The Date; April 15th, 1808
The Place: The western coast of England
The Situation; Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson is caught off guard by the Imperial Navy under Admiral Julien Marie Cosmao-Kerjulien and Rear Admiral Pierre Villeneuve.
While the French have a superiority in heavy ships, Nelson is a commander without peer and his fleet's superior maneuverability may provide decisive.
Order of Battle:
Imperial Navy: Seven 122 Gun Ships of the Line, One 106 Gun Ship of the Line, Four 80 Gun Ships of the Line, Four 74 Gun Ships of the Line. Flagship; Imperial (122)
Royal Navy: Four 106 Gun Ships of the Line, Two 98 Gun Ships of the Line, Five 74 Gun Ships of the Line, 3 50 Gun Ships of the Line, 5 38 Gun Frigates, 7 Indiamen (12). Flagship; HMS Victory (106)
The Imperial fleet deployed into two lines, heavy ships to one, the mediums to another. The Royal Navy deployed in a single, long line abreast, headed by the heavy ships, and getting progressively lighter down the chain.
Both fleets believing they had the advantage, they advanced at top speed towards each other. A strong easterly wind meant neither side had an overt advantage in speed.
Battle was joined when a small line of British frigates detached from the primary fleet and raced ahead to attack the French head on. Despite being much weaker vessels, their combined fire weakened the lead 74, the Achille, substantially. By the time the lead British 1st rates had finished their opening salvo, the two lead French 74s had lost almost 50% of their guns.
When the French heavy line entered the fray, the British frigates were quickly destroyer outright, the HMS Enterprize detonating after a round hit her magazine. However, the main British column continued to the west, with the lead heavy ships out of range of the French heavies.
In a move to break the highly disciplined British line, the Imperial Flagship, Imperial and Villeneuve's flagship, Ocean, made a break to punch through the British column between two 74s. Seen here is the HMS Bellepheron taking withering fire from the Imperial. She would not survive the engagement.
The Imperial circled the British line, before crossing it once more in front of the HMS Centurion (50), seen in the background. In the foreground, the Ocean begins to advance through the British 74s.
The HMS Victory (106), HMS Royal Sovereign (106), HMS Dreadnought (98) and HMS Hibernia (106) continued to duel the long line of slowly turning French 74s and 80s. While individually more powerful, the larger number of French ships began to do grievous damage to the British 1st and 2nd rates.
In an effort to reduce further damage, the Lord Admiral pulled the four heaviest ships he could away from the French line. With the number of accurate shots reduced, the crew could manage a number of makeshift repairs on the wounded vessels.
Meanwhile, the French heavy line, and the straggling French mediums begin to engage the British line in full force, while the cut off British heavies attempt to circle around to gain a favorable wind. The Enterprize can be seen slightly through the gunsmoke burning ferociously.
British ships falling under the heaviest fire soon begin to sink, or in the case of the HMS Africa, explode outright.
Still attempting to gain purchase on the French medium line, the Lord Admiral watched hopelessly as the French 122s wrecked havoc on his lighter vessels.
Caught between Imperial 122s and 80s, the HMS Redoubtable (98) proves to be less than her name would suggest, exploding magnificently.
Her crew not killed outright would flounder in the water for some time, desperately holding on to whatever wreckage they could, and hoping stray cannonballs would not find them.
Finally turned around and slightly repaired, the Lord Admiral leads the HMS Victory, Royal Sovereign, Hibernia and Dreadnought back into the fray.
By this time, the Imperial fleet is just about finished with the lighter Royal Navy vessels, and slowly begins turning around to face the 74s and 106s clustered around the returning HMS Victory.
The fight has become largely anarchistic. Captains content to follow the nearest ship flying their colours, and firing at anything which bearing their opposite. One can clearly see the returning British warships to the west, however.
The French were not found idly waiting, and quickly opened fire. Here you can see a number of narrow misses upon the HMS Royal Sovereign, by far the most wounded of the British heavies, having lost half her crew and 2/3 of her guns. The French mediums, however, are little better off.
