HMS St. Albans

Rating: Fourth rate

Class: Macedon-class Ship of the Line

Date of Commission: November 3rd, 1721

Shipyard: Sullivan Shipyards

Captain: James Sullivan

Guns Topdeck:

Guns Upperdeck:

Guns Gundeck:

Crew: 500

Status: On Active Duty

History
HMS St. Albans was commisioned as a replacent to HMS Comorant along with its sister ship HMS Argyll. The ships underwent trials during the winter of 1721-1722 and were quickly recognized as a truly remarkable ships. They soon became favorites within the Sullivan family, leading to countless ecounters with various enemies.

Notable action

 *  March 17th, 1723: The HMS St. Albans and 5 other squadron ships faced superior enemy forces consisting of several First, Second and Third Rates along with other ships during the defense of Caracas. The battle for the port was eventually lost, but HMS St. Albans assisted in the sinking of 2 enemy Second Rates. After a tactical error due to bad wind she ended up with the bow facing a First Rate at long range and took heavy fire. She sunk in matter of minutes, and only a fraction of her crew along with her captain survived the battle. A new ship with the same name were commissioned the following day as a replacement, and weeks of extensive training with her new crew is planned.
 *  March 18th, 1723: Breaking out of Port Royal on a training patrol HMS St. Albans were ambushed by 5 rats in different fast and heavy ships. Trying to escape the engagement she were overtaken by a fast Vengance-class frigate who cut in front of her in an attempt to board. In an unbelivable effort her inexperienced crew mangaed to prevent the boarding and at the same time fire salvo after salvo into her hull. The Vengance took serious damage and sunk shortly after, which made HMS St. Albans able to escape the 4 other pursuing ships.
 *  March 21st, 1723: During the battle of Puerto Cabezas HMS St. Albans and her crew were part of the landing and assult on the French fort, outnumbering the French forces by 2:1. All enemy forces were either killed or captured, and British forces were ultimately sucessful in recapturing the port.
 *  March 21st, 1723: A huge navigational error by officer D.C. Onnect resulted in HMS St. Albans being separerated on the wrong side of the enemy fleet, far away from friendly ships. While the pirate fleet were busy linefighting British ships, HMS St. Albans were doing full speed and were able to cross in front of the pirate fleet while fireing her guns constantly. Eventually, the safty of friendly ships were reached although badly damaged. Emergency repairs were carried out with the support of a nearby freetrader, and HMS St. Albans were rejoining the battle just in time to assist in the sinking of the last remaining pirate vessels. Officer D.C. Onncet will face a review board who will evaluate his performance during the battle.
 *  March 22st, 1723: The battle for Spanish Town saw British forces disorganized with uncoordinated fire and unable to form proper lines. Ultimately this led to huge casulties and a failure in defending the port from enemy forces. The HMS St. Albans performed bravely however as her crew together with a friendly ship suceeded in sinking a Treason-class flagship whilst separated from friendly forces. Eventually HMS St. Albans were so badly damaged that she struck her colours and were abandoned by the remainder of her crew still alive.
 *  March 25st, 1723: Port of Spain was yet another disaster for the British Empire with catastrophic losses.
 *  February 24th, 1724: HMS St. Albans returned to the Caribbean just in time to help out with the defense of Belize. The terrifying sight of a second rate just deployed to the area must have scared the pirates off, after all only a few pirate ships actually took part in the final assult. They were utterly decimated by an overwhelming force of British ships defending the port.
 *  March 18th, 1724: The defence of Puerto Cabezas was a desicive victory much due to Captain Francis Drake leading a stern charge of the enemy fleet in his 3rd rate along with Captain Sullivan right behind him. Sevral other brithish captains followed shortly in the charge and the pirate fleet fell into disarray. Captain Francis Drake's 3rd rate were badly damaged in the charge and nearly sunk but was saved due to a well timed block by the St. Albans.
 *  March 23rd, 1724: A sad day for the British Empire; Basseterre, Charlestown and St. Johns lost to the despicable french frogs!