All at Sea - Far Distant Ships, Chance Cards

 

As regular followers of the blog will know, the last few years of my wargaming hobby has been centred around age of sail gaming with a theme around producing large naval battles for the tabletop using 1:700 models in the Grand Manner.

These battles have included three games of Trafalgar with seventy-three models on the table and Camperdown with some fifty models, and a set of rules that greatly facilitates fighting battles of this size is Far Distant Ships (FDS) by David Manley.

The rules provide just the right amount of granularity that produces all the narrative to the drama on the table as it unfolds, whilst placing the tabletop commanders firmly in the role of a senior admiral rather than one of the seventy three captains,  and they are a rule set I'm very happy to commend to others looking to do something similar.

That said I am part of a generation of wargamers who are inveterate adopters, adaptors, and improvers, and I have never used a set of rules yet without rewriting bits of them or adding house rule adaptions here and there, part of which saw me rewriting FDS to work with the larger 1:700 models I wanted to use, which the rules facilitate excellently, along with a few other additions that caused me to have my own copy of them for use with my games and as references for the players.

One such addition was the adoption of an idea produced by Alan Butler for his rules Grand Fleet Actions in the Age of Sail, namely a set of chance cards which he put together for his rules that he used in his own Trafalgar game back in 2005.

The Trafalgar refight at NWS Yeovilton 2025

Grand Fleet Actions were supplied by A&A games via Wargames Vault up until very recently and Alan provided a set of these cards in PDF format to go with his rules, and I simply used them with changes for use with FDS and found they worked very well in adding to the historic narrative in both Trafalgar and Camperdown games; with the most recent game of Trafalgar fought at the NWS Yeovilton last year seeing the card play result in the death of Nelson and the wounding of Collingwood, following the actual events unerringly.

Since those games I have reported on here on JJ's, I have had enquiries about getting a copy of the Chace Cards and so if you would like them in PDF format produced for Far Distant Ships you can use the link to my files, under Resources and Downloads, as illustrated, and I will reply back to open access to them for you.

You will get a simple PDF that has some basic instructions for printing each card with a back and front that are easily reproduced on light card and folded back to back to produce the cards of which there are ten and requiring three copies to produce a deck of thirty cards.

I hope they add fun to your own games. 

In the meantime Carolyn and I are off on our travels again and I hope to bring you another interesting 'JJ's on Tour' historically themed post from another part of the world yet again illustrating what a fun hobby historical wargaming is no matter where in the world we may be.

JJ

The Battle of Kentish Knock, 28th September 1652 - General at Sea.

 

In the previous post to this one Capt. Steve laid out his plans to refight the Battle of Kentish Knock, using General at Sea, together with links to the background to this battle, and his orders of battle for the respective fleets, see the link below for that post.

JJ's Wargames - The Battle of Kentish Knock, Planning and Preparation

In the wake of the Battle of Goodwin Sands on the 19th May 1652, which Steve played in November last year, and a summer of failed initiatives and significant fleet losses due to storms in the North Sea, political pressure from his opponents, who criticized his management of the war, forced Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp’s resignation, and he was replaced as commander of the Dutch fleet by Vice-Admiral Witte Corneliszoon de With.

Vice-Admiral Witte Corneliszoon de With.

The appointment was unpopular because de With was a republican whereas most of the fleet were Orangist in sympathy, and this fact together a fearsome reputation for severity likely caused the officers and crew of Tromp's old flagship the Brederode to refuse to allow de With to move his flag to it, forcing him to use the East Indiaman Prins Willem as his flagship instead.

The Brederode off Hellevoetsluis - Simon de Vlieger
Two Dutch warships are shown off Hellevoetsluis, together with other shipping. On the left is a vice-admiral's flagship, in port and stern view, flying the Dutch flag. The principal ship on the right is probably the 'Brederode', shown in port and stern view. Built in 1645, she was Maarten Tromp's flagship, in which he was killed at the Battle of Scheveningen in 1653.

Having no experience of the superiority of English firepower, de With's strategy was more aggressive than Tromp's, and thus against the advice of his officers, he decided to confront the English fleet and attempt to clear it from the Straits of Dover in order to safeguard the Channel for Dutch commerce. 

Battle sites from the First Anglo-Dutch War in the English Channel and North Sea, showing the position of the battle of Kentish Knock fought in 1652.

After joining forces with de Ruyter's squadron, the Dutch fleet of about sixty-two ships set sail from Schoonveld on 25th September to seek out the English.

