HMS Legionaire

HMS Legionaire
Rating: 5th-rate

Class: Sleek Hercules-Class Frigate

Date of Commission: June 14th, 1721

Guns: 40

Crew: 305

Status: Currently exercising her crew in maneuvers and the use of the great guns.

History:
H.M.S. Legionaire is a 40-gun 5th-rate frigate that was launched from the Windward Shipyards in Turtling Bay on June 12th 1721, and later commissioned to Post-Captain Nathaniel Blatchford from the Javelin on June 14th. During the following week the pressing gangs led by Captain Blatchford's First Lieutenant from the Javelin, Edward Lambarde, managed to recieve, convince or force 249 men from the nearby ports to sail aboard the Legionaire, almost reaching her complement of 305 men. On June 28th, her hold filled with water, victuals, powder and shot, the Legionaire set sail for Port Royal.

During this passage, the crew was thoroughly exercised in the use of the great guns and her captain became increasingly more familiar with the quick turning and maneuverability of his ship. After reaching Port Royal, and under the clear guidance of experienced frigate captain Baron Sir Robert Middlemore, the Legionaire became an increasingly effective fighting machine. More often than not she would spend her days sailing into open waters, clearing for action, beating to quarters and improving the crew's gunnery and speed at trimming, setting and reducing sails. On July 9th, when cruising the sea lanes off Irish Point, the Legionaire spotted a sail to leeward that turned out to be a French letter of marque of 40 guns. Clearing for action and beating to quarters the Legionaire turned to engage, and after a brisk fight the enemy's powder magazine erupted in flames. After picking up the surviving frenchmen and taking aboard any useful goods that had survived the explosion, the Legionaire sailed away from her first true engagement utterly victorious. Setting course for Port Royal to deliver the prisoners and refill her stores of powder and ammunition, yet another sail was seen clear on her larboard bow. When it turned out to be a Spanish privateer in a 44-gun frigate, the sound of the drum once again resounded throughout the ship as the Legionare altered course to intercept the enemy. At the end of the day two enemy frigates were sunk, and the Legionaire earned the love of her captain.

When in contested waters, Captain Blatchford often uses the ruse de guerre of painting the Legionaire pink in the style of a merchantman of the Spanish House of Trade while also reducing the watch on deck, putting off any uniform coats and hats, and flying the House flags and sails, only raising the SGS colours just before the first shot is fired. This has on numerous occasions enabled him to sail his ships very close indeed to an enemy vessel before the enemy captain discovered the ruse, or let him pass largely unnoticed by enemies of superior force. By the end of July, Captain Blatchford and his crew had done very well in prize-money, especially after seizing a pirate Indiaman laden with goods on July 22nd.

On September 3rd, Sir Nathaniel was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions aboard the Legionaire against three enemy privateers on July 10th and 11th.

British Captains:
1721-present: Captain Sir Nathaniel Blatchford

Notable Actions

 * July 9th, 1721: Engaged French privateer in a Trinidad 5th-rate off Irish Point. Proceeded to take down his crew and rudder, and presently he was sunk.


 * July 9th, 1721: Engaged Spanish privateer in a Capricieux Mastercraft 5th-rate off Port Royal. Proceeded to empty his deck of crew and fight him yardarm-to-yardarm. Presently, the enemy was sunk.


 * July 10th, 1721: Engaged by French privateer in a Capricieux Mastercraft 5th-rate off Santo Domingo. The enemy had the wind, and as he could turn dreadfully fast even with his rudder broken, I took the first opportunity to board and carry him. His ship was manned with a prize-crew and set course for Port Royal.


 * July 22nd, 1721: Engaged pirate in a captured Oliphant Indiaman off Port-de-Paix. Proceeded to take down his sails, fired a broadside of grape and boarded him in the smoke. Took possesion of the mastless ship and its cargo and towed it back to Port Royal.


 * July 22nd, 1721: Engaged by pirate in a Pirate Hercules 5th-rate off Irish Point. The pirate outturned and outsailed the Legionaire like kiss my hand, and as I put her quarter to the wind the Legionaire was blocked and boarded. My crew fought heroically, but due to their superior numbers the pirates managed to subdue us, empty our hold and convince eighteen of my men to join them before they sailed off.


 * July 22nd, 1721: Engaged French privateer in a Sleek Hercules 5th-rate off Bridgetown. The enemy recieved damage to his stern during the following exchange of broadsides but outsailed the Legionaire in the following chase, managing to escape to the SW.


 * July 30th, 1721: As part of a squadron of four British frigates under Commodore Mountain, engaged by four French fifth-rate men-of-war off Puerto Cabezas. After a quick exchange of broadsides the British withdrew. Due to damage recieved to rigging, the Legionaire was put about to slow the progress of the Frenchmen, recieveing critical damage in the process.


 * July 31st, 1721: As part of a squadron of three British frigates under Commodore Blatchford, while in a battle with a Spanish patroling fleet, engaged by two Spanish frigates. Managed to sink one, the remaining Spaniard then disengaged to the SW.


 * September 4th, 1721: As a part of a squadron of five British ships under Commodore Brogsitter, engaged French frigate off Gibara. The French frigate was soon reinforced by three other frigates however, and the British ships managed to sink one Frenchman before they all recieved critical damage and lost the engagement.


 * September 4th, 1721: As part of a squadron of six ships under Commodore O'Donnel, engaged Spanish squadron of six ships off Matthew Town. The Spaniards took dominance of the engagement from the onset, and several British ships recieved critical damage within the first minutes. After sinking one Spaniard, the Legionaire and HMS Challenge managed to disengage to the NE as the last British ships afloat.