Action - 1721 - September 7 - The Men From UNCLE

Ships in Action:
British Captains of Saint George Squadron of the White

Commodore Lord Robert Middlemore - HMS Venture, Tigre-class Mastercraft Frigate

Captain Baron Robert Raleigh - Tigre-class Mastercraft Frigate

Captain Baron Leo Davis - HMS Perseus, Tigre-class Mastercraft Frigate

Captain Sir Roderick Morrow - HMS Ares, Tigre-class Mastercraft Frigate

Captain Charles Irons - HMS Goodhope, Tigre-class Mastercraft Frigate

French Captains of UNCLE

Commodore Valin d'Alsace - Mercy-class Naval Frigate

Captain Strong Member - Mercy-class Naval Firgate

Captain ? - Mercy-class Naval Firgate

Captain ? - Hercules-class Heavy Frigate

Captain ? - Achilles-class Privateer Frigate

Action Setup:
The five frigates of SGS Battlegroup Ares were blockading the French port of Irish Point when eight ships wearing French colours and UNCLE flags approached rapidly in a large fleet bearing south through the Windward Passage between Cuba and Hispaniola. The UNCLE group confidently detached five ships under command of the infamous Valin d'Alsace to engage Battlegroup Ares in a fair fight with equal wind.

The Action Itself:
Whilst Battlegroup Ares raised sails and assumed line-of-battle formation, the French detachment immediately turned hard to larboard and initiated a charge to seize the wind gauge. Maintaining line discipline, the SGS captains were able to bring all their guns to bear for a devastating broadside that raked the bow of the lead French vessel, before executing a ninety-degree turn to starboard to pass parallel the French line on the opposite tack, where more fire was exchanged and the HMS Ares damaged.

After passing the sternmost French ship, the order was given for the battlegroup to tack through the wind, a risky maneouvre that was successfully carried out, maintaining cover for HMS Ares through the turn whilst Captain Morrow oversaw emergency repairs. The French group meanwhile performed a full about turn, and the two lines again passed on opposite tacks. This time, however, the Saint George Squadron ships were able to focus superior firepower on to their target in the centre of the French line, a Mercy-class frigate which received crippling damage. Furthermore the British group now possessed the wind gauge, which it utilised to turn to starboard ninety degrees and pass across the rear of the French line, viciously raking the stern of their trailing ship.

At this point, with two heavily damage ships and Battlegroup Ares maintaining the wind advantage, the French line fell into disarray, with the two damaged ships falling off to lee-ward while the other four moved the opposite direction in order to haul their wind. The order was given for the Battlegroup to make another turn to starboard, moving between the French groups to complete the split and bring both broadsides to bear. However, a lapse in blocking at this point allowed the French to fire an opportunistic broadside between the British ships which holed the HMS Ares beneath the waterline.

Now one ship down, the HMS Venture signalled for General Chase of the two separated and damaged French vessels. Proceeding to full sail, the British ships closed with the two damaged Frenchmen and began to viciously rake their sterns, sinking one. Whilst giving chase, the other four French vessels began to harrass Captain Raleigh's ship at the rear of our line, and after sinking the first Frenchman our own line turned to try and tack back towards him to provide cover, but was not able to reach him in time before his ship was irrepairably damaged and forced out of the battle.

With three British ships remaining against four French, the Venture, Perseus, and Goodhope turned to finish off the second damaged French ship before charging into the midst of the final three. A general melee developed in which the British ships proved superior in turning and constantly placing themselves athwart the enemy's hawse, so that after further fighting two more French ships sank. The final survivor, a Mercy-class frigate, attempted to disengage and flee, but the Perseus and Goodhope gave chase and were able to dismast her with bar shot. The French captain struck his colours and offered an unconditional surrender, which was accepted.

The Result:
Saint George Squadron victory.

British Losses: 2 x Tigre-class Mastercraft Frigate

French Losses: 2 x Mercy-class Naval Frigate, 1 x Achilles-class Privateer Frigate, 1 x Hercules-class Heavy Frigate

Lessons Learned:
With skill, tenacity, discipline, and fearlessness, we are able to defeat a superior group when outgunned, and even when outnumbered.