Commentary from June 2004
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Battle off Dover Scenario with Privateers Bounty
I just ran the Battle off Dover scenario, based on the opening encounter of the First Anglo-Dutch War. I commanded the English and had the difficulty set to "Hard". I used my usual tactics: group the ships and maneuver using the helm, keep a distance from the enemy ships and engage with guns at a moderate range, and wear the ships as a group, when changing course to the "opposite tack".
This picture shows some of the main English ships towards the end of the battle. The 3rd Rate Speaker was almost undamaged, until very late in the battle.
This picture shows the large number of English ships that were still mobile and able to fight.
I will discuss the details of the battle at 17th Century Naval Wargaming. The simulation run ended in decisive English victory, very unlike the actual event.
Posted by Jim at 9:55am
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Battle of the Sound Scenario with Privateers Bounty
I wanted to post the rest of the pictures that I took of my last simulation run with the Battle of the Sound scenario. There were no surprises, from my perspective, in that the Swedes, under my control were winning big, when I shut down the run. The Swedes still had 74% of their fleet strength, while the Dutch were reduced to 30%. It was a major victory for the Swedes, as the Dutch would have had to turn back, before their losses had gotten this bad.
This picture shows the Swedish fleet, running downwind, with the Dutch to the windward, with the weather gauge. My goal, early in the battle, was to get adequate searoom to maneuver. The Swedes start the battle heading towards land, with the wind off their port bow. My immediate act was to turn to the opposite tack, by wearing, and get further downwind, away from land. From there, I kept tacking, giving way to the leeward. I always kept my distance, at least with the main body, from the Dutch. I kept the battle, largely, as an artillery duel from a distance. Some Swedish ships did get caught and disabled or sunk, but they were relatively few in number.
This picture shows the Swedish fleet again running downwind.
This picture shows the Swedish fleet on the opposite tack, with the wind off their port bow.
This picture shows the Swedish fleet sailing north, while decisively winning over the Dutch.
Posted by Jim at 9:39pm
Monday, June 7, 2004
The gun diagram from "Evenredige Toerusting van Schepen Ten Oorlog Bijder See"
I would translate the writing on the gun diagram previously posted as follows:
"Shape of a brass piece shooting 8 pound balls" (top gun)
"Shape of a brass piece shooting 18 pound balls" (middle gun)
"Shape of a iron piece shooting 18 pound balls" (bottom gun)>
"Schietende" seems more like "shot" than "shooting", but maybe you would translate this as "that shot 18 pound balls". Can anyone help with this?Posted by Jim at 10:04pm
Sunday, June 6, 2004
Gun information from the "Evenredige Toerusting van Schepen Ten Oorlog Bijder See"
The Scheepvaart Museum has Herman Ketting's transcription of "Evenredige Toerusting van Schepen Ten Oorlog Bijder See", that seems to date from the 1660's. I can't be sure, as the manuscript is undated. There are some diagrams and tables that seem to be "copies of copies", so they are difficult to read. I have digitally enhanced the table of gun information and the gun drawings. The table and diagrammatic gun drawings are apparently derived from copies from the original 17th Century manuscript.
These are the enhanced drawings of an 8pdr and two 18pdrs (one brass and one iron).
This picture shows the enhanced table of gun information.
Posted by Jim at 9:51pm
Saturday, June 5, 2004
Battle of Dungeness Scenario with Privateers Bounty
I was determined to experiment with commanding the English in various of my First Anglo-Dutch War scenarios, using Privateers Bounty. I decided that commanding the English at Dungeness, with the difficulty cranked up to "Hard" would be instructive. As usual, I had the speed set to a high value, so that the battle would not consume that much "wall clock time". I had the English in a single group. I had the formation set to the special group that will allow you to control them, but not to put them into a line. I controlled only using the helm, not using destination points. That gives more precise control. I had the sails set to full, so that the ships would be more responsive to the helm.
I started off by immediately taking the English fleet onto the opposite tack, so that they turned to the north, in unison. I sailed northward, along the coast, while the Dutch closed, in the south. The Brederode actually crossed inshore of the English fleet. At that point, I wore the English fleet, so that they went back onto the opposite tack, taking the English so that they would break the Dutch head away from the main body. That initially worked quite well, until the leading English ships quickly accumulated damage. I spent the rest of the battle tacking to and fro. As the sun was setting, the English were in dire straits, as I had fought this as a "fight to the finish". Here are some pictures that chronicle the course of the simulation run.
This picture shows the Brederode (54 guns) crossing from right to left, with other Dutch ships in the foreground, with the English in the distance, already showing damage.
This picture shows the Rotterdam ship Wapen van Holland (30 guns) and the Amsterdam ship Vrede (44 guns) attacking, early in the battle.
This picture shows the Brederode, after having taken damage, with dismasted English ships in the distance.
This picture shows fresh Dutch ships going in to finish off the northern English survivors. The Katherine (24 guns) and Lisbon Merchant have already surrendered.
Posted by Jim at 3:12pm