Yankee jack Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Captain's Exam Gibraltar Station, July 1797 It is hot. In full dress uniform, you are seated on a stiff wooden chair in the Admiral’s Great cabin. Sweat beads on your forehead. Your woolen uniform is stuck to the chair already and the exam has not even started! Nervous, you fidget to get more comfortable. Directly in front of you, at a linen covered table sit three, senior and very respected Captains, their backs to the stern windows of the flagship. The captains confer in low voices. Then, like the boom of a cannon shot the first one speaks: “Lieutenant! An enemy frigate of equal size is approaching you head on. You are head to head on a beam reach. He is carrying all plain sail, his ports are open and the guns are run out. Already, his chasers are feeling the range. It is obvious he intends to pass close aboard. What is your plan?” Do you pass to windward of him? Or to leeward? Why? What are your orders to the gunners? Ball, double or grape? What will you do after he passes? Turn to windward, leeward or straight ahead? Why? “Well, lieutenant?” (Anyone wish to opine..........) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Alvarez Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I let the other guy turn around me or he takes it head on. I'll flood my ship until the deck is just awash - close aboard his shots will all pass overhead, then I pump my ship out and continue on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Vernon Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Pass to leeward, load grape and then come up to windward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf81 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Pass close by to Leeward, load double shot, fire as they bear, reload with ball. Next move depends on the action of the enemy. Intention is to wear the ship immediate after the first broadside and engage the enemy with the larboard side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ole Pinelle Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Sir, I let down the 2 deck boats with the volunteers of the marines, fill them with black powder barrels, pass the enemy windward, so not open the waterline, let the fire boats drift on the enemy, jibe around the stern of the enemy, shoot their rudder and board the wreckage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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