Battle of Cape Machica, Biscay 1794

On course to complete a mission to destroy a French Frigate being refitted in the L`Adour River HMS Nymphe sights a French Frigate coming out of  Bayonne.

HMS Nymphe 27th May 1794

Dawn two bells in the forenoon watch
During the night the wind came around to the North East.  It means you have made excellent time.

Dr Davie Attenborough, Surgeon reports a case of  naked drunkenness in the orlop, Mr Georgio Osbourne Ships Purser.  

Attenborough confides in you "He's a Latin type Darling, all Hot Blooded."  He's obviously been at Mr Mudge's hidden stock of Old Ma Finnigan's.

At three bells, just as you have stood down the watch a sighting.  Young Thatcher goes aloft with his telescope and reports down "Its a French Frigate Sir.  A big 'un.  Excellent prize!  It may be Guillouet, a old Breton ship of 40 guns."  She's coming out of Bayonne!

A smug looking Pickwick (That's his only look really) points out that this is the very ship you came to destroy in the L`Adour River, "she`s been repaired!  That has to be a raw crew though sir!" 

The Frenchman puts his colours up in challenge.

27th May 1794, Three bells, Wind NE.

Battle stations. Well Mr Pickwick it would appear that we have the weather gauge  and the weather gods. Hard at him Mr Mudge, we’ll take him on our starboard then cut sharp across his stern for a rake. Gunners, you will have to reload in double quick time and much will depend on their efficiency. For England and for the prize!
(Quincy lights one of his small cigars and whistles a jaunty tune of his own devising.)

Ships Log

HMS Nymphe closes under battle sail.  Guillouet has issues with a raw crew but eventually clews up to something approaching battle sail.  She runs out her guns in the most haphazard unsynchronised Action Stations Captain Q has ever seen.  it offends his professional eye.

Nymphe runs out.  Her crew are professional jacks, well trained.

Being slightly closer to the wind Nymphe turns and delivers a double shot broadside almost into the bow.  The Frenchman is damaged, Her First Officer killed. Damage to her foremast and spars.

The Frenchman is big, she may even be a 44.

The two Frigates cross and Nymphe again manages an effective broadside, bringing down a mast, killing dozens of the French crew and setting fire to a poorly clewed up mainsail.

Although it should be noted that the Frenchman's own cannon may well have set fire to its own sails.

The French respond with much heavier fire, double shotted, killing the First Officer (His last word was "Basically..." and intimately wounding the gallant Captain Whitmore who bites his cigar in half.  

Hull damage is severe three guns are destroyed,  the Ships carpenter starts the pumps and tries to fit a patch. 

That Frenchman is carrying massive artillery!  32 pounders by heavens!

Nymphe plans its turn on the French stern.  The Frenchman's foremast is down and she cannot manoeuvre.  Midshipman Dresser grasps his Captain's wound and holds him aloft.  Lieutenant Thatcher reports that he has taken over the main deck guns in the absence of Mr Pickwick. 
He raises an eyebrow at the sight of a Midshipman grasping his Captain quite so firmly mid-battle.

HMS Nymphe turns on the Guillouet's stern.  Thatcher has reloaded all of the un-destroyed guns.  The British broadside runs the length of the Frenchman, killing more crew, including the French marine Officer, but we can clearly see now that she is on fire.

Captain Whitmore orders a stand clear, before he feints from his wound.

The French ship explodes and there is rigging damage on Nymphe, but no loss of life.

Captain Whitmore is sent down to the Orlop where Surgeon Attenborough informs him... "It's got to come off Captain!"

Mr Thatcher as the only surviving Lieutenant takes command.  It transpires that all of the Midshipmen apart from Dresser were also killed, and if Blythswick had still been aboard the dice of fate indicate that he too would be dead.  
The Papers will Love it
Admiral Howe will Love it
The King will Love it, in his more lucid moments

A glorious Victory
But the pumps are going and Nymphe is struggling.

Ah and a final piece of news, Mr Pickwick was been found almost alive and brought down to the orlop, in a state of distress from a skull wound.  The Surgeon performed a trepanning but the poor fellow has been rendered simple.