Battle - 1720 - December 19 - Assault at Puerto Cabezas

Ships in Action:
ALLIES:

Leo Davis - HMS Albion (Trinity second-rate)

Theodric Pastile - (Reason fourth-rate)

-22 other british ships with two collossal groups and two mixed heavy groups.

ENEMIES:

-French fleet of 17 vessels consisting of some Valiant third-rates and mostly heavy frigates.

Action Setup:
Me and Captain Sir Pastile were chosen to participate in the attack on Puerto Cabezas, to take it back from the french occupation.

Aware of the economic importance of this port I decided to take my best ship the HMS Albion into battle.

Once again I was assigned to the red group positioned at the end of the line. We were the second colossal group of our fleet.

Our group had 1 Prince, 1 Invincible, 1 Triumphant, 2 Trinity, 1 Valiant.

Captain Sir Pastile was assigned to the white group.

The battle took place on the Stingray Map.

The Action Itself:
We approached the port from the south, while the french took a defensive position behind a small Island near the ports gun emplacements.

Our main fleet sailed north west to pass the island while the green frigate group blocked the eastern channel against a possible attack of the french. The enemy soon started to sail south to move into the rear of our main line of which I was the last ship. The green group followed us to shield our collossal ships.

After we passed the island we sailed north east to destroy the fortress and any gun emplacements. The french followed us behind, steadily closing in with their faster frigates. Soon they came into range of my stern chasers, I used Bar Shot to slow them down. But they started to hit me with anti rigging ammo too. Hit by several ships my rigging was soon down to 67% and I started to fall behind of my group.

Aware of our critical situation at the end of the line our leader decided to turn the line around, to lay a defensive position in the channel. Meanwhile the green group tried to cover me against the enemy ships to help me getting back into line with my group, which I managed not a minute to soon, with the french right behind me. After our line had turned their broadsides to the enemy we gave them hell. The enemy frigates could not stand long against our massive firepower in a line battle. Some of them tried to break through the line behind our red group, but our frigates were able to intercept them before they could do any damage.

After exchanging some broadsides the surviving french ships turned west to flee. Soon they gained enough distance and left the battle.

The Result:
A great victory for the british. We took back control of one of our most important economic ports.

The british lost only three ships. A Valiant, a Mont Blanc Indiaman and a Heavy Hercules.

The french lost eight ships including some of their Valiant third rates, nine enemy ships were able to flee.

Lessons Learned:
The french were heavily outgunned and outnumbered against our colossal fleet, but regardles they had seven ships less than our fleet they have put up a good fight.

Never underestimate a smaller enemy force, they can still hurt you especially if they can play out their speed and agility.

Misc.
British fleet sailing into the battle



British fleet moving around the small potato Island to attack the gun emplacements



The french chasing the tail of our battle line



Britsh fleet turns north to engage the enemy



The french charging into the southern part of our line



The surviving french ships retreat from the battle