The scenario is arranged with the French at anchor for the whole game, and much reduced shore-facing broadsides with special scenario-specific ship record cards to reflect this. Nelson and the British caught the French at their most complacent and with many sailors still on shore! That is not to say it is a walk in the park for the British, who need to win by 8 clear ships, and raging fires, disabled and grounded British ships counting as French successes.
We lined up with Ryan, Tony and Chris taking the French and Gary, Steve, Paul, Jim and Darren the British. Ryan, Gary and Peter - who couldn't attend - also contributed ships to the battle.
The British did not get off to the best of starts, when the lead ship, HMS Goliath, was grounded coming into the bay on the very first dice roll! This left HMS Zealous and HMS Orion leading the British ships toward the French line. In a sign of things to come the early full French broadsides on the oncoming British failed to score any hits, and the Goliath was soon free of the shoals and joining the action with some help of the brig Mutine. Most of the other British entered the bay without issue with the exception of HMS Defence in the middle of the battle line who was briefly grounded but again, quickly refloated herself.
Failing to slow the British advance, and with the British lead ships following history and coming around to the shore side of the French, the French van was soon under sustained attack causing the first French ship, Guerrier, to strike its colours and be seized by HMS Zealous. The second French ship, Conquerant, also struck but sank before it could be captured. The French by now were scoring hits, but these were causing minor damage to the British who were able to repair these off quickly with again, some good dice rolling.
HMS Theseus chose to brave sailing straight at the French line, with the order cards helping it just avoid the possibility of a bow rake as it approached the French ship Aquilon. The rookie Captain Darren misjudged the wind a little which took Theseus straight into Aquilon with the Captain giving the order to board. This could've gone either way with two evenly matched 74s, but the Theseus emerged triumphant with the Aquilon a prize and the third French ship to fall.
It was not completely plain sailing for the British as HMS Minotaur, with steerage damage, was forced to collide with HMS Leander, but Spartiate was soon bombarded with broadsides and struck, being captured by HMS Audacious.
The small French frigate Serieuse, seeing the ships of the line being mauled, decided to do what it could and heroically took on the British flagship HMS Vanguard, which had come around to the shore side. A broadside was ineffective so the Captain gave the order the board! The action was easily repelled and the Vanguard counter-boarded and took the small frigate.
HMS Minotaur continued it's enforced rampage being unable to steer and went on to ram the French flagship L'Orient, which used the opportunity to board the British ship and overcome its crew to give the French their first success of the day.
However, the generally poor French dice rolling continued and the British, realising the French were weaker on the shore side, started to move through, and down, the French line, with the French captains still only able to inflict minor damage to the British who were still repairing well.
Peuple Souverain and Franklin both struck their colours, captured by HMS Audacious and HMS Alexander in turn, but in another small French positive the little frigate Artemise pulled 2 jokers on HMS Leander giving it some hefty fires to deal with and the chance of another French success.
The British were still winning the attritional stakes, however, as in a blow for the French L'Orient struck its colours and was captured by HMS Alexander, and Heureux also struck, captured by HMS Bellerophon ("Billy Ruffian"). However, at this point HMS Goliath became grounded on the Eastern shoals, and without the brig to assist this could've again been another French success if it remained there for the game.
French hopes also lay in some boarding actions instigated by the British. HMS Majestic boarded the Tonnant, and seeing an opportunity, the frigate Artemise also boarded to assist the larger ship. Nevertheless, again the dice were against the French as the Tonnant was captured and then when HMS Alexander joined to assist then the brave French frigate was also captured.
French hopes of other successes were also soon smothered as HMS Goliath again freed itself from the shoals and to rub salt in the wound a massive single broadside from it sunk the frigate Diane which had engaged HMS Orion in a cheeky - but unsuccessful - stern rake.
Using the same tactics as the Artemise, the frigate Justice assisted the Mercure as it was boarded by HMS Bellerophon, but with some ungentlemanly conduct both HMS Swiftsure and HMS Majestic fired broadsides into the boarding action damaging all three ships.
Hopes of HMS Leander's fires developing to 'raging' were dashed too, as some fortunate repair rolling with only 3 crew stars available saw the lucky Leander put them all out!
HMS Orion and HMS Zealous had now reached the final French ships, and as Orion rounded the stern of the Timoleon, the cards assisted the British again with two stern rakes and a massive amount of damage being dealt to the French ship. It soon struck its colours and was captured by HMS Orion.
In the final action of the game, HMS Audacious came to assist HMS Bellerophon against the Mercure and Justice, and the overwhelming numbers of Jolly Jack Tars took the two French ships.
So, a British victory by 11 ships to 1, with just the Genereux and Guillaume Tell left, as historically happened (although 2 frigates got away in the real thing too). In a minor deviation from history, though, 10 of the French ships were captured and only one - Conquerant - destroyed. This compared to 9 captured historically - one being destroyed later - with L'Orient famously exploding and Timoleon being scuttled by the crew.
Historically, one British ship was grounded and 7 severely damaged in the battle including Bellerophon which was also dismasted. The British got off much more lightly in this refight. The players kept more on the move rather than anchoring as many ships did historically and also kept more ships on the shore side of the French. However, as I've said, this could've been a lot closer but for some disastrous French dice, fortunate British dice, and few order cards that came just at the right time! But that's the beauty of BBIB, that element of randomness makes it enjoyable even if you're getting hammered!
Here is a map of the historic battle, from wikipedia:
There is talk of looking at Trafalgar at the club - so watch this space!
For more photos - over 100! - please also check out the NBHW's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/New-Buckenham-Historical-Wargamers-302874659765417/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1274193072633566
