For the last couple of years the Wessex Branch of the Naval Wargames Society has been asked to put on a demonstration game at the Napoleonic Fair in London. In 1999 the game was a refight of the battle of Aboukir Bay, but in 2000 we were asked to do something a bit different. The sponsors of the show, Greenhill Books, were launching a new book, "The Napoleon Options", which looks at the possible outcomes of various alternative scenarios during the Napoleonic wars, the "what if" scenarios that are so popular amongst wargamers. The games at the show in 2000 all tied in with the release of the book. We took for our action a "what if" that looked at the results of a French invasion of Ireland in late 1796. However, rather than taking the postulated change of events as they were presented in the book (which would have left precious little scope for naval action) we decided to play out a "What if" based on a "What if"!

The "History"

The alternative scenario presented in "The Napoleon Options" assumes a successful French landing in Bantry Bay leading ultimately to the fall of Ireland to the French. For the most part the Royal Navy takes no part in the campaign, hamstrung by contrary winds, but in our version of reality Sir Edward Pellew, commander of Her Majesty's Frigate Indefatigable, sights part of the French fleet leaving Brest on 15th December. He orders his despatch vessel, Duke of York to make all speed for Portsmouth, there to warn the Fleet that the French are out! On 16th December the rest of the French fleet leaves Brest and then, at about noon, sets sail. There is immediate confusion (helped in some small part by Pellew's Indefatigable) which results in the loss of the French 74 Seduissant, but the French are soon underway. Pellew sets about shadowing the French with his four frigates. Duke of York makes good speed and arrives in Portsmouth at 09:00, December 17th, reporting the news to Admiral Lord Bridport. The news that a sizeable number of French ships is at sea causes Bridport to order his ships to make sail, but only a portion of the fleet is riding at Spithead and ready to leave. Perhaps smarting at the criticism levelled at him following his action off L'Orient in June 1795, Bridport decides that immediate action is required. He decides to go with what he's got (eight ships of the line, including two first rates and a couple of frigates) and sets off down the Channel.

Meanwhile the Destination of the French fleet is becoming increasingly clear to Pellew, as is the French purpose (those transports can mean only one thing - invasion!). He detaches the 36 gun frigate Phoebe (Captain Robert Barlow commanding) to make contact with the ships he feels sure will soon be heading from Portsmouth with the news that Pellew believes a landing in Ireland is afoot!

Twelve hours later Phoebe falls in with the vanguard of the Channel Fleet. Bridport urges all ships to make sail. HMS London pushes too hard, and her foremast is carried away by the weight of canvas. She detaches and makes repairs at Falmouth before continuing on, but the other seven ships of the line and their smaller consorts continue. Bridport cannot be sure where the landings will take place, but a look at the chart suggests the South west coast of Ireland, possibly somewhere in the reaches of Bantry Bay. He decides to conduct a sweep of the coast.

Bridport's ships arrive off Mizen Head at 04:00 on December 23rd, having made a very creditable 3 knots down the Channel in the face of worsening weather. Lights ahead indicate the position of the frigate Amazon; close by Pellew's Indefatigable and Revolutionairre (a former French prize) are cruising and soon join the small British fleet, now of 13 warships. Pellew reports that the French have concentrated the day before near Bere Island, on the Western side of the bay, and appear to be ready to begin landing troops. Moreover, Pellew has spent the day cruising to the West of the bay, drawing the covering French warships away from where he believes the main action must be fought if it is to be fought at all. Bridport decides to go in at first light and so it is that, at 08:01 on December 23rd 1796, a lookout on the French frigate Fraternite spots a group of unknown sail approaching fast from the South East…

Wargaming the Action

We fought out the battle using my "Form Line of Battle" rules but, of course, any set of age-of-sail rules could be used. The game was played on an 8' by 6' table, laid out as shown on the chart below. The wind is a South-South Westerly (i.e. directly up the table).

French Deployment

The French transports begin at anchor, head to wind. The four frigates indicated on the chart are set up in a rough line to the south of Bere Island and Mizen Head. They may begin at any allowable heading, but must be positioned at roughly equal intervals between the island and the headland.

The bulk of the French fleet begins off table to the West. Divide the fleet into three squadrons, plus a fourth squadron made up of the two remaining frigates. At the start of each turn roll a d6 and keep track of the running total. Each time the score passes a multiple of 6 one of the squadrons enters on the Western side of the table as shown (determine which squadron has entered at random).

British Deployment

The British squadron enters from the South east corner. The frigates enter on the first turn in rough line abreast formation. The ships of the line begin to enter on turn 2, in line ahead. The British player may opt to delay the entry of one or more frigates, but must specify the turn of entry.

Special Rules

Most of the French ships are carrying troops and supplies. This extra cargo interferes with the fighting efficiency of the ships, hence all French ships should suffer a slight reduction in firepower (represented in FloB by reducing the Broadside Rating by 1 - see table).

Victory Conditions

To win the British must force all the transports to strike and cause more damage to the French warships than they suffer. Any other result is a French victory.