Carribean: Getting safe to port ...

A sort of run the gauntlet game, where merchantmen have to reach safe port - evading pirates and sometimes with protection (pirate ship and naval patrol arrivals randomized by good old D6 dice).

 

HMS Prince Albrecht, commanded by Captain Biedekker, on patrol in the shipping lanes approaching Port Marian on the north of island of Jumeida.

The port at this time of the year receives ships for re-victualling before taking their cargos north to america. Watch out for pirates !!!

---oXo---

Day 1: The pirate Red Jack in his ship the 'Saucy Sue' bears down on a merchant nearing the port, only to find Prince Albrecht as well !

Red Jack manouvres the 'Saucy Sue' well and stern rakes the merchant and bow rakes Prince Albrecht.

The mechant drifts with its rigging shot to pieces with the the 'Saucy Sue' trying to get in close. Prince Albrecht has gone downwind and is trying to find room to turn about.

The mechant ship sinks after a broadside from the Saucy Sue, but Prince Albrecht catches up and broadsides are exchanged..

The Saucy Sue is left drifting, with not much sail, however  Prince Albrecht overruns with sail on but is left unable to tack or wear. Red Jack manages to get away ... it'll be a couple of days before either vessel is ready for action again.

Later on a ship puts out from Port Marian to rescue any survivors from the merchant ship and salvage what they can before the ship finally sinks.

 

---oXo---

Day2: The pirate Blue Bess, in her ship the 'Owls Lament' known as Old Beaky, chases a merchant

Success, Old Beaky catches the merchant and boards her - plenty of booty !

 

---oXo---

Day3:The pirate Blue Bess in Old Beaky spots another merchant,

The merchantman manouvres round the island, while Old Beaky is slow to turn into the wind ...

The merchantman makes it to Port Marian,  Old Beaky veers off not wanting to get to close to the small fort and the shore batteries that protect the port.

 

---oXo---

Day 4: Two merchant ships on their way to Port Marian are intercepted by Red Jack in the Saucy Sue

The merchantmen put on all sail and head for port; meanwhile Prince Albrecht is nearby ...

Prince Albrecht managed to come about but overshot Red Jack in the 'Saucy Sue', ineffectual broadsides were exchanged in passing. The 'Saucy Sue' continues her pursuit...

The merchantmen make it to port and the Saucy Sue veers off, wanting to get away before being caught by Prince Albrecht again.

 

---oXo---

 

No prizes for Red Jack, but success for Blue Bess. Captain Biedekker on the Prince Albrecht is much annoyed at Red Jack having got away from him twice - he'll keep his crew busy with extra drill to chivvy them up...

 

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum .......

Carribean: Little Ships - Islands, Merchants and Pirates ships

Had a good session today sorting out some pending items for my little ship projects; this time focussing on the Carribean. Firstly some simply based merchant ships ...

Next up some islands, the two back ones were made from a large island that was given to me. The one near the front is a Rod Langton island with a thin base to allow for beaches. All islands painted, and flocked with foliage clusters added.

Can't have merchant shipping swanning about without danger, so two small ships to represent the pirates in my 28mm games; one ship for Red Jack and the other for Blue Bess.

I made up an additional corner coastal module (on right hand side in picture below) and painted up some Rod Langton harbour sections - a safe port ...

Pirates can't operate with impunity, so commanded by Captain Biedekker is HMS Prince Albert (part sponsored by Wittenberg and other german states to protect their investments in the carribean), ready for action.

 

Little Ships - Refits part 2

Out of the siz hulls with no masts/sails I decided to complete two 36 gun frigates and two small 'pinnaces'

I've started work on the unmade ship kits, these will be done over period of time.

