A Post Captain practice game, 1794

Planning for the Biscay Patrol required me to review the rules, and so a refresher game was in order.  My first game took five hours for a duel between two ships, but I am far better acquainted with the rules now so this is more of a refresher.

HMS Venture 32

HMS Venture a 32 gun frigate meets the French 40 gun Heavy Frigate Manche in the Bay of Biscay, near the Saintes (Which are shown on table.)   Both are under “Passage” orders as Manche is seeking to escape the Brest Blockade.  The sighting is at 1800 yards slightly under 1 NM.  The challenge signals are interpreted as hostile, and both captains plan to close. The French have 250 crew plus 52 Marines.  

Manche 40

The Frigate has only 172 crew.  The French are seeking to board.  The British are seeking to close to carronade range.

Quality of both crews is Regular, as are both Captains.

Overhead shot

Venture is bearing 6 points to larboard in a SW wind. (ie she is heading NW)  Manche is crossing at 90 degrees, Venture is placed centre table.  The Frenchman goes on the edge 66cm from Venture (2000 yds in 1:2400)

Both ships start at Easy sail, in a weak Force 3 SW wind.

Manche has the weather gauge and therefore initiative. 

Both Captains order clear for action and assign crew.  Each turn has three phases, red, white and blue, during which ships move according to initiative.  The Frenchman turns point by point, deducting MF, to head closer and close the range.

Both ships reduce to Battle sail.  The British Frigate is faster, 7MF vs 8MF.  They also load and run out, and this time, unlike in my last trial battle, my French Captain doesn`t forget to double shot.  

In the fourth Movment phase the two ships close, with the British Frigate surrendering initiative.  The French 18 pdr guns take down two rigging points and two crew points.  The 18pdr carronades achieve three hull hits.  

The British wear around point by point to bring them parallel, while the French jibe across the wind (risky).  Both ships are sailing parallel now and pounding away.  


A few movement phases later the two remain on a parallel course, but it’s at 400 yards, better for the longer French 18pdrs.

The French receive hull damage, but the pumps are covering it.  

The Venture has sustained heavy rigging and some crew losses.  This one is a battle of attrition.   As Venture draws ahead on a gust an eddy slows Manche.  The French Captain sees his chance and turns behind the British frigate. 

The critical move.

The Frenchman now appears across Venture`s stern, and delivers a rake within 200 yards, killing  crew, inflicting hull damage and killing the first and second lieutenants.

So much for the French firing at masts!

Worse yet Venture is on fire, and the pumps fail to keep up with that hull damage

Venture begins to settle.  This game was over in an hour. The French would have boarded and probably took the Venture, but the failing pumps meant that they didn`t have to.  

Our Brave British Frigate Captain strikes and then swims for it...

I really like the complexity of Post Captain.  Perhaps not a natural set for a solo gamer, but with time they are worth the effort.  

Manche escapes the Brest Blockade with the Saintes to larboard.  Sharp observers will note that she is headed due south, into the Bay of Biscay!