GAME TURN TWO

GAME TURN TWO

After admiring his vessel and his Royal Navy Officers Unifrom, Commander Kensington calls his officers to his cabin and lets his expectations be known

Lt. Patrik, ensure the crew and its weapons are ready for sea duty.

Lt Jan, ensure the ships riggings are ready and all supplies are gathered. You both have my expressed consent to use whatever shipboard means neccesary as long as you advise me, anything taking place higher than myself, like thorugh the Admiral or another ship please inform me.

He then grabs one of his fathers splendid muskets and makes way for the ‘Buffonia.’ Boarding the Buffonia he reports Commander Kinsington "Willow", and proceeds to the Officers Mess, "Commander Kinsington reporting sir, and bearing a gift from Commodore Kensington" presents the musket which had been engraved, for the Admiral. (looking upon the Admiral he realizes that he his no longer living a fantasy and that he his actually the Captain of the HMS ‘Willow’ which excites him and makes him uneasy at the same time.) these thoughts leave him eager to set sail, to test the ‘Willow’ her crew and to uphold his family name.

>”Rear Admiral Medicus looks the weapon over and thanks him, a fine firearm, but then your old man always had an eye for the best.” With a glint in his eye he says, “I’ll bet he doesn’t tell yarns about service in the East Indies when the ladies are around eh?” He hands the weapon over to Captain Giles who looks it over, “A fine piece indeed, you must try it out when you go hunting with his lordship. Sir I need to speak with you on a related matter as I believe someone is smuggling weapons to the colonials, excuse me Americans, sir.”<

While the crew is still present and the Captain and 2nd lt have just stepped off, I hand Sgt Morgan a letter and advise Mr Vico to allocate 12 Baker Rifles,with proper ammo, from the Army Regiment afoot here on island.

>Mr Vico informs you later that he can arrange for acquisition of the weapons, but he will need you to run interferance to keep Captain Giles ‘Buffonia’ from nosing around.<

I then praise Mr Rhetung for his decisivness while engaged with the privateer.

>”Thank you sir, I save a King’s Ship in battle, damn near have to put down a mutiny facing the Royal Marines instead of having them at my back, and then there Lordships see fit to give some sprig of the nobilty this command without even confirming my commission. With all due respect sir, stay clear of the lobsters, the swivel guns have been known to fire widely.”<

To the crew I (Leftenant Patrick) say " Marines and Sailors while I have you present I would like to congratulate you all on your actions in the past engagement. This is the type of cohesion that is neccesary for our success. Since you all know each other let me take a minute to tell you about myself and what my intentions are. I have served in several campaigns with the American Marines from the Atlantic to the Barbary Coast where we sacked Tripoli. I now am comissioned in the Royal Navy and my loyalty is to my crew, Captain and his Majesty. We will be setting sail in several days escorting a merchanmen. The work done to repair the ‘Willow’ has beena positive effort however much more work is to be done with little time. The rigging needs some attention to detail, these sails are our life blood and much care is needed to keep them at 100 percent. Furthemore a proper cleaning of the weapons stations is imperative. Organiztion of equipment and cleanliness of the weapons will give us those vital extra minutes when the time comes. This is the time gentleman that we must work together and rember what wwe are here for. Once at sea our resources may be limited. With that Gentlman return to your stations and begin our work up, expeditously and with fine attention to detail, if anything is required please advise the midshipman and we will see to it that it is taken care of."

<Leftenant Patrick observes a motivated response from some and sullen downcast looks from others. He hears a Yank Officer several times mentioned in less than complimentary terms. He definitely can identify Able Seamen Winters and ordinary Seamon Carstairs, but several others who were listening seemed to concur.

I (Leftenant Patrick) would like to extend my praise to you for actions aboard the ‘Willow’ involving the succesion of command after the Captain fell during your engagement with the American privateer. I hope you understand the reversal of your authority by the Captain of the Royal ship you encounterd later was not an attack on your judgement. It was merely a Commanding officer making a command decision under adverse conditions. We must follow orders completely as well as believe in the decisions our Commanding officers make.

>Sergeant Morgan replied sulleny, “As you say sir; it was his right to put a young pup in charge instead of a grown man.” Then in a lower voice, “ my sharpshooters will set things right when the time comes...sir”<

I (Leftenant Patrick) share some of the same feelings you may have as I served with the U.S Marines for several years and we share a common bond. The crew's morale is questionable at the time and I do not know the new Captain. You are to ensure that your Marines are properly uniformed at all times once we get under way, the crew must feel this presence and believe in it, in the event we ae disabled and boarded. They will look to you and rally around you in defense of the ‘Willow.’ I have been fortunate enough to come across some extra shillings, before we set sail Mr Vico will make liason with the British Regiment afoot here on island and acquire or purchase 12 Baker Rifles from them. As I believe they are equipped with them. These rifles will be needed in the future, the bore is rifled and provides a spin on the shot when fired increasing its acruacy. The shot is smaller than our normal musket shot so you will need to make arrangments for ball ammo as well.

