The Biscay Cruise. Admiral Howe's Orders.

Please note that the Satyr's Captain is "Christmas" Quilp. 
He clearly hasn`t paid the printer!

Being a Marshal Petain Gentleman's Club's Blog and email Kriegspiel game for Autumn 2018, and a follow up to the Channel Islands Patrol reported in earlier posts.  This is a Naval Kriegspiel and utilises extant period Naval charts over which the combatants manoeuvre and fight.  This is however a joint enterprise as well as being competitive, since both players take the role of Royal Navy Captains, and the cunning and overweight Umpire controls the French by use of reaction tables and the "French Plan", which is historical, and will only be deviated from in response to the actions of one of our players.  I shall publish the "French Plan" at the end of the cruise.  They are in effect programmed...

The Umpire will conduct all battles, using the "Post Captain" rules,  according to the orders received from the RN Captains involved.  I will also deliver blog reports on the action.

If there are any other volunteers out there I have roles for a few more Captains, whose actions are currently under planned orders but who could just as easily be played. Just let me know in the comments below.

Gentlemen you have been invited to the Day cabin aboard the first rate HMS Queen Charlotte of 100 guns, Lord Howe's flagship on the blockade at Brest.  You will be briefed individually on your mission by the Political Officer Lord D`Arcy Pue who will accompany one of your ships.  Lord Howe's remarks are summarised by the Secretary into orders:

Orders to our Loyal and Good Servants, Captains Quincy Whitmore Jr and Christmas Quilp, Writ this day 24th May 1794

As you are aware...
the political situation this spring 1794 is that the French Regicides, under their National Convention, are at war with all their neighbours. Famine is imminent, and unrest growing, particularly along the Biscay Coast.  The French Committee of Public Safety has requested a grain convoy from the French colonies and the perfiduous United States, to be convoyed across the Atlantic during April, May and June, accompanied by a small escort squadron.

This convoy must not get through.  The French have a second, larger squadron in the Bay of Biscay and as if this were not bad enough the French Atlantic Fleet, under Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse, has vanished into the Bay of Biscay.

Note that political upheaval has severely reduced the French Navy's ability to fight coherently and supply shortages have devastated its morale, whilst at home we are suffering from a severe shortage of trained seamen.  Your Frigates have been crewed and made ready in all respects for sea.  Due to a severe shortage of Royal marines you will each take a Lieutenant, Sergeant and 30 men of the 29th Regiment due to the nature of the Political missions you have been assigned.

Your orders are to sail into the bay, and find that Fleet.  Lord Howe and the whole Channel Fleet are relying upon the success of your Mission.  Find that fleet,

Winston Wolfe
Secretary to the Lord Admiral

It is 0800 in the Forenoon watch and you have just returned from meeting the Admiral aboard HMS Charlotte 100.  We are lying off Brest at 48.7N 5.0W in 70 fathoms, and the rocks known as the Saints are fine off our port bow.  The seabed is sand.  The wind is Southerly and the sea state is 4 Moderate with a long swell.  It will be worse in the Bay.

Links to orders.  Eyes only...

Specific Orders for Captain Quilp HMS Satyr


Specific Orders for Captain Whitmore HMS Nymphe


Link to the Bay of Biscay Naval Chart
Other more detailed charts will be issued as required, for instance on entering Quiberon Bay, or the Basque Roads.

The chart showing Missions

The detailed Quiberon bay chart

Morning Watch 24th May

How to sail a ship using a chart and bearings.

Ships have variable speed depending on the sail set, the wind strength and the bearing to the wind.

Ships also have a “Top speed” based on the length of the keel, displacement of water and beam of the vessel.  HMS Victory was reckoned to achieve 9 kn in strong winds.  Smaller vessels could achieve this in lighter airs.

As Commander you can order various sail settings.

Full Sail with Studding sails set.   Basically the lot.

Full Sail     Every sail on the yards in use.

Plain Sail   The heavier sails for stronger winds

Storm sail  The minimum sail, courses reefed up.

Battle sail   Usually only topsails and jib.

The ships speed is calculated in knots – 1NM per hour is a knot.  Taking a reef into the sails reduces speed by 1 kt.  I will generally give you a logged estimated latitude and longitude, but please note that this will not be 100% accurate.  The map is gridded Latitude and Longitude.  Nymphe and Satyr would report the above position as 48.7N 5.0W.  The Royal Navy deliberately calculated a nautical mile short, the idea being that this made running ashore more unlikely. 

I will give you headland sightings, and sea bed composition in the ship’s log where these are available.  A picture of my game on the map will have only the detail that your ship could see, and may therefore be useless for navigation, especially in a squall, fog or at night.

On the subject of night time I would refrain from full sail around these waters in poor visibility.

A lookout can theoretically see about 10NM, but note that in the Bay there are many places ships may suddenly appear from, as well as sea mist and squalls.

I will be on hand to give you advice from the Ships Master on Navigation, the 1^st Lieutenant on shipboard matters, the Gunner on firing and the Carpenter on your leaky bottom. (all via the ships log) 

For example the Sailing Master should inform you if your course is likely to run the ship aground.  The First Lieutenant will report disciplinary matters...

The game is played in “watches,” with movement every 4 game hours, but orders are daily, as the Captain's orders for the day.

    First watch: 2000 to 0000

    Middle watch: 0000 to 0400

    Morning watch: 0400 to 0800

    Forenoon watch: 0800 to 1200

    Afternoon watch: 1200 to 1600

    First dog watch: 1600 to 1800

    Last dog watch: 1800 to 2000

Ships Log

Captains orders for the day of ........................  Wind (Direction wind coming from)  .......................

Course, sail setting, Actions to be taken.

Watch Officers will then report back with Any Item of Interest occurring during their watch.

Further orders may be required if other vessels are sighted, or if the captain intends something like a cutting out expedition. 

Some advice:

Based on the advice Nathaniel Drinkwater was given for the Bay as well as Moore’s observations.

Beware the sudden Squall.  Have at least one good deck Officer. 

An anchor has a 100 fathom cable, measurement is in terms of cables (1/10 NM) and Nautical miles.  The Bay has relatively shallow water, so don`t be afraid to get the anchor down.

The French have shore batteries that will lob a shot out at least a mile.  The typical French trick is to anchor off these.

If you sail off the map I have other charts that will allow you to complete a chase, but your patrol area is that of the Bay of Biscay and you risk censure for being off it.

If you take a prize you must send an Officer, Warrant Officer or Midshipman with a number of crew, to sail the prize into Plymouth (or any British port).  

As always, Prize Monies reflect your Personal Victory points in this game.

24 May 1794

Link to Met Office Notes on the Sailing Conditions in the Bay of Biscay.  These will be used to generate the "weather."