Battle Report: Something's Wrong

Somewhere off the Coast of the New World, 23rd March 1582

Charles Asquith had not been able to believe his luck when they’d first arrived at the town on the coast of the New World. They’d expected to have to fight the treasure fleet, but for whatever reason it wasn’t here, just warehouses full of treasure. The garrison had put up a brave fight, but after the fortress’ guns had been silenced a few broadsides had been enough to put them to flight, those who were lucky enough to survive at least.

Now the crews of his small fleet were landed, burning anything they couldn’t bring to the ships and preparing to load the precious cargoes of gold, silver, coffee, chocolate and all manner of wondrous things into the hold of their ships. Quite frankly, the raid couldn’t have gone better.

Just as he smiled in self congratulation, he heard a cry from the lookout in the tower of the Papist’s church. “Sails on the horizon! Spainiards!”

The Lord had punished him for his complacence and hubris. Now he had to save his men from his punishment. "Load up the ships now, as soon as they're full we make for the open ocean." he barked at the nearest men. 

The view out to the ocean from the English perspective.
The town would be just off the nearest map edge.

This game pitched a force of English raiders in a bay trying to escape with their ill gotten gains past a Spanish fleet. In the pre-game setup, the English chose to spend time loading their ships with looted treasure, constraining their deployment zone, while the Spaniards chose to forge ahead at maximum speed, allowing them to deploy a squadron near the exit to the bay. 

The English fleet consisted of three squadrons:

Ark Royal (Great Ship), Hawk and Viceroy (Small Galleons)
Royal Sceptre (Great Ship), Endeavour and Prince Hall (Small Galleons)
Revenge and Golden Lion (Medium Galleons), Alfred and Fortune (Small Galleons)

The Spanish fleet also had three squadrons:

Neustra Senora de Rosario (Great Ship), Magdalena (Medium Galleon), Explorador and Leon de Bronce (Medium Hulk).
Santa Maria (Great Ship), Intrepido (Large Galleon), Reina del Ecuador and Princesa de Ibiza (Medium Hulk)
Senora de Valencia, Santa Catalina and Aguila (Large Galleons)

One of the English players immediately embraced the piratical nature of their mission, sending the Endeavour and Prince Hall away from the fighting at maximum speed with their cargo, while the Spaniards closed in on the exit to the bay. 

The English attempt to escape the encroaching Spaniards

Spanish forces hem in the English vessels against the headland.

After a couple of turns the Spanish squadron headed by the Senora de Valencia was able to open fire on the English ships, but some truly terrible dice rolling meant that the only result was some smoke, wasted ammunition and traumatised fish. 

The Royal Sceptre escapes any harm from the opening salvo of the battle.

The Ark Royal's squadron retaliated in the next turn, inflicting telling hits on the Senora de Valencia before the Spanish ships maneouvered to stern rake the Fortune and the Royal Sceptre. While the Fortune escaped unharmed, the Royal Sceptre took a serious hit, slowing her as well as knocking out some of her firepower.

English ships scramble to avoid boarding and open fire on their attackers.

The Spanish circle around the English and continue to pound the Royal Sceptre

With the two as yet unengaged Spanish squadrons forming a line and blocking their escape, the Revenge and her squadron attempted to pass astern of their formation, but the Spanish responded by moving in, managing to ram the Fortune and Alfred and board them. Both crews were overwhelmed and the vessels struck. 

Two English ships are overwhelmed by Spanish boarding parties.

Realising the danger they were facing, the other English commanders decided it was time to make an exit. The Hawk and Viceroy both made a break for freedom, while the Revenge and Golden Lion attempted to break through the Spanish blockade, hammering the Intrepido as they did, inflicting heavy damage on her and leaving her with only a single Hull point remaining.

Cannon fire devastates the Intrepido

Two Spanish ships attempted to board the Golden Lion as she made a break for the open sea, but the crew managed to beat off the attackers, with casualties on both sides. She managed to avoid fouling and made off. Meanwhile, the Royal Sceptre continued to limp away, lining up a broadside on the nearly crippled Intrepido. 

The Intrepido founders under the firepower of the Royal Sceptre

The broadside tore into the ship, knocking off her last Hull point and causing her to founder. Despite this success, three of the English ships remained dangerously close to Spanish vessels, allowing them to retaliate, once again ramming and boarding the Golden Lion. She once again managed to fend off the initial boarding attempt, but when she attempted to escape she became fouled with the Spanish vessels. 

The Golden Lion, trapped and under heavy attack.

Before she could disentangle, the Spanish once again attempted to board her, finally forcing her crew to strike their colours. Meanwhile the much slowed Royal Sceptre found herself trying to hold off three Spanish vessels. She managed to force one to strike with a brutally effective short range broadside, but was hopelessly pinned and fouled, although she managed to repel a first boarding attempt. 

With all the other English ships having escaped, a deal was struck between the players whereby the Royal Sceptre would surrender her stolen treasure in return for being allowed to leave, ending the game. 

A post game tally of victory points saw the English sqweak a minor victory with 25 victory points to 19 for the Spanish. As usual, the game was fun and fast, keeping everyone entertained.

The models were from Tumbling Dice and the rules we used were Grand Fleet Actions in the Age of Sail.