Naval Chronicle - 11 - February, 1722

Foreword
January saw a fierce contest for dominance of the seas. A contest that rages on into the second month of 1722. Spain has crumbled under the pressure of such intense warfare and rumours tell of Spanish captains deserting and raising the jolly roger. France stands firm and continues to meet our fleets with equal force. Perhaps the greatest surprise of last month was the uprising of pirates in the Caribbean. From constituting only a threat on the high seas, pirate congregations have now defeated fleets of all the major nations. Dockyards, harbours and towns are no longer safe and veterans of the Caribbean compare the current pirate fleets' strength to that of early 1721, and some even earlier. All agree, however, that the pirates will need to be met with a united, skilled and powerful fleet if they are to be run out of the Caribbean once more.

St. George Squadron is currently seeing an influx of capable Captains from other Squadrons and other waters. With Parliament's ( FLS ) decision to move more fleets to the Caribbean (merge), we can expect a great increase in the amount of warships present this month and next. These truly are exciting times to serve His Majesty's Royal Navy as we sail onto threats and enemies unknown.

Strength in unity, Captains!

Enjoy!



Awards
The Senior Officers have discussed and voted in accordance with the rules of the Squadron for those medals nominated by the Squadron's Captains that are to be distributed this month. They hereby announce this month's awards :

Captain Sir Paul Melhuish

Mylords, captains,

I hereby nominate Captain Paul Melhuish for the Millitary Cross in recognition of his brave actions during the port battle of Bridgetown on January 21st 1722.

Captain Melhuish and me were part of White squadron. The fleet was ordered to charge through the French line and afterwards turn right. Being close to land 3 ships including me and Cpt Melhuish and me got stuck close to land between a French reason and a French Macedon. After we sund the 2 French ships or sterns were exposed to the French fleet brawling with the main of our fleet. Captain Melhuish sailed forward protecting HMS King George with his Wenden class ship, now taking heavy damage from the French fleet.

This act of bravery was into best traditions od the Royal Navy and should serve as an example for every Captain of the squadron.

Mylords, captains, I remain your humble servant,

Captain Edward Southwick, Esq.

Captain the Lord Seth Seaborn

In an engagement off Spanish Town on the 19th January 1722, during the defence of the port, Lord Seaborn was part of a combined force of Imperial Shipyards and Saint George Squadron, sailing the HMS Maverick, Hercules-class Sleek Frigate.

Engaging a far heavier French group of frigates and Fourth Rates, captained by officers of the much-vaunted Les Elites, and led by none other than French Viceroy Ubert le Danois, Captain Lord Seaborn did sail with consummate skill and prowess, engaging in a long-running battle harassing the superior French group, and effectively supporting his fellow British ships where necessary.

After a battle of attrition, Ubert le Danois' Macedon Fourth Rate was heavily damaged, but blocked on all angles except the nose, so that the British group had no ability to shoot him. Lord Seaborn, seeing his own position gave him the only opportunity to acquire a "kill shot", but that to do so required moving dangerously - suicidally in fact - close to the heavy French guns, chose to live up to the highest ideals of the Articles of War by doing his utmost to engage the enemy. Knowing the risk to himself, his crew, and his ship, he placed himself at the necessary position to sink Ubert le Danois, Viceroy of the French nation.

With this move, the morale of the French group was broken. Lord Seaborn's ship was inevitably severely damaged and holed below the waterline, trading broadsides with the remaining enemies to inflict further damage right up until the last moment. However his sacrifice tipped the balance of the fight definitively in his group's favour - inexorably, the remaining French ships were sunk or boarded and captured, including a Hercules Mastercraft Frigate.

Lord Seaborn's maneouvre - the skill, bravery, and sacrifice it involved - more than fulfills the requirements of such an Award, and is worthy of a Distinguished Service Cross.

Nominated by: Captain Earl Middlemore

Captain Bosandy

Captain Bosandy showed strong ship action skills as he took part in the efforts of defending West End and Nassau against French attacks recently. He stood firm on his quarterdeck even when facing superior enemies and led his crew through many victorious battles. This isan example of how captains in the St.George Squadron of the White should behave at all times!

Nominated by: Captain Viscount Wilmore

Captain Lias

Lords of the Admiralty,

I would like to nominate Mr. Lias for the St. Geoge Citation for Conspicuous Bravery. Mr. Lias had never before engaged heavy enemy Manoeuvering Fleets, nor has he had much experience in contested waters. However, he gladly joined my cruise off Irish Point with the aim of creating contention in these waters.

Toegether we dispatched 2 Manoeuvering Fleets and 3 Patrolling Fleets as well as a many other minor Spanish trade vessels. In the process we created 2,500 contention points on the port. Mr. Lias displayed tactical insight throughout and his skillful gunnery coupled with his fiercely courageous disposition greatly impressed both myself and the unfortunate Spaniards. He followed all orders to the letter and at times had begun a strategically useful manoeuver before I had even run up the signal.

Our cruise was cut to an end when two Spanish privateers ambushed us whilst attacking a fourth Patrolling Fleet. Both of us were promptly dismasted and sunk by the Spaniards aided by the Patrolling vessels. Mr. Lias took this abrupt end to the cruise very well indeed and acted like a true Gentleman.

