Action - 1721 - July 13 - The last battle of the HMS Unicorn

Captains in Action
British Captains:

Captain the Baron Leo Davis - HMS Unicorn-Mercy Naval Frigate

Spanish Captains:

Captain Oranjebaard of the "This is Spain" society and three other spanish Captains

Action Setup
I was part of a british fleet, laying siege to the major spanish port Havanna. While blockading the port I got attacked by a single spanish Bermuda sloop, which disengaged after a short chase. Directly after this encounter my spotters reported the sighting of flare signals northeast of our position, I ordered to approach the signals to see whats going on. Soon I found out that the signals cam from two british frigates in distress.

The Action Itself
I ordered to set full sails and approached the two ships. Just as I reached them I realised that both were fleeing from something. But it was already too late, suddenly four large spanish frigates emerged from a small fog bank just 250 yards in front of me. My ship got immediately under fire, while I tried to turn my ship around. The two other british frigates had already fled the battle which left me trapped all alone against a superior enemy.

I realised that my only chance would be to get into close combat with one of the spanish frigates. I ordered my crew to load all guns with bar shot and sailed directly to the Tinidad Frigate of Captain Oranjebaard. I was able to do some moderate damage to his sails, before our ships crashed into each other. As a preparation for a boarding combat I ordered to load canister shot, to wipe the enemys shipdeck of its crew, unfortunately the spaniard had the same Idea, so that our effords ended in an equal situation.

After fireing two broadsides of Canister Shot into the Trinidad Frigate, I gave the order to board the spanish frigate, which succeded. In the turmoil on deck I looked out for Captain Oranjebaard and engaged him in a wild fencing duel, while our crews fought desperately for the control of the ship. After an seemingly endless and equal fight I was almost able to overthrow the spanish captain and his crew.

But unfortunately the other three spanish ships took the opportunity to rake the HMS Unicorn with their cannons, this forced me and my boarding crew to abort the boarding combat and we returned back onto our ship. The gunfire of the other three frigates did horrible damage to the Unicorn and with its stern being destroyed, it was already taking water very fast. Captain Oranjebaards crew quickly cut the ropes that tied our ships together and send a final broadside into the Unicorn which ripped up its hull. Quickly capsising the HMS Unicorn sank below waves, taking many good men with her.

The spanish ships immediately set sail and left us behind in the water.

Fortunately the sea was calm and there was enough debris in the water to make some provisionary rafts, which brought us quickly to the near coast, where we were picked up by a british merchant ship, which brought us back to Turtling Bay.

Result
The HMS Unicorn has to be written off as a total unrecoverable loss.

Lessons Learned
Never sail into a battle if you do not know what is happening in there. The HMS Unicorn got wasted totally uneccessary. Combined with an unlucky spawn point, right in front of the enemy I had no chance at all to escape destruction, since the two british ships which I wanted to help, left the battle just in the moment as I entered it.

The main fault was that I should have asked in Ventrilo, if I should join the battle before I jumped into it.

Duelling Captain Oranjebaard in boarding combat.



The last seconds of the HMS Unicorn before it receives its final broadside



The last remnants of the Unicorn sailing back to Havanna