BATTLE OF CAPE FEAR

This is a “What If’ Scenario from SPI’s Frigate Game (1974). It presumed the War of 1812 flaired up again in the mid-1820’s. A powerful US Squadron is attempting to sortie from Willimington, North Carolina and break the blockade. Most of the ships listed below could have been in service much sooner and for purposes of this game the battle has been moved forward to 1814.

Frigate is an operational game that puts the player in the position of a Squadron or Fleet Commander. Your major concerns are maneuvering your force as a whole to maximize the enemy’s damage and minimize your own. Command Control has a strong influence and well disciplined navies such as Britain’s with an efficient signals system will out perform those that are less experienced such as France and Spain. Damage is evaluated as Mobilty/Mast hits or Firepower/Crew hits. Crew quality is reflected by different gunnery tables; the US and RN get the best, followed by the French and Dutch with Spanish having the worst. Tactical details such as double shotting guns, using Marines in the boarding party or as sharpshooters, are left to the your able subordinates. To this end Frigate is not the best game for one on one ship duels but does allow you to fight out Trafalgar or the Nile in an afternoon.

Ship statistics: Gunnery ratings are based on weight of shot per broadside, ranges are 0-200 yards/201-1000yards/1001-1400 yards/and 1401-2000 yards. The defense ratings are based on tonnage.

Royal Navy Order of Battle

Britannia 120 Flagship Vice Admiral Henry Bolitho

Impregnable 104

Hibernia 104

Queen Charlotte 104

Nelson 120

Isis 44 Flagship Rear Admiral Francis Inch

Diana 44

Vindictive 50

Gloucester 50

Ratings

120 Gunnery 44/24/13/4 Defense 24

104 Gunnery 31/18/10/3 Defense 21

50/44 Gunnery 12/06/03/1 Defense 09

{Gamemaster Note; the chances of five first rates being in the same blockading squadron are small to say the least. SPI Games simply wanted a balanced battle. For purposes of Hornblower’s Navy the following rational is in effect. With fall of Napoleon the Royal Navy is rapidly demobilizing. Lord Wellington has accepted command of of British forces in North America and requested additional Royal Navy support. Rather than lay up in ordinary some fine new construction, five three deckers have been dispatched to American Waters to become flagships of the various squadrons. These ships with a frigate screen set sail for their various destinations as a group and sighted an American Battleforce prior to their separating.}

United States Navy Order of Battle

Independence 74 Flagship Rear Admiral Will Hannigan

Washington 74

Franklin 74

Columbus 74

North Carolina 74

President 44 Flagship Commodore Cordy Gardner

Constitution 44

Potomic 44

Brandy Wine 44

Convoy of five merchantmen

Ratings

74 Gunnery 34/18/09/3 Defense 26

44 Gunnery 20/10/04/1 Defense 09

MM Gunnery 01/01/00/0 Defense 06

{Gamemaster Note; just as American 44 gun frigates were actually 55’s and usually carried heavier cannon than their European counterparts; the same was true for American Ships of the Line; American ships were overgunned for the most part, carrying more and heavier cannon, with size approaching that of British Three Deckers. In the earlier builds this made for slower sailors and less seaworthiness, but this was corrected in the lator ships. Several of these 74’s entered service shortly after the war was over. Hornblower’s Navy presumes a more Hawkish Congress expedited their construction and outfitting. The navy in turn secretly assembled a powerful battle squadron in one of their less obvious ports.}

Thus we have the setting for the Battle of Cape Fear, two nearly balance squadrons about to go head to head. Due to weather and proximity to the coast there was little time or space for fancy maneuvering in what proved to be a brutal slug fest. The battle proved a tactical victory for the Royal Navy capturing two American Ships of the Line for the loss of two frigates. they also turn back the American troop convoy, but a powerful squadron of two ships of the line and two frigates is now loose in the Atlantic. Rear Admiral Hannigan of the American navy was exchanged for Rear Admiral Inch several days after the engagement.

RN

120A Britannia 33% damage

104C Impregnable 16% damage

104D Hibernia 33% damage

104E Queen Charlotte 33% damage

120B Nelson minor damage

44M Isis Struck her colors to President

44N Diana 33% damage

50Q Vindictive 33% damage

50R Gloucester Struck her colors to Brandywine

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USN

74A Independence struck her colors to Britannia

74B Washington minor damage

74C Franklin 16% damage

74D Columbus 33% damage

74E North Carolina struck her colors to the Nelson

44F President 33% damage

44G Consitution 16% damage

44H Potomic 33% damage

44J Brandywine 16% damage

MM1 no damage

MM2 no damage

MM3 no damage

MM4 no damage

MM5 no damage

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AFTERMATH

HMS Britannia, Hibernia, Queen Charlotte, Diana, Vindictive, and the prizes Independence and North Carolina set sail for Bermuda to effect repairs. Nelson will remain off Wilmington and rendezous with Rear Admiral Admiral Hendricks Fleet believed to be only 1-2 days sail, becoming his new flagship. Impregnable will then proceed to Gopher Island joining Rear Admiral Medicus’ flag.

USS Columbus, President, Potomic, and the prizes Isis and Gloucester, along with the merchant convoy returned to Willmington. The Washington, Franklin, Constitution, and Brandywine have broke out into the Atlantic.