Bullion Run!

 

This week's Sunday Solo game was very informal. I just wanted to get some toys on the table and roll dice!

A small Spanish squadron (288 points but with veteran crews) is trying to evade the larger French Fleet (518 points with trained crews)

Perhaps the 1st Rate, Santa Anna, is carrying a cargo of bullion from the Americas, or an important personage...

The mission of the Spanish Armada Real is to get the Santa Anna off the far narrow table edge. As well as superior crews, the Spanish have the wind gauge, a fresh Nor' Easterly.

The Spanish Admiral places the slow moving Santa Anna in the rear, and the fast moving frigate St Elena in the van. She will try and run some interference!

The French flagship, Formidable, 84, is in the van.

St Elena soon draws ahead...

Tacking into the wind to attempt to get up wind of the French - she is trusting to the French battleship's sense of 'honneur' not to engage a mere frigate!

But after the Bahama ,74, fires her first broadside into Formidable, the latter does not fire back at her assailant but instead targets the Santa Anna, firing as she bears.

As the French column wears around, each succeeding ship follows the Flag's example, all firing high, steadily chipping away at the massive Santa Anna's rigging and masts...

Until finally Fougeux, 74, dismasts the Spanish 1st Rate!

Drifting and helpless, she is now easy prey to a French boarding action. The precious bullion is brought up on deck and 'Deep Sixed' rather than surrender it to the enemy! Oh well, a quick game is a good game...