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| A representation of Tangier harbour in 1666. The shape is roughly that of the modern port as seen on various pictures |
I have gazumped that project with an extension of my Dutch Wars naval adventure. As I always do, I try and stretch any project every which way to squeeze the maximum juice out. It was an obvious activity to check out Tumbling Dice's other ranges to find out where I could leverage them. The Napoleonic range has xebecs, xebec galleys and dhows.
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| The Tangier Regiment (Kirke's) stand firm in the face of Berber cavalry (Dave O'Brien's collection) |
Some consultation with various sources informs that the Berber or Barbary Corsairs were a broad and loose amalgam of North African Arabs, privateers and renegade Europeans. Their ships were thus a mixture of Arabic and European types - A pirate fleet with a little difference was clearly on the cards.
I have been quietly building this in parallel with the more military English, Dutch and French ships and so, this gets me back round to Tangier and a little scenario set in March 1666.........
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| Sir Jeremy Smith in the Mary leads Molly (left) and Africa Merchant (centre) south into Tangier |
In March 1666, Sir Jeremy Smith commander of the Tangier
Fleet is at sea onboard the 3rd rate Mary. His journey from England
as convoy to two large merchantmen has been uneventful. On the fifth day of March and within sight of the
Moroccan coast, sails become visible to the south, south east and east. He knows
that ships of his own command would not appear at various compass points
simultaneously so near to Tangier harbour and so he signals for all vessels to
ready themselves for battle.
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| Karim's squadron hugging the coast from the west and inshore of Smith |
The Mission
Smith must escort the two merchantmen safely into Tangier.
The Berber corsairs must capture the merchantmen afloat and escape with them.
The Fleets
English at Sea
Mary
3rd rate: Veteran crew. Long at sea: reloading on +1
Africa
Merchant: Large Merchant, Drilled crew. Black powder: limited to 5
broadsides.
Molly:
Large Merchant, Drilled crew. Slow. Seaworthy: can make an extra turn each
move.
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| Abdullah's Flag squadron with the converted old Spaniard on the right - Najam Shamal. The Sayf leads |
English in Tangier
Portland:
4th rate Guardship: Drilled skeleton crew. Reloading on +1. Firing
as 5th rate, Flag officer.
Dragon:
4th rate Guardship: Drilled skeleton crew. Reloading on +1. Firing
as 5th rate, Flag officer.
Portsmouth:
Brig, Drilled crew.
Lilly:
Fast yacht, Drilled crew.
Eagle:
5th rate: Drilled crew. Reloading on +1. Shallow draught.
Portland and
Dragon are permanently moored as guard ships near the approach to Tangier
harbour. Eagle is making ready for sea but cannot leave port until 21 is accumulated
by rolling 1 x d6 per turn.
Total 470
points
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| Yusuf's squadron on a convergent course with Smith's ships (off shot to the right) Tangier in distance |
Berber Flag squadron
Najam
Shamal: 4th rate: Veteran crew, Slow: Seaworthy, Soldiers
aboard.
Sayf: Xebec:
Drilled crew, Fast: Deep draft, Soldiers aboard, Abdullah Bey’s flagship
Bariq:
Xebec galley: Drilled crew. Soldiers aboard.
Karim’s squadron
Saqr: Xebec:
Drilled crew, Fast: Light guns
Qdis: Xebec
galley: Drilled crew, Fast: Long at sea: reloading on +1
Qut: Large
dhow: Drilled crew.
Rabi: Small
dhow: Drilled crew.
Yusuf’s squadron
Nasir:
Xebec: Drilled crew, Fast: Heavy guns
Saeiqa:
Xebec: Drilled crew, Fast: Seaworthy
‘Afeea:
Large dhow: Drilled crew.
Bnt
Jamila: Small dhow: Drilled crew.
In a successful boarding action, all Berber vessels add +2
to their die throw per combat round to simulate their complement of pirates
bent on capturing enemy vessels.
Total 470
points
Part 2 details the action.