Battle - 1721 - July 10 - Defending West End

Report by Captain Leo Davis about the successful defense of West End against a french attack.

Ships in Action:
British Fleet

Captain the Countess Nellie - HMHV Pallafox, Poseidon fourth rate

Captain the Baron Leo Davis - HMS Claymore, Valiant third rate

Captain the Baron James Raleigh - HMS Glory, Poseidon fourth rate

Captain the Baron Robert Middlemore - HMS ?, Hercules Heavy Frigate

18 other British Captains

Our fleet consisted of severals third rates, many fourth rates and heavy frigates.

Fleet Admirals: Jason Hunter and Edward Carlisle

French Fleet

21 French Captains

With one Prince First Rate, three Second Rates, some Valiants and Wenden Third Rates, the rest were fourth rates and Heavy Frigates.

Fleet Admiral: Ubért le Danois

Action Setup:
Immediately after our successful assault on Puerto del Principe a courier ship brought reports of a massive french fleet forming near West End. It was thereby ordered, that all ships, that remained seaworthy after the last battle, should immediately dispatch to West End to stand ready for the expected french attack of the port. Unfortunately two ships did not make it to West End in time, so that we had only a fleet of twentytwo ships available for the defense. To our relief the french had also problems to field a full fleet and approached the port with only twentyone ships.

British Fleet:
Black group - Ships of the Line

Captain Jason Hunter - Wenden Third Rate

Captain Edward Carlisle - Wenden Third Rate

Captain the Baron Leo Davis - HMS Claymore, Valiant third rate

Captain Siggi Harmlos - Valiant Third Rate

Captain Sarei Corjanel - Valiant Third Rate

Captain Moss Leona - Poseidon Fourth Rate

Red group - Ships of the Line

Captain Teddy Rebel - Valiant Third Rate

and 4 other Captains

Green group - Heavy Frigates

exact setup unknown, mostly Heavy Hercules Frigates

White group - Frigates & Fourth-rate

Captain the Countess Nellie - HMHV Pallafox, Poseidon fourth rate

Captain the Baron James Raleigh - HMS Glory, Poseidon fourth rate

Captain Peter von Danzig - Reason fourth rate

Captain Doc Holliday

Captain Thacker

The Action Itself:
Our fleet took position in a double line, south of the port fortifications. The french fleet aproached the port from the west also in a double line. Our Black Group took the lead of the left line, followed by Red Group while Green Group led the right line followed by White Group.

Despite the gun advantage was on the french side, it was decided that we engage directly in a line fight with the enemy. Soon both fleets approached each other head on, at this moment the Poseidon of Captain Leona lost its rudder and drifted uncontrolled into the right battle line, forcing the ship to disengage from the battle, some minutes later after repairing the damage she was able to return to the battle. The french fleet passed by on our larboard side concentrating their fire on our Black Group. The french focussed their first broadsides on Captain Hunters Wenden which exploded within seconds after passing half of the enemy fleet, Initially being on position four of Black group I was the next target of the french fleet, within short time my larboard armour was destroyed and the internal strucure became critically damaged. Facing total destruction, I was forced to break out of the formation with a sharp starboard turn, while my crew put all possible effords into keeping the ship afloat, even parts of the starboard armor had to be used to pluck the biggest holes below the waterline. To my luck I was able to find cover behind the frigates of white group. There I had enough time to complete all emergency repairs and after some minutes I returned back to the fight.

Meanwhile both fleets had passed each other with moderate losses on both sides. Green group then moved into the rear of the french fleet and was able to inflict much damage, which finaly resulted in the sinking of a french Triumphant Second Rate, while the rest of our fleet made a 180° turn to go on a parallel course with the french. Our fleet now gained the wind advantage and pushed the french fleet into the channel of the Island. Both sides now lost constantly ships, but we slowly gained the upper hand. Unfortunately Captain the Countess Nellie´s HMHV Pallafox got also sunk at that time.

Captain Carlisle was still the spearhead of our fleet, while I moved back into into formation behind him. Now his Wenden became the primary target and got heavily damaged, I was ordered to cover his ship from the enemy fire, while he made a sharp starboard turn, just as I was able to cover him from most of the french fleet, by sailing my ship right next to is larboard side, Captain Ubért le Danois rushed through our line with his Hercules Heavy Frigate and stopped his ship right at the stern of Captain Carlisle´s Wenden firing a fatal broadside in his already crippled stern. The Wenden sunk within seconds, meanwhile my ship became a primary target of the french fleet and got heavily damaged again. With Captain Danois sitting only a armlength behind my stern I ordered to set all sails to move quickly out of this unhealthy position. To my luck some of our frigate Captains realised my critical situation and moved in to cover my retreat. Thanks to this excellent teamwork, I was once again able to save my heavily damaged ship from certain death and found time to repair the damage taken.

The french formation now started to break up and some of the french colossals got separated from their frigate escorts, while our fleet continued to focus fire on the french ships. The french now realised that the battle was lost and started to surrender to us. This way we were able to capture some of their biggest ships namely the Prince First Rate, a Triumphant Second Rate and a Valiant Third Rate plus several frigates. Some of the faster ships were able to escape, while others were sunk after a short chase.

The Result:
British Losses The british fleet lost nine ships including:

Two Wenden third rates

Two Valiant third rates

Two Poseidon fourth rates

three Heavy Hercules Frigates

French Losses

The french fleet lost at least seven ships by sinking:

two second rates

one Wenden third rate

two Valiant third rates

several Poseidon fourth rates

two Hercules Mastercraft Frigates

several Heavy Hercules

After surrendering to our forces we captured the following ships:

Prince First Rate

Triumphant Second Rate

Valiant Third Rate

and some other smaller ships

Lessons Learned:
This battle was a decisive victory for the british nation. We were able to negate the french advantage of having one first and several second rate ships in the battle. We managed to focus our fire very efficently on selected targets, while giving cover to our damaged ships. Thanks to this good timing my ship was saved two times in the battle from certain destruction.

With the capture of Puerto del Principe and the successful defense of West End within one day, we gave a considerable boost of morale to the british nation, which now seems to have recovered from a long series of bitter defeats, clearing the way for a brighter future.

The british fleet preparing for battle, while the french fleet is approaching our position.