Monday 30 December 2019

HMS Ariel vs the Brig Brie, Quiberon Bay

HMS Ariel patrols the Côte Savage, on the north western entrance to Quiberon Bay.  She sights the Brig Brie.  Captain Christmas Quilp RN commands the Ariel, Capitaine Figuin the Brie.

Ariel is a 20 gun 6th rate of 12pdr guns, with two guns moved forward as chasers.  Brie is a slower ship rigged Brig with 16 x 8 pdr guns and a smaller crew.  Both are regular crew and Captain.  Both are on passage and encounter each other head o  since I did not dice for positioning.  Brie has the Weather gauge but runs down to challenge Ariel.


They pass at 7 and 8knt respectively.  Ariel's bow chasers knock sone rigging down.


Brie's ship card as she loads to starboard with the port battery loaded.   She has taken more rigging damage.


Brie turns and delivers another broadside as Ariel wears ship around near the rocks!


Brie follows her round in a large turn.  No bow chasers on the Frenchman though!


Brie turns in on the Ariel, trying to force her onto the rocks, but risking a collision.  The Marine marksmen in Ariel kill Brie's marines and I lose a crew party.


Dr Bogenbroom and the French casualties on the Orlop. 


Brie has three crew parties remaining.  Two guns put out of action.


A point blank broadside from Ariel kills more crew and breaks the ships wheel on Brie.


It's Dr Boggenbroom's birthday!


The wheel marked off.   Brie is stuck on course for the rocks!


She runs into Ariel and a boarding action is fought.  More of Bries crew are killed.  Ariel's Captain cuts free, but Brie has had enough and strikes.

A Glorious day for Captain Quilp.  A sad end for Capitaine Figuin.  I can console myself that Brie probably went aground anyway and she had hull damage liable to sink her.
A good game, and yet more Post Captain Learning curve  Note to self, Gun repair boxes needed on the ship card!

3 comments:

  1. Great game - loved the crew assignments. Really can't see more than a single ship each though.

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  2. I agree, and am reluctant to even try one of my frigates. We must do a rematch, Fearless vs Brie and the schooner Camembert in the Beniguet passage! A classic!

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  3. You're on - huzzah, clear for action

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