Battle - 1720 - October 2 - Port Battle for Port-of-Spain

Ships in Action:
ALLIES:

Virgil Kyle - HMS Thorn ('Algiers' Refit Polacre)

-21 other British ships, of varying sizes

ENEMIES:

-Spanish fleet consisting of 5 vessels, including a Valiant third-rate

Action Setup:
While I was making a patrol south of Hispaniola in my trusty polacre, I again received a communique from the Admiralty calling on my assistance in an imminent port battle. Expecting this, I sailed immediately for Port-of-Spain, and what would be my first meeting with the Spanish in a port battle.

Upon entering the battle's ready room, I was once again assigned to work with the fast ships of 'Green Group', and, once everything else was in order, we entered the battle to face the wily Dons!

The Action Itself:
Upon entering the battle, we immediately noticed that a paltry Spanish force of 5 ships had shown up to defend the port. The only ship of real note was a Valiant third-rate, which quickly disengaged from the field of battle. Seeing this paltry force, I suspected that the Spanish may try and run. Therefore, I requested, and was granted, permission to detach from my group and scout out the only other exit to the harbor, and make sure none of the Spaniards could make our jobs harder than they had to be!

However, none tried to escape, and I was left to listen to the distant sounds of battle from my far-off post. Perhaps I should consider myself lucky...

The Result:
Victory, of course, although it was hardly worthy of being called that. A 'rout' is more like it!

In this, my first meeting with the Spaniards in such circumstances, I was not impressed. The only thing that did impress me was that 80% of the Spaniards who did show up stayed and fought. Many kudos to them for fighting, and dying, like true warriors. Now, if only some more of their captains had showed up, it may have been truly worthy of being called a 'battle'!

Lessons Learned:
In this, my fourth port battle, I realized a potentially invaluable role for the HMS Thorn, other than that of a mere scout. Along with perhaps one or two other lateen-rigged vessels, my ship would be ideally suited to run down any stragglers who wish to escape the field of battle by running away in a direction that the ship-rigged vessels in a battle group could not easily follow. I shall have to volunteer for such service in the future, if we suspect our enemy may wish to escape their destruction, rather than face it head on, as they should...

Misc.
The following is a picture from midway through the battle, showing my position relative to the main fleet (and the rest of 'Green Group'). As in the last battle on this map, the wind is again coming from the northeast.