Saturday, November 25, 2006
The last year: we have learned a great deal
I am at the point of needing to update the page about Dutch losses in the First Anglo-Dutch War. Thanks to what Carl Stapel has found, along with my acquisition of the letters and journals of Witte de With, we have learned a great deal. Many, if not most, of the mysteries were solved. A great deal of the work remains to be done. I personally still do not have any of the relevant documents from the Nationaal Archief. I will get my first batch in the next week or so.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Updates to Dutch losses in the First Anglo-Dutch War
I have been gradually learning more about Dutch losses in the First Anglo-Dutch War by a closer reading and translation of more of Dr. Elias's book, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen (6 volumes). I have also continued to learn ship names corresponding to known captains. I have added some new information from that research, as well, which is ongoing. For example, we know that Jacob Cleydyck's ship lost at the Battle of Portland was named Meerman (30 guns). We also know that the captain of the ship Prins lost in June 1652 was Simon Corneliszoon van der Meer. The ship was part of a small group with Jan Evertsen that was attacked by some English frigates. The Prins was sunk by gunfire. This is reflected in several lists, but was a mystery, until the passage in Vol.II of Schetsen was discovered.
Monday, December 27, 2004
Battle of Lowestoft
I thought it would be instructive to see how the Dutch could do at the Battle of Lowestoft, using what are now my standard tactics. That means grouping the fleet as a single unit, manuevering with the helm, trying to keep the English at a distance (a medium gunshot), and trying to keep the weather gauge. The other key tactic is to wear, not tack. I did that as best as was possible. One issue that I ran smack into was that the Lowestoft Privateers Bounty scenario was a rather small square. I was in danger, at one point, in running out of the red square. I was forced to wear and go onto the opposite tack. That mean that I broke the English line near the end. That was not so bad, but it did mean that the English were able to engage closely and inflict a good bit of damage on some Dutch ships. It was really all down hill from there, although the Dutch had some good passes, when they really wore down some English ships (including the Royal Charles). Many large English ships became immobile and then surrendered. The only problem was that the generally smaller Dutch ships were worn down. I finally stopped the battle when the Dutch were reduced to 20% while the English were still at 51%.
Posted by Jim at 8:31pm
Friday, December 3, 2004
More experiments with Privateers Bounty
Tonight, I have been experimenting with commanding the Dutch and trying to gain the weather gauge. My first attempt, using the Battle of the Kentish Knock scenario was a mixed result. I was able to take the weather gauge, using my usual system (more about that later), but still lost more than the English, with little prospect of making up for that. My second attempt was with the Battle of Plymouth scenario. I had better luck with that experiment. My system is to run off at an angle, downwind. The AI will take the English fleet pretty much straight for the area where I had been. I run off wind a good distance, and then wear back to where I am close to the wind in the opposite tack. If I have run off to the side far enough, I would then be able to take the wind. If not, I will need to wear again, and run off on an angle to the windward, but mostly to the side, again. I do that until I can wear and take the wind on the opposite tack. I keep away from the English so that they cannot close. I fight as a unit, so that I am maneuvering with the helm (as always). I never (or almost never) tack. I wear, instead, so that I don't get hung up in stays. Privateers Bounty has this problem, that if you tack, you are guaranteed to get caught in stays. Anyway, I fought this as a "fight to the finish". I quickly reached a "tipping point" where I ran the English down, almost to nothing (8%). Then, I tried to finish them off, and in doing that, without regard to taking damage, that I took many losses. The two 2nd Rates, the Rainbow and Vanguard, caused me problems. The Vanguard finally surrendered, but the Rainbow was problem, causing a great deal of damage and little in return. I finally got smart, anmd brought up three ships in position to rake the Rainbow without taking damage, themselves, and furled their sails. As I write, they are in the process of writing off the Rainbow. In fact, the Rainbow just surrendered, so it is a clean sweep. The Rainbow and Prosperous of London are afloat, but surrendered. The Dutch still have the Ter Goes, Neptunus, West Cappelle, Faam, and Goude Zaal (FS). There are also the five Dutch ships that are surrendered that could be reclaimed and towed off the scene of the battle: Sint Pieter, Maria, Sara, Westergo, and Vogelstruis.
Posted by Jim at 8:15pm
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Battle of the Kentish Knock in Privateers Bounty
FOr the first time in quite a while, I have run a Privateers Bounty scenario. I chose to run the Battle of the Kentish Knock scenario (downloadable from this site). I commanded the English fleet with the difficulty set to Medium. I fought the battle as a "fight to the finish". In this case, the English had 30% left and the Dutch 2% (the Vogelstruis) by 8:45pm, in the dark. The Prins Willem (VOC) was the second to last Dutch ship left. The Vogelstruis was immobile (as were almost all the surviving English ships. The English had the advantage of having several mobile ships (the Hound prize, the Pelican, and the Speaker). The Vogelstruis just forced the London (M) to surrender, so the odds are now 28% to 2%. I am about to shut the run down. I used the usual tactics that have been successful for me: group all the ships into a single unit (CTRL-1) and set the formation so you can control the ships as a unit (the "custom formation"). Then, only use the helm to control course. Often, it is useful to set sails to full, although battle sails are acceptable. They have the advantage that your shooting will be more effective. Always wear your ships, don't tack, meaning that you always turn downwind, never into the wind. Maneuver back and forth on the same line. Maneuver so as to keep a distance between your ships and the enemy. The AI can beat you, if you allow the enemy ships to close.
