This scenario recreates the most famous action of John Paul Jones, the father of the American navy. It was written for FLOB III.
John Paul Jones was cruising in the North Sea in a converted French Indiaman, renamed Bonhomme Richard (42), and in company with the frigates Alliance (32) and Pallas (32). He encountered a homeward bound British Baltic convoy protected by the Serapis (42) and the Countess of Scarborough (24). The Pallas closed with the Countess of Scarborough, whilst the other two American vessels closed with the Serapis
American
Bonhomme Richard (42) - Inferior 4th Rate SOL, Veteran crew
Alliance (32) - Inferior 5th Rate Frigate, Experienced crew (see Special Rules below, however)
British
Serapis (44) - Inferior 4th Rate SOL, Veteran crew
The Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis should be placed on parallel courses about 30cm apart. The Alliance should be placed 40cm astern of them on the same course, midway between the two ships. All ships are quarter reaching.
The Alliance was commanded by a madman, and fired on both vessels during the course of the action. To simulate this it is not considered to be fully controlled by either player during the game. On any given turn, the Alliance is sailed by whichever player gets the first Command and Repair phase for that turn. They may use the ship as they see fit for the rest of that turn until the deck is shuffled and the next turn started. The controlling player may fire with the Alliance as they see fit. It may not attempt to board either the Bonhomme Richard or the Serapis. If boarded it passes to, and remains under, the control of the opposing player until the ships are no longer fouled or grappled and the next Command and repair phase is determined. Either player may fire on the Alliance, although the Bonhomme Richard may not do so until it has been subjected to at least one round of fire from its supposed ally.
The Bonhomme Richard's lower deck guns were less than reliable. If, when firing, the Bonhomme Richard rolls a double, the firing is resolved as normal, but it must lose a quarter (rounded down) of the gun factors on the firing broadside. This can only happen once per broadside.
The Bonhomme Richard gets +1 in all boarding actions to simulate its lucky use of grenades.
The Americans win if the Serapis strikes or sinks. The British win if the Bonhomme Richard strikes or sinks. Note that a British victory counts even if the Alliance is still in play; it is assumed that loss of the Bonhomme Richard will cause the Alliance to flee regrdless of the current state of the ships.
Things went badly for Paul Jones when the lower deck battery of 18pdrs on the Bonhomme Richard blew up on the second broadside. With his firepower reduced he grappled the Serapis and attempted to board, but was initially thwarted in this by the Alliance. Although supposedly on his side, the Alliance proceeded to fire on the the Bonhomme Richard (either through mistaken identity, insanity or malice). Despite this, the Bonhomme Richard prevailed, and the Serapis struck. The Pallas captured the Countess of Scarborough, but the convoy escaped. The Bonhomme Richard was so badly damaged that it sank soon after the battle.