Battle - 1722 - January 23 - Battle of Cayo de Marquis

Ships in Action:
British Fleet

SGS Captains

Captain the Lord Joseph Fletcher - '''HMS Plymouth

Captain the Lord Will Collister - '''HMS Africa

Captain Edward Southwick - '''HMS King George

21 other British Captains (Fleet being 12 3rd rates 5 Hercules mastercrafted frigates and mix of Macedons, Reasons and Heavy Hercules frigates)

French Fleet

24 French Captains in 3-4 third rates and mostly Macedons and heavy frigates.

Action Setup:
The battle for Cayo de Marquis was fought on the 23rd January 1722. The British fleet of 24 ships of the line and heavy frigates was Commanded by Admiral Wild fire and meet a French fleet of 24 ships, with the French fleet being a little lighter then ours. The name of the commanding French admiral is unknown.

The SGS captains were assigned to white squadron, commanded by Commodre Noir Blackheart.

The battle took place on the Arch Coastline Map.

British Order of Battle:
Black group - Third-rate Ships of the Line

Wenden third rate, Captain Rodger Berett

Wenden third rate, Captain Edward Carlisle

Valiant third rate, Admiral Wild Fire

Valiant third rate, Captain Thax Stooda

Wenden third rate, Captain Randy Bear

Wenden third rate, Captain Alex Delarge

White group - Third-rate Ships of the Line

Wenden third rate, Commodore Noir Blackheart

HMS Plymouth, Wenden third rate, Captain the Lord Fletcher

Valiant third rate, Captain Tim Hawkinss

HMS King George, Wenden third rate, Captain Edward Southwick

HMS Africa, Wenden third rate, Captain Viscount Collister

Valiant third rate, Captain simon shropshire

Green group - Heavy Frigates

Hercules Mastercraft fifth rate, Commodore Henry Courtney

Hercules Mastercraft fifth rate, Captain Jon Sharpe

Hercules Mastercraft fifth rate, Captain Teddy Rebel

Hercules Mastercraft fifth rate, Captain Temujin Nator

Hercules Heavy fifth rate, Captain Nathaniel Starbuck

Hercules Mastercraft fifth rate, Captain Amber Stratos

Red group - Fourth-rate Ships of the Line and Frigates

Reason fourth rate, Captain Janus von Braun

Hercules Heavy fifth rate, Captain Klaus Nimmalles

Hercules Heavy fifth rate, Captain Molly Benford

Archelon fifth rate, Commodore Dayvid Cook

Hercules Heavy fifth rate, Captain Bruce Braid

Macedon fourth rate, Captain JeanMi Requile

The Action Itself:
The French fleet took up a defensive position in the bay leading towards the port of Cayo de Marquis. The British fleet sailed northwards towards that bay, with green squadron commanded by Captain Henry Courtney taking the lead followed by the main of the British fleet. The 12 heavy 3rd rates of black and white squadron formed a double line to charge the enemy fleet while red squadron fromed behind as rearguard. The main of the British fleet closed in towards the waiting enemy fleet, coming to a full stop way off the entrance to the bay. Green squadron closed in on the front of the enemy fleet firing several broadsides forcing the leading ships of the anchoring enemy fleet to leave their position. At this point the French fleet set sail the meet the British fleet. The frigate group disengaged and the British fleet charged into the French fleet. With this maneuver the British fleet managed to split the French fleet. The lighter ships at rear where reinforced by Green group. These ship successfully fought the enemy denying them the chance to reform with the front half of their fleet. The heavy ships of black and white group inficted heavy damage on the cut off French ships sinking several of them. The remaining ships turned under heavy fire from the British fleet trying to reach the fortress. On the way to the fortress more French ships were sunk. While crushing through the French line several ships of white group were split apart from the main of the fleet, now taking heavy fire from the enemy. HMS Plymouth and HMS King George took heavy damage. While HMS King George was able to disengage and fall back being covered by a Wenden and a Valiant class ship, HMS Plymoth could not be covered fast enough and finally sunk. HMS King George was ordered to stay behind and executed emergency repairs, while the rest of the fleet chased and fought the remains of the French fleet on it s way to the fortress. After executing emergency repairs, Captain Blackheart signaled HMS King George to destroy the Town defense gun and rejoin the fleet anchoring in front of the fortress. Once all ships arrived at the fortress, 23 British captains stormed into the fortress to fight the remaining 9 French captains, who were defeated in close combat.

The Result:
The attack on Cayo de Marquis was over and the port was taken in the name of King George!

God save the King!

British Losses

1 (Wenden)

French Losses

12-13 (3-4 3rd rates, 2 HMCs, Macedons, HHs)

Lessons Learned:
The charge on the French fleet was well prepared but once we splitted the French group it became very hectical and a bit hard to follow comms. If we might have been a bit more calm and faster with blocking we might have been able to save Lord Fletcher's ship.

Pictures will follow...