BBIB - The Battle of San Domingo

 Almost week late, but I finally got my big game in for International Naval Wargaming Day (INWarD '22).  

It was a solo game over four hours, using the Blood, Bilges and Iron Balls ruleset.  I don't have a convenient table at home, so put my little cardboard ships into a bag and headed down to The Games Table, who provided a mat, scenery, refreshments and BlueTac to repair damage received by the fleet in transit.

The Scenario

The scenario was a simplification of the Battle of San Domingo of 1806.  I won't give a blow-by-blow account, just some pics.

The set-up.  The French are at anchor, with some officers "conducting their business" ashore.  The British approach in two divisions.

Unsurprisingly, Brave and HMS Superb took the brunt of the damage, but the British second division headed to cut off the French retreat to the West and targetted Alexandre and Imperial in the van.  This proved a wise decision - damage to Imperial's comand chain early on, which she was unable to repair, meant that she was never able to bring the full weight of her 120 guns into action.

Superb, badly damaged, allows Northumberland to come forward and take some of the heat.

As the French van moves around the shallows, it and the westward division (now the British van)  are in close range.

A calamity!  The badly damaged Superb was unable to turn and thus collided with HMS Atlas, the two ships being entangled for a turn.  The French took advantage of this, and concetrated fire on the mess, eventually forcing Superb to strike.

Meanwhile, HMS Agamemnon finally comes within range and can join the action, further battering Brave in the French rear.  Both Brave and HMS Donegal are forced to strike their colours.

Sensing an opportunity, Alexandre turns to board Canopus!

The boarding is successful, and Canopus is captured.  Sensing that the British attack has lost its momentum, the French withdraw to the West.  

While the eventual fate of Alexandre and Canopus remains undertermind, Imperial and Diomede certainly escape, which - with the damage inflicted on the surviving British ships - is enough for me to declare a French victory.