We recently playtested "Fire As She Bears!" Age of Sail miniatures rules written by Great Lakes member Phil Fry. Phil set up the game for our Sunday evening gaming group, providing a rousing refight of the 1797 Anglo-Dutch "Battle of Camperdown. " This report is pieced together from several player's accounts.

"...After recovering from the scandal of the Fleet Mutiny, His Majesty's Royal Navy formed up and set out to engage the Dutch fleet. With quiet determination and supreme confidence in our ships, our men, and the Captains leading them, we came upon the Dutch fleet..." -- Commanding Admiral Duncan (player: Mike Konwinski)

The British fleet was divided into four squadrons. Commodore Allen Sams commanded the Van, or lead squadron. The 74-gun ship-of-the-line Bedford spearheaded his squadron, which also contained two 64-gun ships, Lancaster and Belliqueux, and the small, 50-gun Isis. Next in formation was Admiral Duncan in his flagship, the 74-gun Venerable. In its company were the 74-gun Triumph and the 64-gun Agincourt and Ardent. Vice Admiral Onslow sailed in the 74-gun Monarch, alongside its sister ship, Powerful. Two 64-gun ships-of-the-line, Veteran and Adamant, followed in their wake. The rear squadron also contained a pair of 74s, Russell and Montagu, and two 64s, Director and Monmouth. This ill-fated squadron, which would be severely punished by the Dutch, sailed under the flag of Commodore Demana (guess who?).

"...There I was, minding me own business, when by Jesus and Mary and Joseph, the whole of the King's fleet was a'bearing down on me. One poor Irish rebel in a fishing boat cramed with smuggled muskets and a few barrels of powder against the might of Brittanial I was pondering tossing the lot overboard when I heard a thunderous commotion back of and behind me. Those were the guns of the Dutchies, who I had not seen creeping along the coast..." -- Patrick O'Leary, Irish smuggler, witnessing the battle (Tim Donovan)

"...The Dutch fleet was in near perfect line of battle on the edge of shallow water. This ruled out any attempt to double their line. Therefore, we would attempt to break their line behind the Dutch Van and destroy as many ships as possible before the Van could reengage. This should be possible because the Van would have to either turn into very shallow waters or attempt to tack to turn around. Either choice would take a substantial amount of time while we were overwhelming the remainder of their line..." -- Admiral Duncan

The Dutch fleet also contained 16 ships-of-the-line -- making the two fleets evenly matched. Commodore Douglas Van Jackson commanded the Van, which contained two 68-gun ships, Gelijkheid and Tjerk Hiddes de Vries, the 64-gun Hercules and 56-gun Beschermer. Vice Admiral de Winter (Joel Sams) was the fleet commander, sailing in the next ship, the 74-gun Vrijheid. Following closely in its wake were the 76-gun Staten-Generaal, 64gun Wassenaer and 56-gun Batavier. The third squadron sailed under the pendant of Commodore Troy Van Boni, and contained the 74-gun Brutus and a trio of 64- gun ships -- Leyden, Mars and Cereberus. Canny Rear Admiral Reijnfjes (Tom Graves, who doubtless would struggle to pronounce his persona's name!) guarded the stern of the Dutch fleet. His flagship was the 74-gun Jupiter and its satellites the 68-gun Haarlem, 56-gun Alkmaar and 54-gun Delft (named after a lovely town the editor visited. This didn't keep me from trying to pound it to matchsticks, though).

"...The plan prescribed that we would allow the Dutch Van to pass by, allowing all four squadrons to fall upon the Dutch rear. While having the wind gauge, our fleet was intitally disorganized -- not in line of battle (in fact, we were running perpendicular to the Dutch fleet). In our efforts to make line, our rear squadron (unable to see his signals) began to fall behind. In addition, our own Van began to take heavy fire from the lead Dutch ship. Simultaneously, the rearward squadron also began to take heavy, long-range damage..." -- Vice Admiral Onslow, (player: Ed Coss)

'....But Lord have mercy if the Dutch ain't smart about their guns, and soon had the fore ships of His Majesties a'burning brightly. The Limeys must have had a wee bit too much rum, as their return fire was lacking. However, I must admire their courage, as on and on they came..." -- Patrick O'Leary

"...It appeared the Dutch were wary of our plan, and had slowed down to prevent the breaking of their line. As the fleet approached, an opportunity appeared. A Dutch squadron in the middle of their line sought refuge from the fire by sailing toward the shallower water. In doing so, they veered in front of the trailing squadron, forcing them to come about. This caused a natural break in their line, giving us a chance to engage the forward half of their fleet..." -- Admiral Duncan

"...Anticipating Admiral Duncan's orders, I asked permission to drive my ships at full sail into the shallows and the small gap that had appeared in the Dutch line. While two of my ships temporarily ran aground, we were successful in seizing the opportunity, and thus, broke the Dutch line of battle. Admiral Duncan ordered his own ships to follow in. At close quarters, the superior British seamanship and gunnery began to show. The fleet focused its attack on the forward halt of the Dutch fleet..." -- Vice Admiral Onslow

"...The three squadrons fell upon the Dutch. Although HMS Lancaster became dismasted, Isis struck and Bedford suffered heavily. The Dutch came under tremendous pressure. HMS Agincourt forced the Batavier to strike its colors (surrender), Wassenaer was engaged by two British ships and would not last long. The other six lead Dutch ships were herded into a mass in which they would be defenseless..." -- Admiral Duncan

"...Both Admiral Duncan's squadron and my own were relatively undamaged. Close quarters fighting was ever-so-slowly turning the battle in our favor. Darkness descended, however, before a fitting conclusion could be reached..." Vice Admiral Onslow

"Against this success is measured the difficulties endured by the rear squadron. Most of the commodore's ships were taking heavy rigging damage, but had suffered little structural damage. I am confident that had not darkness intervened, we could have done grievous damage to the Dutch Van and Center, and returned to rescue Commodore Demana in time..." -- Admiral Duncan

Both sides took heavy losses in our refight of Camperdown. Each side had one ship strike its colors. The British ended the game with three ships dismasted, the Dutch none. Each had a pair of ships whose hulls were severely holed. In sheer amount of damage inflicted, the Dutch came out ahead.

Perhaps the tactical situation favored the British at the end, perhaps not. From my perspective at the rear of the British line (facing twice my number of Dutch), nightfall was a welcome relief from the pounding. Commodore Demana may not look back on Camperdown favorably, but I will remember the refight fondly.

I think the telling point in the battle was at its beginning. Long range Dutch gunnery inflicted major damage to the British masts as we sailed towards them. As Age of Sail fans, my gaming group was surprised by its effectiveness. Both the British Van and Rear held their fire until closing, ala Richard Bolitho or Horatio Hornblower of naval fiction. So, by the time we began to pound them in return, two of our squadrons were quite bloodied.

We enjoyed the game tremendously, though. Many thanks to Phil Fry for providing an entertaining game with beautifully-painted miniatures. Also, thanks to Great Lakes members Mike Konwinski, Ed Coss and Tim Donovan, whose "memoirs" I've excerpted for this article. 

More Info about "Fire As She Bears!" Rules

Fire As She Bears!" is available from Great Lakes member Phil C. Fry, 6766 Woodlake, Toledo, OH 43617 -- an incorrect address was printed in the review of the rules, last issue. Also see his website: http//www.fire-as-she-bears.com