Little Ships - Refits part 1

I managed to salvage six of the dozen or so ships with paper sails, 2 ships of the the line and 4 frigates. I kept the masts and sails of the scrapped ones as I have some other party painted hulls without masts and sails

Next up six ships with metals sails, these have had their masts straightened and sails replaced [hopefully to the right ship :) - as half had fallen off]

 

That leaves me with 10 partly painted kits of metal ships/sails and 6 hulls without masts/sails. I'm going to focus on the 6 hulls first and leave the unmaid kits for later day.

Little Ships - Miscellaneous stuff ..

I've started working my way thorugh the box of goodies I received (see last post), firstly three sunken ship markers - bit of a touch up - otherwise Ok

A small ship, plus rowing boats - yes you can get them in 1/1200 scale - I painted them up simply and was surprised how reasonable they look

Finally some small islands - the rocky one just needed some new flock and a paint touch in, the three wooded ones have had some sandy beaches added using plastic wood

hmm - whats next from the box o' ships ?

Carribbean: The Fleets In !

Kindly donated by my regular wargame opponent - a box of 1/1200 ships and bits.  I spent an hour or so last night after a game sorting through the contents, I have about 10 painted metal ships (some needing repair), 10 or so part painted and waiting assembly plus 14 ships with paper sails

Phew ! sorting all this lot out will give me plenty to do ....

India: War Elephants....

Finally painted the indian war elephants up; due to a slight re-organisation of the modelling desk to accommodate a different PC for my hobby internet browsing - the spot the elephants were stored in was no longer available - so no alternative but to paint them !

 

 

Elephants are from Irregular Miniatures, three modified with howdahs made from cardboard - armed crew from Foundry.

Carribbean: Pirates Raid San Miguel ....

Red Jack is after spanish silver again  - this time rather than ambush the silver train in the jungle he has joined forces with Blue Bess and some 'friendly' natives to raid the way-station of San Miguel. Here silver is stored from a number of routes before being transported by cart down to Portobello for loading onto ships.

---oXo---

The way-station of San Miguel, showing the block house where the silver is stored.  Some silver is being un-loaded.

The pirates move up towards the way station ...

While a few pirates and the natives move up on the other side of  the way station ...

All is quiet at San Miguel, the blockhouse guard and a detachment of regulars are on watch ....

The pirates move in reaching the edge of the town ...

shots are fired and the alarm is raised, more regulars leave their billets in the town by the church and behind the block house.....

 

The natives make an attack to the rear of the block house  ......

the pirates move round the church supported by fire from a cannon they had brought with them; the regulars are in the way, but some of the pirates are moving up by the back of the church ....

Meanwhile the natives after losing some of their number to heavy nusket fire fall back to the cover of the jungle ....

The fighting continues in and around the town; the pirates are making headway and are nearing the blockhouse .....

A small mule train carrying silver with escort arrives near the town ....

The commander of the mule train seeing the fighting in the town falls back down the trail. The pirates are now at the block house; Red Jack bangs on the door and shouts 'Open up or we'll blow you out !'

The regulars nearly out of ammo and overcome, barricade themselves in the houses; a few pirates keep them bottled up by firing into the windows ....

The pirates bring up a captured cannon and fire it to blow open the blockhouse doors....

The pirates enter the blockhouse, dispatch the defenders and find a large cache of silver; Red Jack shouts: "Load it up and back to the boats it is me hearties ! ".....................

 



Carribbean: Something big ?

Red Jack is back ....

Aftre recovering from his wound while getting Bonnard's treasure at Saint Martin; Red Jack and his crew have been out of the Carribean for a while, picking up 'prizes' along the coast of the Americas.

Red Jack has returned to the Carribbean with a plan for 'Something big'; knowing he can't do it on his own he has arranged a meet with Blue Bess to arrange a joint venture ...

The two captain's ships bob at anchor near a small island; their crews keeping a wary eye on each other ...

Meanwhile on land Red Jack and Blue Bess are meeting .....

Red Jack: Are you in then ?

Blue Bess: Yes, at 50/50 shares of the spoils

Red Jack: So agreed we are, let's sort out the details .....