Battle - 1722 - March 6 - Defence of Baseterre

Ships in Action:
British Fleet

SGS Captains

Captain Sir Edward R. Southwick - '''HMS Agamemnon

23 other British Captains (Fleet being 8 3rd rates 6 Hercules mastercrafted frigates and mix of Macedons, Reasons and Heavy Hercules frigates)

Spanish Fleet

24 Spanish captains in a mix of third rates and forth rates alongside some heavy frigates, about 8 of them being Hercules class mastercrafted frigates.

Action Setup:
It was good fortune HMS Diane captured this Spanish packet boat off Charlestown, the governour of Bassetown Sir Anthony Simmerson said to his secretary. It carried letters for the infamous Spanish admiral, who only recently raided the port of Spanish Town. Sir Anthony looked down to the harbor with great relief. The Royal Navy had dispatched an impressive fleet to defend his town, 24 ships were anchoring there ready to meet the enemy. The British fleet was commanded by Admiral Star Chase asissted by the commodores Blackheart and Cumberland. There it was - the fortress fired the alarm gun. The Spanish fleet was sighted on the horizion. Signals went up on the flagship and the our fleet set sails leaving port to meet the Spanish fleet on the open sea.

This battle was fought on the Jawbone map, as a daytime battle.

The Action itself:
As our vanguard red squadron, consisting of Hercules mastercrafted frigates, was first to leave port, trying to make contact with the enemey. The heavy ships of the line where ordered to form two battle groups. While black squadron was commanded by Admiral Star Chase himself, the honor of commanding the second heavy squadron felt to Captain Southwick. The remaining heavy frigates formed green group and were commanded by Captain Harford. The enemy fleet was sighted to north-east. The British fleet altered course forming a staggered double to stop the Spanish ships from entering the bay. The enemy fleet stopped up with their heavy ships alo arranged in a double line. The Spanish admiral ordered his skirmish group frigates to go for the stern of the British main line. With the British frigates trying to intercept them, they sailed along the British main line, some ships getting to close to the heavy British ships, which opened fire on them with thier heavy lower deck batteries. Even if 2 Spanish frigates were seriously damaged, they were able to perform emergency repairs, while being well blocked by their commrades. At this point it became clear, that the Spanish frigates sailed to far away from the main of their fleet and the British admiral ordered green group's heavy frigates to turn and fight the Spanish skirmish group alongside red squadron. The heavy ships were ordered to set sails performing 120 degrees turn to starboard to bring their heavy batteries to bear on the isolated enemy frigates. This action provoked the Spanish main line to also set sails and trying to charge into the end of the turning British main line. Signals went up on the British flagship signaling the fleet to turn about 90 degrees to larboard to meet the Spanish charge. The two fleets passed each other exchanging broadsides. With the British fleet concentrating fire on nominated ships, it was possible to sink 3 enemy ships while losing 1 our selves. The Spanish fleet was closing in on land and the British fleet was odered to charge into them in hope to cluster them in shallow waters and board or sink them. With the British fleet having troubles to turn in time, the Spanish fleet was able to come free of the land, turn and get out of the shallow waters. The two fleets then entangeled in close range combat. With the British fleet having heavier ships than their enemies and concentrating their fire on enemy ships, they were now inflicting severe damage to the enemy, with many Spanish ships going down fast. The remain Spanish ships, most of them being Hercules class now disengaged around the island trying to reform their fleet and inflicting dmaage to the chasing British vessels. On of the British frigates was to eager to keep in touch with the enemy and, on his own, was sunk by the reformed Spanish formation. With the main of the British fleet arriving the Spanish resistance was broken, they enemies were sunk or able to flee.

The result:
The Royal navy defended Baseterre, the fertile soil of this port remains in British hands and the rum supplies for his majesty's vessels in the West Indies are secured.

To the fighting captains, and King George!

Losses:
British: 5 (Valiant and others)

Spanish: 18-19 (all heavy ships were sunk. Some frigates were able to disengange from battle)