A possible depiction of the battle of Kentish Knock by Abraham Willaerts (detail)
with the powerful Sovereign on the left

General-at-Sea Robert Blake's fleet of sixty-eight ships, including the powerful 90-gun Sovereign (formerly named Sovereign of the Seas ) and the 80-gun Resolution (formerly the Prince Royal ) was stationed at the Downs anchorage when de With sailed to confront it. 

General-at-Sea Robert Blake

The most powerful Dutch ships were de With's flagship Prins Willem (56-guns) and Tromp's former flagship the Brederode (54-guns). As soon as it set sail, the Dutch fleet ran into storms which continued for several days, and the Dutch were obliged to ride out the rough weather in the open sea, which scattered their fleet and damaged several ships. 

Steve's summary of the two fleets as represented in the game. Bearing in mind
that General at Sea models three to four actual ships represented by a model
stand, a more detailed order or battle showing the ships represented by each
 model stand can be found in the Prep & Planning post for this game, linked above.

On the 28th September, when the weather moderated, Blake transferred his flag from the powerful but unwieldy Sovereign to the more manoeuvrable Resolution and ordered his ships to put to sea; and the English fleet sailed north out of the Downs to confront the Dutch near the Kentish Knock, a sandbank in the Thames Estuary.

In the pictures below Steve has the English and Dutch fleets arrayed for battle as laid out in the scenario plan above - let battle commence!

The English squadrons of Blake and Penn are seen here heading north at full sail to engage whilst the daylight holds, but their speed means they are unable to take regular soundings and are thus unaware of the shoal ahead. Note Rear Admiral Nehemiah Bourne's squadron is off table to the south.

The Dutch fleet are arrayed in the their traditional formation with squadron leaders being supported on their flanks and rear to facilitate their board and burn tactics, and on a westerly heading, beating into wind.

Turns 1 & 2

Blake has the initiative in Turn 1 and moves first, which sees Penn's stand run aground as expected, but surprisingly the Sovereign does not. In the meantime the Dutch advance at their best speed into wind, but the end of the turn leaves both fleets out of engagement range.

Penn's squadron heaves to and begins to drift downwind (away from camera), as Blake's squadron sails past whilst the Dutch close.

At the end of Turn 2, Penn's squadron heaves to and begins to drift downwind (away from camera), seeing Penn's stand managing to get off the shoal but leaving it disorganised, as Blake's squadron sails past as the Dutch close.

Admiral Sir William Penn - Peter Lely
Sir William Penn (1621–1670) was a prominent English admiral and politician
 who played a key role in the navy during the English Civil War, Commonwealth,
and Restoration, notably capturing Jamaica in 1655.
He was a highly successful commander in the Anglo-Dutch Wars
and father to William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.

Turn 3

Battle commences as Penn's squadron remains hove to whilst his command stand recovers from disruption following the grounding, covered by Blake's squadron which has opened fire at long range, to no effect.

Blake's squadron opens long rang fire on the approaching Dutch and covers his comrade, Vice Admiral William Penn, as he recovers his disruption from the grounding on the sandbank, whilst the rest of his squadron is hove to.

Turn 4

As the lead ships of Rear Admiral Nehemiah Bourne's squadron enter the table from the south east, De Ruyter can be seen tacking his squadron south, that left him with two stands disrupted, but seeing him manage to recover his own.

Rear Admiral Nehemiah Bourne's squadron enter the table from the south east, as De Ruyter can be seen tacking his squadron south.

Blake opens fire again at de With, but again with no effect, as Penn gets control of his squadron and alters course to fall in behind Blake.

Turn 5 

De With has tacked but three stands in his squadron are disrupted by the manoeuvre. Ineffective long range fire continues between the two forces, as de Ruyter and Evertsen begin to converge on Bourne's leading stands.

De With has tacked but three stands in his squadron are disrupted by the manoeuvre, this as de Ruyter and Evertsen begin to converge on Bourne's leading stands.

Turn 6

The combat becomes general across the two fleets, as Bourne's leading stand can be seen (top centre right) having turned to starboard with the wind and raked one of de Ruyter's lead stands, causing a 'level 1' damage, but seeing it recover from the disruption.

Meanwhile Penn has turned his squadron to commence a flank attack on de With, as Blake turns in parallel to attack de With's rear.

Bourne's leading stand can be seen having turned to starboard with the wind and raked one of de Ruyter's lead stands, causing a 'level 1' damage.

