Trafalgar part the second

An unexpectedly dramatic ending.

Ship's do not often explode. So it was an event that stunned the players as well as the little people on board the ships and brought a dramatic, and one-sided battle to its conclusion. Yet again, I run ahead. Where were we and how did we get to that ending?

You remember last time. Viewed from the north, we see the ships of Nelson's windward column, foreground right to centre of photo and Collingwood's lee column, roughly parallel to Nelson's, near top of photo, engaging the westerly ships of the combined fleet that was in the process of turning around its foremost and rearmost squadrons in an attempt to engage the English more fully. Note wind indicator in the foreground. Wind speed light for the entire battle.

Most readers of this blog will have seen the report of the first part of our re-fight of the Battle of Trafalgar. You may not, however, have seen one-eyed Horatio's account. I commend it to you all as his photos and account compliment those of your correspondent's, and vice versa. He'll shortly have an account of this second instalment as well.

We pick up the action in the north, with the lead ship's of Nelson's windward column.

Africa had been alone, north of the windward column, and now engaged Rhin.

Meanwhile, Nelson's flagship unleashed a devastating broadside on Héros,

...joined in the attack by Orion. Héros now very much the worse for wear.

The remaining ships of Álava's squadron, Indomptable (nearest camera) and Pluton centre continue to engage Collingwood's ships, once again with little effect.

While Fougueux delivers an ineffective broadside against the man himself's flagship (Royal Sovereign).

These broadsides were to be their last hurrah's as first Pluton was completely dismasted and settled in the water,

... then Fougueux received her serve... and struck her colours.

Héros attempt at a return of serve against Victory, caused only minor damage. This had been the theme of the first part of the action and only became worse as damaged and weakened ships of the combined fleet caused little to no damage on the English ships which had fired on them with telling effects.

Excitement in the allied camp as the largest ship in the world opened up, inflicting some damage on Leviathan. 

For her part, Neptuno fired with little effect.

Duguay Drouin engaged Royal Sovereign at longish range ('normal' range in the rules, as opposed to 'short' or 'point blank').

Africa and Rhin were getting to know one another well. Neither's broadside resulting in much damage. Following this collision, Africa formed a boarding party that was repelled by Rhin's crew. They counter-boarded only to suffer the same fate. An uneasy 'truce' developed lest either or both lost all of their crew!

More ship's of Nelson's windward column were engaging with the mixed up ships of the combined fleet's van and centre squadrons. Here we see broadsides being delivered by Conqueror and Spartiate.

While, further to the south, others concentrated on the ships of the centre squadron, especially Santisima Trinidad.

Victory and Orion finished off Héros, the surviving crew striking her colours.

Neptuno and Santisima Trinidad came in for further 'attention'.

Zooming out on the scene we see the disorder in the combined fleet as Nelson's windward column drives into their midst.

Rayo received a telling blow,

...from the lead ships of Collingwood's column.

English ships were now on both sides of the combined fleet's centre and van squadrons.

San Leandro returned fire.

Finally, the 'cavalry' arrived! Berwick fired the first broadside for Gravina's squadron of observation, causing some damage to Thunderer.

Zooming out we can see what a confused naval mêlée the battle had become.

Belleisle fired a broadside against Intrépide, delivering telling damage against her.

Tonnant also firing from the western side of the centre squadron.

Collingwood's signature manoeuvre: the ship sandwich.

The smoke of battle made it difficult to tell friend from foe.

Gravina's squadron was now well engaged with both Berwick and his flagship Principe de Asturias firing on the rear ship's of Collingwood's column. Yet again, poor training and lack of experience contributed to ineffective fire by the former and, what looked to be a devastating rake from Principe de Asturias resulting in more damage to Thunderer, but not the 'killer blow' that it appeared to be.

Likewise for the broadsides of the van and centre squadrons, suffering additionally from reduce effectiveness thanks to damage inflicted on them by the English.

A view from the south of view of the intense, confused, naval mêlée.

I dunno. You provide these wargamers with a large table and they all wanna play at one edge!

Continued, effective broadsides from the English against 'desultory' broadsides from the combined fleet suggested that this was only going one way. The English were gonna do us, but, like PM Keating, "they were gonna do us slow!"

Until events took a sudden, dramatic turn.

A devastating broadside from Belleisle on Duguay Trouin produced the first roll for the game on the 'disaster table'.

Ship on fire!

A further roll was required to determine if the fire could be extinguished or whether...

Kaboom!!

"Grand Fleet Actions in the Age of Sail" tells us what happens next.

Magazine explodes leaving only wreckage. A hush falls over the battle, and the current game turn ends immediately. Other vessels in contact with exploding ship catch fire automatically.

At this stage we took stock and it was clear that it was an appropriate and dramatic point to end the game. Álava's rear squadron had lost three of five ships (Santa Ana, Pluton and Fougueux), Dumanoir's van squadron had lost Rayo with all of the other ships, save for Scipion, severely damaged—three of the six just one damaging broadside away from testing to strike their colours. Villeneuve's squadron had lost Héros, with San Agustin and Santisima Trinidad a pumteenth from testing to strike and the remaining ships all at half factors or lower. Only Gravina's squadron of observation, just coming into action, was in pristine condition. For their part, only Leviathian and Orion in Nelson's column and Royal Sovereign and Thunderer in Collingwood's had suffered significant damage.

What a game. It got really busy and super confusing to work out which ship was which—and I was only watching Julian, Mark and Mark as they sorted it out.

Thanks to the 'fab four' for making it such a great game played out over two marvellous days; another top wargame to remember. To Julian for affording me the wonderful opportunity to hold a big game at my place. To Mark, Mark and Stephen for the big effort to come out, twice, and make the game the really enjoyable experience it was. Being flogged did not matter, as it went really well and was a most enjoyable time. I reckon that we did worse than the historic version, mainly since the English ships were barely scratched! As with part one, I enjoyed living it again, bit by bit and seeing how it unfolded as I went through the photos to prepare this post.

Last words go to Julian, as the chief instigator of the game, who finally got to see Trafalgar played out on a tabletop with his ships, to provide us with his summary and conclusion.

I think we are agreed that our Trafalgar ends more "conventionally" - Franco-Spanish whipped, huge losses - I doubt more than a few ships from the squadrons under my command will escape - Gravina sees the explosion and disengages. Fewer Franco-Spanish ships lost of course, maybe 20 or so. But strategically the result is exactly the same, invasion thwarted, great British victory at sea. And, crucially, Nelson lives this time. I imagine they make him a Duke. He will have considerable influence over the blockade, over the war with the United States, over naval policy generally indeed. It will make things more difficult for Napoleon.