Battle - 1720 - October 12 - Port Battle to Defend Turtling Bay

Ships in Action:
ALLIES:

Leo Davis - HMS Centaur  -   Alexander class fourth-rate

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

ENEMIES:

-Pirate fleet consisting of 24 vessels, mostly Heavy Hercules, third- and fourth-rates and one Treason pirate flagship

Action Setup:
The battle took place on the Havana Map I was called to duty when the pirate fleet was spotted approaching Turtling Bay. I was assigned to the red group at the end of the battleline. The pirates made a fast approach through the central channel towards the central fortress. The spearhead of our battleline tried to cut off the way for the pirates with little succes. Because the leader of our heavy groups could not decide fast enough which tactic we should use.

The Action Itself:
The Pirates soon broke through the line and initiated several boarding actions on some of the bigger ships of the line. They managed to capture and take over at least a Triumphant and a Couronne Galleon. My group at the end of the line was not involved in the first clash, but soon we had to fight some of the pirate Mordaunts that broke through the line. My groupmates soon were able to finish off two pirates with combined fire, while I sunk a captured mordaunt with a well placed full broadside into his already crippled portside. Then suddenly the infamous Pirate Homer J. Simpson, who was also in a Mordaunt grappled our groupleader in his Mont Blanc Indiaman. Our groupleader ordered us to sink the pirate mordaunt but most of my group continued to follow the main battle line. Since I was anyhow the last one in the line I turned my ship and tried to sink the mordaunt. Unfortunately the Mont Blanc was captured too fast.

This brought me into the situation, that I was suddenly facing the Mordaunt of Homer J. Simpson all alone. In just this moment a captured Triumphant second Rate sailed with full speed past me firing a heavy broadside into my ship. When the smoke cleared I saw that the Triumphant had a big hole in his stern and almost no structure left, so I ordered my crew to make a fast turn and fired a well placed broadside into the already exposed stern, causing severe damage but the mighty ship just continued to run away from the battle. Since my sails were already badly damaged I could not keep up the pace to finish the job. In this moment a captured Couronne, that was also trying to leave the battle, sailed past me and shot my lateen sail into pieces.

In this critical situation I realised that I am in a really bad situation, with some more Pirates closing in. I tried to speed up to get back to my battle line, but the damage was already done. Under the combined fire of two Pirates, my ship soon started to sink. I ordered my crew to leave the ship, which exploded shortly after we left it. We were able to reach the beach near the fortress, from where I was able to follow the rest of the battle. The remnants of my group were luckily able to sink three more Pirates.

The Result:
Victory for the british. Both sides suffered severe losses with the loss of several large ships of the line.

The Pirate lost 20 ships but could escape whith the captured Couronne and the Triumphant.

The British lost 12 ships including my Alexander fourth-rate.

My group was able to sink six enemy ships while loosing at least three ships.

Lessons Learned:
It again prooved that you never should leave the battle line even If other single ships are in trouble, the risks to loose your own ship are too high. If I had not turned around to help my group leader I would have survived a lot longer in the battle.

In my previous port battles I was often in similar critical situations but always managed to survive the battle without being sunk, but this time it didnt work out.

Misc.