Posted by Jim at 7:33pm
Sunday, October 31, 2004
The Dutch fleet in the blockade of Danzig in 1656
There has been some interest in the list of the Dutch fleet at Danzig in 1656, so I have finally posted that document.
Posted by Jim at 7:33pm
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
There are updates to the Dutch warlosses for the First Anglo-Dutch War
I have found more information about Dutch losses in the First Anglo-Dutch War, and have updated that page. As I find more information, I will make it available. I have not been able to find the details yet, but it appears that there were two ships belonging to the Admiralty of Friesland that may have been stranded during the bad storm in the Shetlands on 5 and 6 August 1652.
Posted by Jim at 10:40am
Wednesday, September 8, 2004
Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle of Solebay on 28 May 1672
I apologize for the delay in posting this for download. I had hoped to be able to make this scenario available last night, but that desire was "overcome by events". It is now ready and available.
If I were able to get the French OOB for Martinique in 1667, when John Harman obliterated the anchored French, I would build that scenario, as well. I suspect that the French who were at Nevis also were at Martinique, although I may be mistaken.
Posted by Jim at 9:40am
Monday, September 6, 2004
Updated Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle of Nevis on 10 May 1667
I realized upon rereading part I of Frank Fox's article on "Hired Men-of-War 1664-7", that I had missed the Castle Frigate. I added that to the scenario and retested. The new version of the scenario and usrships.ini file are now available for download.
By the way, I will be finished with the Battle of Solebay scenario, quite soon. I am over halfway through entering the Dutch ships, and have all the English and French ships.
Posted by Jim at 1:20pm
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
New Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle of Nevis on 10 May 1667
The information needed to do the Privateers Bounty scenario for the Battle of Nevis "fell into my lap" today, so what was there to do but build the scenario and test it. It is interesting, because the English ships are large enough to take on a bigger Allied (French and Dutch) fleet, but small enough so that if the larger Allied fleet is handled well, they can prevail.
Posted by Jim at 4:44pm
Sunday, August 29, 2004
New Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle Lowestoft on 3 June 1665
I have finished building a doing preliminary playtesting for the Battle Lowestoft Scenario for Privateers Bounty. This is my first scenario for a large Second Anglo-Dutch War battle. Sadly, I have had to scale the numbers, but there are enough there to give you a good flavor for the battle. I have not done anything to denigrate the Dutch, so they are very competitive.
Posted by Jim at 8:39pm
Thursday, August 26, 2004
New Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle at Bergen on 2 August 1665
I have a new Privateers Bounty scenario for the English attack on Pieter de Bitter's Retourvloot in the harbor at Bergen. We are limited in what terrain we can use, but what I chose has forts and artillery, so it adds to the interest of the scenario. The English are set up to have a hard time, as it is very difficult to attack anchored ships under cover of shore batteries.
Posted by Jim at 11:09am
Sunday, August 22, 2004
New Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Blockade of the Royalists at Kinsale in 1649
I have a new Privateers Bounty scenario for the escape of the Royalists from the Parliamentarian blockade at Kinsale, in Ireland. My list of Royalists ships is based on a combination of Michael Baumber's book General-at-Sea and The Letters of Robert Blake. The scenario and a new usrships.ini file can be downloaded from this site.
Posted by Jim at 8:54pm
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Updated Privateers Bounty Scenario Battle of the Smyrna Convoy (13-14 March 1672)
I've updated both the Word document scenario and the Privateers Bounty scenario for the Battle of the Smyrna Convoy. Steven Webber has been very helpful in supplying additional information which has enabled me to create a more accurate scenario. I'm very grateful for all of his help and suggestions.
Posted by Jim at 8:54pm
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle of the Smyrna Convoy (13-14 March 1672)
I've updated the Word document version of the Battle of the Smyrna Convoy scenario to include the other English captains' names. Steven Webber pointed out to me that Richard Ollard's book about Robert Holmes gives more names (Sir Freschville Holles, the Earl of Ossory, and George Legge).
Posted by Jim at 9:23pm
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle between the St. Patrick and two Dutch frigates (5 February 1667)
I have tweaked the Smyrna Convoy scenario and added a scenario for the battle that culminated in the capture of the English 4th Rate St. Patrick.
Posted by Jim at 2:53pm
Monday, August 9, 2004
Privateers Bounty Scenario for the Battle of the Smyrna Convoy (13-14 March 1672)
The Privateers Bounty scenario and new usrships.ini file can now be downloaded. I have been playtesting and tweaking the scenario since last night. It is a very strange situation. The English can easily end up all dismasted, going against the AI.
Posted by Jim at 9:22pm
Sunday, August 8, 2004
Scenario for the Battle of the Smyrna Convoy (13-14 March 1672)
The actual Privateers Bounty scenario is still forthcoming, but this is the OOB and ship data for the battle. I have made the scenario downloadable as a Word document. Battle of the Smyrna Convoy Scenario
Posted by Jim at 9:22pm