Battle - 1722 - February 13 - The Split at Caracas

Ships in Action:
British Fleet

Captain Sir Leo Davis, Baron Crowcombe - H.M.S. Centaur, Macedon-class 4th-rate

Captain Sir Nathan Blatchford, 1st Bart. - H.M.S. Dreadnought, Macedon-class 4th-rate

Captain Sir Roderick Morrow, 1st Bart. - H.M.S. Hades, Macedon-class 4th-rate

Captain Alexander Lias - H.M.S. Knucker, Macedon-class 4th-rate

20 other British ships, consisting mostly of heavy frigates, 4th-rates and 3rd-rates.

Spanish Fleet

18 Spanish ships, mostly heavy frigates, 4th-rates and 3rd-rates.

Action Setup:
The battle took place on the Savage Cliffs map, Britain was attacking.

Having just seen to the most pressing repairs aboard the Dreadnought, horribly mauled after the Battle of West End the day before, I recieved a note from the Admiralty requesting and directing the Dreanought to take part in the upcoming assault on Caracas. The blockading squadron that had been monitoring the Spanish port had reported an enemy force of twelve enemy vessels inside the bay, and an additional six lineships that had evaded the blockade during the night.

As I arrived at the rendezvous I was relieved to see that the Fleet counted twenty-four ships, and that three other Squadron ships were laying at anchor, the personal colours of Captains Davis, Morrow and Lias streaming in the breeze. Just before four bells in the afternoon watch the signal All captains repair aboard flag was hoisted above Admiral Orde's flagship, and moments later we recieved our orders in his captain's cabin. Dreadnought and Knucker was to join Red Group under Commodore Wrinkle.

The Action Itself:
We had a strong breeze from NNE/N as the Fleet fell into the chosen attack formation, three lines astern with White to larboard, Black in centre and Green to starboard. Red formed two lines astern with three ships each line, taking up the rear of the Fleet. We maintained a westerly course and rounded the N side of a small island ahead of us, entering the centre of a circle of islands. The Spaniards were immediately spotted to the W, heading NNW and hugging the shore of the larger island straight ahead of us.

"They're hugging a lee shore, sir!", climbing down from the top, my First called out to inform me of the scene ahead of us. "They're hugging a lee shore while we have the weather gage. I feel inclined to demand a fork and knife with the the position they've just served us on a silver platter, for I suspect we are going to wolf it down. Ha!" Focusing my glass on Commodore Wrinkle's frigate I made out the flags hanging from his signal lanyard. "Indeed we shall, Mr. Bradshaw, Flag intends to go through the enemy line has been hoisted at the van.", I said as I contemplated the deck in front of me. After the recapture of the Dreadnought near the end of West End, only about half of the dreadnoughts were alive and fit for service, leaving precious few to man a broadside, not to mention two, and still have men to see to the rigging. Ahead of us the thunder of gunfire began as the foremost British ships closed the range on the middle of the Spanish fleet. "Man the starboard broadside, if you please. Topsails and mizzen topgallant on my orders. We shall engage the first Spaniard that finds himself in our sights." "Right away, sir.", my First tipped his hat and walked over to the Bosun, who started issuing the orders.

With full force the Fleet crashed into the middle of the Spanish line, the foremost ships of Black entangling themselves in the rigging of the nearest enemy Spaniards, causing boarding parties on each side to furiously charge at eachother. White continued briefly on a southern course before coming to a halt, trapping a large part of the Spanish line and battering those committed to boarding. The van of the Spaniards, untouched by British gunfire at this point, set course NW to regroup. Green disengaged from the Spanish centre and gave chase, shaking the determination of the northern Spaniards, who then set course SW then S away from Green. As Green disengaged, Red reached the fragments of the Spanish line, setting course S to engage the rear enemy ships.

"Fire as they bear!" a midshipmans shriek pierced the deafening sound of furious gunfire from the nearby White group as the Dreadnought sailed past a Spanish fourth-rate at point blank range. Aboard the enemy lineship the guns had been largely abandoned and a great number of crewmembers had massed on their forecastle to fend off a Spanish third-rate that were blocking their path. As our guns went of in a deliberate, rolling broadside the enemy deck erupted in a shower of splinters and rigging, shortly followed by their mainmast plunging through the smoke and crashing into the water on their larboard side. Sailing past the battered enemy lineship three enemy fourth-rates could be seen three points off the larboard bow, sailing on a northern course. Ahead of us the Commodore fired a gun as the signal Course NW and Form line astern of flag appeared above his ship. The orders rang out across the deck, "Sailcrew aloft!", "Ready to go about!", "Helms-a-lee!" and presently the starboard battery had once again a Spaniard in their sights. As the sound of Red Group's guns rang out across the water, the enemy ship disappeared in wooden splinters and ocean spray, a fire starting on the forecastle and spreading through the rigging. Presently the inevitable happened, and the force of the exploding powder magazine blew a shipsized whole through the larboard side, effectively removing the ship's bottom and sending her swiftly to the depts.

One of the British third-rates belonging to Black that was boarded at the beginning of the charge was at this time overcome by the furious Spanish boarders, and was forced to strike his colours. Moments later the Spaniards surrounding him were swiftly holed beneath the waterline by the Fleet however, obliging them all to abandon ship as they started taking in water. The remaining Spanish ships belonging to the centre or rear of the now non-existant enemy line were brutally sunk in the same fashion, and presently the only Spaniards still afloat were pressing on to the S, the westernmost chased by Green, the easternmost by the rest of the Fleet. The two bodies of ships met W of the southernmost island, and presently the remaining Spanish ships were either sunk or managed to make a narrow escape.

The Result:
British victory.

The British lost 1 vessel, the Spanish lost 12-14 vessels sunk.

Lessons Learned:
While the British clearly had the advantage in numbers and therefore had the best chances of winning from the onset, this battle must be seen as an example of how dangerous it is to have yourself trapped against a lee shore with the enemy bearing down upon you. Also, effective use of focused fire was as always a contributing factor to our victory.

Battle Schematic:
WORK IN PROGRESS