Chaos ensues as the Victory and her sisters turn to the fray. Imperial and British ships ply whatever open sea there is between wrecks, surrendered and burning vessels.
The Victory opens fire on the wounded Tricolore (74). While suffering from substantial hull damage, most the Victory's guns remain in service.
The Royal Sovereign and Hibernia fail to make headway against the French. While the Royal Sovereign would live to see another day, the Hibernia would burn and explode minutes later.
Back the melee, the Ocean, under Pierre-Charles Villeneuve exchanged numerous broadsides with the HMS Victory. While more powerful, the superior crews of the Victory proved to be a tough match for the French 122.
Unfortunately for the Lord Admiral, the Imperial had maneuvered past, and proceeded to fire numerous broadsides into the unprotected stern of the British flagship.
Meanwhile, with the British fleet crumbling, the HMS Dreadnought explodes, taking the Imperial Tremaire with it.
As the Tremaire burns, the Imperial sails onwards, hoping to circle the HMS Victory once more, and finally crush the British flagship.
The few surviving British ships struggle to put out flames while the Majesteux (122) begins to pummel the beleaguered HMS Victory.
Attempting to withdraw, the Victory crashes into the sinking wrecks of two British 50s, taking ever more damage while using her superior size to batter through.
Severely damaged and having taken a crushing defeat, the HMS Victory and HMS Royal Sovereign withdraw to the Chatham docks.
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The Date: April 16th 1808
The Place: Upper Thames, near Chatham
The Situation, the retreating remnants of Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson's fleet are caught by the less damaged Imperial Fleet under Admiral Julien Marie Cosmao-Kerjulien.
The Order of the Battle:
Imperial Fleet: Six 122s, One 106, Three 74s and Four 80s. Flagship: Imperial (122)
Royal Navy: Two 106s. Flagship: HMS Victory (106)
With the Royal Navy all but destroyed at the Battle of the Blight, the two wounded 1st rates under Nelson's command represent all that realistically stands between Napoleon and an invasion of mainland Britain. Not wishing to allow the notorious Nelson to escape and recuperate his losses if given time, Kerjulien intends to show no quarter on the already defeated Admiral.
The Imperial Fleet has suffered relatively light losses. While a large number of their medium vessels are essentially crippled, the 122s have lost no more than 15% of their guns and crew. The HMS Victory, on the other hand, has 32 remaining crewmen, and 12 operational guns. The HMS Royal Sovereign is only slightly better, with 61 crewmen and 22 guns.
The outcome far from in doubt, the Imperial pulls alongside the HMS Victory in an attempt to board and seize the famous vessel.
Eager French Marines open fire on the Victory's quarterdeck, hoping to thin the already skeleton crew before boarding.
Within moment, boarding hooks have been thrown, and the French sailors slowly haul the Victory in for attack while no less than 50 cannons pound the already weakened hull. The handful of British defenders fight on valiantly.
The Lord Admiral, however, refuses to acknowledge the situation.
Boarding ramps across, no less than 200 crewmen and Marines bound onto the Victory's deck.
The Imperial Marines assault the quarterdeck, and slay the Lord Admiral with an unceremonious musket butt to the head.
The Royal Navy broken, her seniormost commander slain, with the nearest replacements in the Americas and Africa, and Britain's coalition allies thoroughly crushed by the Grande Armée, Napoleon is poised to strike across the Channel with an army of immense size.
But before any of that can happen, he is given a very personal triumph; the captured HMS Victory is renamed in his honour;
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Thought I'd just post this for one; My entire navy (France, Hard 1805 Campaign) against the entire Royal Navy. First time I've seen Napoleon: Total War actually slow to a crawl on my computer. Was also a very satisfying naval battle, if chaotic at times, moreso than any Naval battle I've had in Empire or Napoleon since a big UP/Austria/Venice/Ottoman battle I had in Darthmod way back when in the Adriatic.
Règle France, France Règles les Vagues - LME Naval AAR [Screenshot Heavy, 56kers beware]
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Re: Règle France, France Règles les Vagues - LME Naval AAR [Screenshot Heavy, 56kers beware]
Originally Posted by MajorStoffer
agree! 
Thanks!!
