The Battle of George's Straight

The battle of George's Straight may have been one of the most brilliant victories in Saxon naval history. During the The Waffle War most of the conflict was conducted at sea, with the intent to damage one another's trade enough to bring the other to the peace table. These battles often played out using individual ships or small squadrons of two or three. However, the Battle of George's Straight was one of the exceptions to this.

Before the Battle

The Saxon Royal naval received intelligence that the Aquitaine navy was moving to blockade the normal trade routes of Maple Syrup through the Georges Straight. Commodore Ian Holmes assembled a fleet of 9 ships of the line, and one trader to the north at Wellington Station. The Aquitaine fleet under the command of Admiral Jacques Deloffre consisted of 12 ships of the line and had sailed in formation from the Archipel de Charles. Both fleets met roughly North-Northwest of the port of Virginia.

The Battle

Admiral Deloffre expected to meet resistance from the Saxon Navy, so his crew were on the lookout for both trade ships and any protective warships.  His classic flag officer training and what he knew were superior numbers gave him confidence that his blockade would dig deep into Saxony's pockets. Commodore Holmes however knew roughly when to expect the fleet. He stationed his ships across the course he expected the Aquitaine navy to take.  He ordered the scouting ships to keep the topsails furled and, using an experienced sailors trick, he kept the crow's nest of the ships just peeking over the horizon with the hull and sails concealed.  This allowed him to scout the enemy and approach from the direction of his choosing.
The Commodore then used his mages to conceal his fleet in behind a dense rain squall while he trolled the Aquitaine fleet with the trade ship.  The admiral signaled for half of his ships to break off and pursue the trade ship when it "fled."  Luring half the fleet into the concealing rain, Holmes caught them by surprise, quickly and efficiently set the ships ablaze. He counted on the fact that ruining the rigging and sails would cripple the ships for capture later.  He knew the fires would be put out, but he was more interested in them being crippled.  With six ships against nine and with Admiral Deloffre was out of communication with part of his fleet under attack,  Holmes made short work of them.  Then dropping the be-spelled rainstorm concealment, Commodore Holmes advanced on the Admiral again with superior numbers.  This fight was a little tougher but with the upper hand in only an hour of the second portion of the engagement Admiral Deloffre struck his colors and surrendered.

Aftermath

Commodore Holmes unfortunately didn't have the crew needed to secure all his prisoners and capture the Aquitaine vessels.  By the end of the engagement his forces had been so depleted that he was only able to capture nine of the dozen ships that Admiral Deloffre engaged him with.  He was forced to scuttle the three least valuable ships.
Bringing nine ships of the line back to port for refit and re-crewing is a massive boon to Saxony.  Aquitaine is hard-pressed by this battle now, and there is talk in the court that perhaps sueing for peace, regardless of the moral justification for the war, might be wise.

"I was in the crows nest of the Vehement through the whole thing.  Sure I got soaked in the rain, but I was glad for my crossbow.  Sam was up there with me, and he had his fancy blackpowder rifle and he spent the first half of the battle cussing until he could get fresh powder up for the second half.  You heard the term 'curse like a sailor?' Sam invented it!"
~Alistair Orwell, Crewman of Saxon ship Vehement

Conflict Type

Battle