Battle - 1720 - December 15 - Assault at Biloxi

Ships in Action:
ALLIES:

Leo Davis - HMS Claymore (Valiant third-rate)

Bob Faegun - (Reason fourth-rate)

-22 other british ships including 9 first rates,

several second and third rates and a frigate group.

ENEMIES:

-French fleet of 20 vessels:

8 first-rates

4 second-rates

1 Couronne Mastercraft Galleon

Some third and fourth-rates

Action Setup:
After being heavily involved in flipping Biloxi in open sea combat me and Captain Faegun were called to assist the direct assault on Biloxi. We were assigned to the red group positioned at the end of the line. Our group was sailing 1 Wenden, 3 Valiants, 1 Reason, 1 Heavy Hercules Frigate.

The battle took place on the Havanna Map.

The Action Itself:
Our fleet approached the port from the east in a long battle line with the wind at our back. The frigate group was scouting ahead. While our fleet sailed south west to the port, the enemy fleet formed a line and sailed to south east to cross our T, but had to turn around soon when they reached the end of the bay. This gave us enough time to form a line next to them cutting off their escape route. Soon a massive line battle evolved with most of the heavy ships of the line concentrating fire on each other. Four heavy enemy ships went down fast taking two of our first rates with them.

At this point of the battle our group had problems to choose its targets because we were only in range with our main batteries. Then suddendly the whole battle suffered a massive disconnect booting most of the captains of both sides including me out of the game. Luckily most us were able to get back into the game.

The chaos of the disconnect required our group to cover some of our immobilised larger ships of the line by moving through the front of our line for a 180° degree turn, now we were able to get into close range with the enemy. We passed the line while devastating their remaining ships with our broadsides, then our other groups were engaged in several boarding actions while the french line fell apart. During this fighting we lost another first rate and a heavy frigate.

After we defeated all french ships we moved into the city to defeat its militia.

The Result:
The battle was an outstanding victory for the british. We conquered the port from the french.

The british had only moderate losses with three first rates and one frigate. The french lost their whole fleet including all of their first rates, only one or two ships could escape through the disconnect.

Lessons Learned:
The french had a good chance to defend the port, but their initial maneuver to sail south-east against the wind brought them into a very unfavourable position, while we were able to trap their fleet in the bay south of the fortress.

At the end our focused fire on their most important ships brought the decision.

Misc.
British colossal fleet forming the battle line



First contact



The main engagement