Report back to me (Leftenant Patrick) on this matter before we set sail.

Sergeant Morgan, “Sir the senior Royal Marine Officer of the squadron has told me each ship captain has the discretion to issue small arms as he sees fit. The decision is yours sir but my men would prefer to keep their muskets. Also sir we really don’t want Captain Giles, ‘Buffonia’ nosing around do we...sir

Semper Fidelis'

1st Lt Sean Patrik

After my adress to the crew....I begin to over see the work aboard the ‘Willow’ and its progress, stoppin to talk to indvidual sailors and marines about there personal status, ensuring that they feel looked after and that there efforts are important. As well as making a list of stores and stables that will be needed and seeing that they are obtained. (looking for feedback, hoping my inspection will reveal any unknown discrepencies that are left unattended)....and stopping in the mess hall to speak with the 2ndLt, saying" well old friend, I have adressed the crew on my expectations and squared the Marines away. We leave in a few days, adress any discrepencies you find so we may ensure the ‘Willow’ is ready for the Captain when he returns."

<The Purser, Chief Gunners Mate, and Sailing Master seem to have the outfitting process well in hand merely needing the First Leftenant’s authority for work parties to go ashore and load the required supplies and equipment. The hull is already 4.0 and the rigging soon follows. The Chief Gunner’s Mate requests some crew changes on the swivel guns (4pdr usually firing grapeshot)) in the fourtops. TheChief Boatswain objects and the matter has been brought before the First Leftenant. The Gunner wants several trained gunners from the main deck assigned to handle the guns, while the boatswain says I need trained topmen aloft not ham fisted cannon cockers in my rigging.<

In the wardroom Lt (2nd) Newman meets Midshipmen Samuel Greg and Fred

Wallace. With them he discusses the action with the privateer and the

following incident. Midshipsman Wallace notes: "With permission sir, I think

Rhetnug handled the sitiation very well when the Captain and the 1st were

killed. Master Burke has been flat out for nearly an hour. By then we had

sailed into the squal and so evaded the privateer. Master Burke was in no

shape to to make any good decision at that moment. I think he has recovered

from that blow by now." With a "Thank you" to the midshipmen Lt Newman gives

his attention to purser Vico. 'Mr Vico, I hope you have made an inventary of

the stores the crew had to trow overboard on the flight from the privateer,

as everything has to be accounted for to the Victualing Board." Mr Vico

presents a list of items and adds that he has added a few mode items (the

proceedings of these will fill his pockets. "Very well see to it that our

supplies will be on ship tomorrow."

At that moment Lt (1) Patrick comes into the messroom. After greeting Lt

Newman, he stresses to make the ‘Willow’ ready for sea at the shortest moment,

as he has seen quite a stirr on the ‘Buffonia;’ usualy this means wordk for

the ships of the squadron. Lt Newman reports "With Mr Vico's list of

necessaires we will be resupplied tomorrow evening. As to the rigging I will

see Mr. Burke to that. I my opinion the crew needs a morale boost as the

last action has seen them running from an American privateer."

On entering deck Lt Newman meets Master Burke. "Mr. Burke, why is that

jibboom dangling like my uncle's pipe?" Master Burke responds complaining of

the lack of proper spars and cable. Atfer enterering harbour Acting Lt

Rhetnug's attention has been only with the reparation to the hull.

<The sailing master continued, “If that young pup wasn’t scared to go aloft he might have got our rigging in order as well, however I’m sure their lordships know best”

"All right, get the bossun and his mates and get the supplies you need, if need

be haggle them from the Buffonia", I have some sovereigns from prizemoney

left and you will have the Captains permission. At the moment we are no

match for any American. The Captain depends on you and your handling of the

ship". With an "Aye, sir" Master Burke turns calling for the bossun.

Commander Kensington

At the conclusion of his greetings Commander Kensington adds with pride and eagerness" the Willow is ready to sail now, sir"....

>Rear Admiral Medicus considered for a moment, “Very well young man, you’ll sail for Grenada tommorow moring, I’ll give your convoy to the ‘Watcher.’ Use whatever means are necesary to get that young lady back. I’m sure Lord Rupert will provide the ransom but pay that only as a last resort.”