchmen sucking seawater.

Yet another victory for the British Empire! HUZZAH!

Lessons Learned:
Being as how this was my second port battle, and the first in which I saw actual combat, I found that the lessons I had learned in my first port battle were reinforced and proven in this second one. To me, the most apparent lesson to be learned is how essential regimentation and discipline are in conducting a successful port battle. The British and French forces both served to prove this point, albeit in opposing ways. The opening moments of the battle proper illustrate the stark differences between the two forces in this regard. In these initial moments of the engagement, the French made the critical error of becoming disorganized, and literally within a minute or so, they lost multiple ships to the combined firepower of our forces. Even before this, one of their more cowardly captains broke away from the center of their forces, and left a vulnerable gap in their line by doing so. Once they became disorganized, they quickly lost heart, and subsequently fell to our guns in the confusion and panic. As I understand it, there are serious language differences between many French captains, and this no doubt exacerbated the problem.

If these examples do not clearly illustrate the essential need for discipline and organization in large-scale engagements such as port battles, I don't know what does!

Misc.
A magnificent line-of-battle, if I do say so myself! I do believe that there is no force on Earth which can contend with the British Navy!!!