For his boldness and skill in combat I therefore believe that Mr. Lias ought receive the St. George Citation for Conspicuous Bravery.

Best Regards,

Viscount Will Collister, RN

Captain Earl Middlemore

Mylords, I wish to recommend Captain Robert Middlemore for the Naval Goldmedal. As highly decorated veteran he is constantly taking his time to educate and level our new captains, taking them on long fleet grinds. The leveling of new captains is very timeconsuming and something only very few people do. Spending hours and hours with leveling up comrades is eveidence of Lord Middlemores dedication and his service for our Squadron.

Captain Lord Seth Seaborn Chief of Naval Operations

Captain Sir Edward Southwick

Dear Sirs,

Over the past couple of weeks, Captain Southwick has been invaluable in getting applications from the application form and into a thread on in the patronage forum. He also gets online and sends an ingame mail to all members giving them the name of the new applicant and asking all to look for and interview the interested party. He has told me that he is able and willing to continue this despite there no longer being any chaplain position. This dedication should not go unnoticed and therefore I recommend him for an Admiral's Commendation if you see fit to award him one.

Sincerely,

Captain Sir Roderick Morrow

Captain Viscount Collister

I commend Captain William Collister's excellent work for the St.George Squadron of the White as a community, particularly his efforts with the Naval Chronicle. Captain Collister commitment and enthusiasm is a great example for all officers in Squadron!

Sincerely, Captain James Wilmore

Promotions
The Senior Officers convened in the end of last month to evaluate the actions and conduct of our Captains. Our Captains' rank and performance are considered and promotions are suggested by Senior Officers. They have voted on this month's promotions, in accordance with the rules governing the Squadron, and have seen fit to promote the following officers:

Seth Seaborn

James Wilmore

Roderick Morrow

Edward Southwick

Paul Melhuish

Ryan Iredale

Keith Bosandy

Sempera Navarre

Will Hewitt

Jack Naseby

Recruits
The following Captains have joined our honourable Squadron. We bid them welcome and look forward to sailing alongside them into the fray of many a battle to further the interests of His Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy:

Ray Ryeman

Marcus Gross

William Blair

Percival Hackworth

Frederick Taylor

William vanRijn

Ships Launched
The following ships have been launched and commissioned to Captains of the St. George Squadron:

Services and businesses
Here follows a list of the major shipyards, plantations, mining industries, etc., present in the Caribbean which offer their services to the Squadron.

Fletcher Ironworks
Captain Walter Fletcher is proud to present his most excellent ]Ironworks. Situated in Puerto Cabezas, Fletcher Ironworks is built as the Navy Board Business Page Model.

Available to satisfy all your Iron needs.

Contact: Walter Fletcher

William's Textile Business
Benjamin William's Textile Business provides quality sailcloth and canvas for the fighting ships of His Majesty's Royal Navy. If you are in need of these wares, contact Mr. Williams directly and he will be more than happy to oblige.

Contact: Benjamin Williams

Grimm's Mining and Recruitment
Christopher Grimm's enterprise is divided into two divisions, Mining and Recruitment. The mining business is situated in Belize, while the recruitment of experts is in Bluefields. At the moment, there is a lack of experts other than Carpenters, but there may be Sailmasters for hire in the near future.

Contact: Christopher Grimm

Bond Oak Products
Bond Oak Products provides shipwrights and Captains alike with ship-building materials.

Contacts: James Bond & J. R. Lapenotiere

Thorpes Fireworks
The newly opened Thorpes Fireworks ammunition store in Turtle Bay offers a wide asortment of supplies that you can't be without when the need shows up. The Manager, Elisabeth Thorpe is working hard at the moment to fill the stock for the new season and as peace in this area always seems fragile she belives in a BOOMING market. Contacts: Elisabeth Thorpe & Geoffrey Thorpe

Blackbird Yards
Saluations - permit us to very fiercely recommend the Naval Stores that are manufactured by the Blackbird Yard. They are a superior purveyour of all small ships and a variety of other Naval Stores to include hull and sail patches and/or mods. They are a family owned independant shipyard here to serve discrimating Captains.

Contacts: Shaun Jervis & William Jervis

Davis Ironworks
Manufacturer of Iron and Brass parts, Cannons and Ammunition.

Contact: Paul Davis

SGS Anthem
The SGS Anthem has been composed and performed by Lord Wilmore and is now the most common song to be heard echoing from the decks of the warships of St. George Squadron. Captains yet to acquaint themselves with this glorious anthem ought direct their attention here.

Naval Engagements
Here follows a summary of engagements, actions and battles in which our British ships have taken part during the month. For ship-to-ship duels and flotilla actions, the result column depicts the damage given to each ship. Critical damage in this column represents that the ship sank but lost a point of durability rather than being lost forever.

The red text depicting losses is also used in tables summarizing Port Battles. The black number gives the amount of ships present, and the red number in brackets gives losses.

If any Captain finds any errors in the following account, feel free to edit the erroneous details. Also, the Editor cannot sufficiently stress the appreciation of each report to reach the Admiralty. So do, if at all possible, make a note or two to add to the Chronicle, and deliver it to Captain Viscount Collister via pm, mail or in person.

No reports
Due to various factors affecting the Squadron's location during this month, no reports are available.