Duel - 1721 - May 9 - Pirate Engaged off Gibara

Ships in Action:
Captain Nathan Blatchford - HMS Javelin, Capricieux Mastercraft-class 5th-rate, 44

Captain Matt s'Fallen - Myrmidon Mastercraft-class 5th-rate, 40

Action Setup:
After having just avoided a group of pirate vessels in the waters off Puerta de Plata, I set new course for the contested waters N of Gibara. As I arrived, a score of sails were sighted W of Matthew Town, several of them clearly pirates, others flying the national colours of France and Spain. As the muffled thundering of gunfire reached us, it was clear that most of these had engaged eachother, and I took this opportunity to pass them and search for a lone enemy ship to engage. At the time, as a simple ruse de guerre, I had disguised the Javelin as a Spanish House of Trade vessel, reducing the watch on deck and flying the necessary sails and colours. Just as I entered the contested waters from NE of Gibara, a ship was spotted to the SW, heading directly for us with her guns run out and a Jolly Roger flying from the mainmast. Putting the Javelin's head close hauled into the wind (which was now blowing steadily from the N) and spilling wind from her sails, I waited for the pirate to come up behind my larboard quarter before I suddenly turned to engage. The guncrews came running up to man the guns, and the SGS colours ran swiftly up the flagstaff.

The Action Itself:
Having now the wind on my starboard quarter, I took half a minute to look over my opponent in my looking glass. I outgunned him by 20 lbs in broadside weight of metal, my 13-pounders against his 12-pounders, and his hull looked slightly weaker then that of the Javelin. On the other hand, it was clear from looking at his rigging that he had done his outmost to strenghten it, and that it was much more durable then the rigging of the Javelin. That, coupled with the higher number of men on his deck, told me that his chosen tactic was most likely to dismast, board and carry me. My best bet, I decided as I clapped together my glass and ordered topsails to be set and the Javelin to be laid alongside the enemy, was to close with him and do my best to sink him as quickly as possible.

As the pirate came within 200 yards, our first broadside (roundshot on the gundeck and dismantling shot on the upper deck) was a raking shot from stem to stern, causing a great cheer among the Javelin's guncrews, for every shot had gone straight home. Turning his ship swiftly to bring his broadside to bear, it was no surprise that starshot soon came singing through our rigging, and looking at the considerable damage to our sails and masts after only one broadside, I came to the conclusion that he would have my masts down faster then I could sink him. Ordering the guns to be drawn and reloaded with starshot, a feeling of concern came creeping up on me as we would now enter a type of combat in which the enemy had a clear advantage.

This concern, however, was soon repressed after the Javelin's first starshotted broadside claimed his bowsprit, and as the rigging of the two ships were steadily damaged, repaired and then damaged again, it turned out that the Javelin could hold her own for the moment. But the advantage of the enemy's outfitting soon paid off, and were it not for some manouvering were he presented his stern on a few occasions, the Javelin would surely have been on the losing side. Then suddenly an opportunity presented itself, and manouvering quickly I managed to position the Javelin's starboard broadside on the enemy's larboard quarter, being careful to keep her there even as the enemy tried to get his broadsides to bear. Here followed three well-directed broadsides from the Javelin, and presently the pirate lost headway, his masts gone. Losing no time, the guns were loaded with roundshot, and after some brisk firing a wild cheer broke out as the pirate's powder magazine caught on fire, the following explosion ripping his ship in half with a tremendous boom.

It all came at a price, however. Having only one mast standing, and with most of her rigging and sails hanging limp, the Javelin had an anxious time of it as she creeped towards Nassau for proper repairs.

The Result:
Victory! At last!

Lessons Learned:
This was my first ship-to-ship victory. I am becoming more and more confident in ship duels, and find myself actively searching for the enemy. I am also proud that I managed to beat an enemy in a dismantling duel, when it was clear that he had outfitted his ship to have an advantage in just that kind of duel.

I have learned that:
 * Taking the time to look over the enemy ship during the countdown is really helpful.
 * Keeping on the enemy's quarter is really effective.
 * I should never be afraid of changing tactics and adapting to the enemy during a battle.