Battle - 1721 - February 13 - Assault at Puerto Cabezas

Battle report by Leo Davis

Ships in Action:
ALLIES:

Rodger Berett - (Valiant third-rate)

Dirty Nelly - (Montblanc Indiaman)

Leo Davis - HMS Claymore (Valiant third-rate)

Avis Faegun - (Hercules Heavy Frigate)

- 16 other british ships with two collossal groups and two mixed heavy groups.

ENEMIES:

-French fleet of 19 vessels consisting of two Valiant third-rates and mostly heavy frigates.

Action Setup:
The battle took place on the Havanna Map. Captain Nelly and Captain Sir Leo Davis were assigned to the red colossal group, Captain Earl Berett was part of the black colossal group. Captain Avis Faegun was in one of the frigate groups.

Because some players did not decline their invite in time, we were not able to bring a full fleet of 24 ships. But to our surprise the french had similar problems they could only bring 19 ships into the battle.

The Action Itself:
Our fleet approached the port in a double line from the west. The enemy took cover next to the port fortress. As we closed in on the enemy they left their position and sailed east. With the wind at our back we quickly closed in. Next to the eastern port entrance we finally pushed through the enemy ships dividing them into two groups. Now we could fire devastating broadsides with our colossal ships into the enemy. The french were soon suffering the first losses. But were also able to sink two of our smaller ships.

The remaining french group next to the port entrance then fled into the fortress. While the other french group was chased down into the bay in the south where it was completely destroyed except for one ship that could flee from the battle.

Then we regrouped next to the port entrances and waited for the port to open. shortly before the opening timer ran out the french came out of the fortress. But our fleet already blocked all city entrances so they had no chance to enter the town. Now the french realised that they have lost the battle and left.

The Result:
A great victory for the british.

The british lost only two ships.

The french lost ten ships including their Valiant third rates, nine enemy ships were able to flee.

Lessons Learned:
This was no hard battle, the french had no chance against our superior firepower.

Trapped in the inner bays of the Island the french had problems to outmaneuver our bigger ships, while we could focus fire with our colossal ships on the enemy ships.

Misc.