Turn 7

The battle becomes fierce between de With and the now combined attack by Penn and Blake with the former delivering and receiving disruptions in a close exchange of broadsides, seeing both sides recover, but leaving one stand in de Wildt's squadron badly mauled by Blake.

Turn 7 and the battle has become general as Blake nearer to camera mauls a stand in de Wildt's squadron, as the exchanges intensify between de With and Penn in the centre of the picture and top left between de Ruyter, Evertsen and Bourne.

Ahead of the fight between de With, Penn, the clash between De Ruyter, Evertsen and Bourne intensifies as raking attacks cause further level 1 damage effects and disruptions to both sides.

Turn 8

One of de Wildt's stands is scattered by the fierce attack by Blake, but the squadron manages to pass its reaction test. In support of Blake, Penn presses his attack by stern raking de With leaving the Dutch commander disrupted. 

De Wildt's scattered stand, centre, is battered into submission by the big English ships under Blake as Penn, in the centre of the picture, bores in on the stern galleries of de With raking and disrupting the Dutch C-in-C. Top left, the other fierce close contest is well underway between Bourne, Evertsen and de Ruyter.

Bourne is now closely engaged by de Ruyer and Evertsen that has caused several stands to become damaged and disrupted.

A fierce battle has developed between Bourne, Evertsen and de Ruyter with shot splashes and wreckage markers indicating the damage and disruption to both sides caused by the close exchanges and rakes.

Turn 9

The battering of de Wildt's squadron by Blake reaches a climax as the Dutch squadron is taken apart, seeing his scattered stand forced to surrender, and his command stand disrupted and damaged.

De Wildt's squadron has been battered by Blake forcing his scattered stand to surrender, and leaving his command stand disrupted and damaged.

Meanwhile the struggle between Bourne, Evertsen and de Ruyter continues with the ferocity of the previous turns but revealing the smaller Dutch ships struggling to harm their larger English opponents.

Fierce exchanges continue between  Bourne, Evertsen and de Ruyter, but the smaller Dutch ships are struggling to inflict significant damage to their larger English opponents.

Turn 11

It's the end for de Wildt's squadron as his own command stand is scattered and so is his squadron.

The end for de Wildt's squadron, and the firing has ceased, as his own command stand is scattered and so is his squadron which is now keen to break contact.

However the Dutch fight on, just, as Evertsen manages to cause one of Bourne's stands to scatter and then surrender.

Evertsen manages to cause one of Bourne's stands to scatter and then surrender, seen here amid shot splashes and wrecked rigging, and surrounded by Dutch men-of-war.

Turn 12

With the collapse of de Wildt's squadron, the Dutch are in full retreat east and home, pursued by the jubilant English, who have recovered their surrendered stand.

Nightfall comes to the aid of the Dutch fleet as it breaks contact in the dark and limps home.

Here are Steve's observations on his re-fight of the Kentish Knock:

Overall, a historical result. De With’s change of course to attack Bourne went well at first but the Dutch ships were unable to damage the English. At one point an English stand was surrounded by four Dutchmen but its DF value of 10 outweighed their individual BF values of 8 and less.

Penn was very lucky. His stand grounded but got free the next turn whilst the Sovereign did not go aground at all. However, he could not get the Sovereign into action because she was blocked by other stands.

De With was unable to make use of his fireships because of several factors: 

• the English were upwind and fireships cannot be sent directly into the wind; 
• the English were undamaged and fireships are only really effective against damaged stands;
• and finally not enough command points to initiate a fireship attack.

Now for Dungeness.

Thankyou to Steve for an enthralling game and the pictures he sent me to accompany the report, I hope like me you enjoyed the read.

The Battle of Dungeness is 30 November 1652

In the next Anglo-Dutch War post Steve will look at the planning and preparation for Dungeness, the fleet listings together with another post battle report.

As always, more anon.

JJ

The Battle of Kentish Knock, 28th September 1652, Game Plan and Preparation - General at Sea.

It was back in November last year that Captain Steve concluded 2025 with a refight of the Battle of Dover, a.k.a. Goodwin Sands, 19th May 1652, link below with links to the other AAR's by Steve, using the rules General at Sea by Iain Stanford and published by the Pike and Shot Society, with Steve incorporating some, yet to be published, updates to the rules composed by Iain since their publication.

JJ's Wargames - The Battle of Dover

Steve is now preparing to recommence his series of games with refights of the battles of Kentish Knock, 28th September 1652 and Dungeness fought on the 30th November 1652, and has sent me an outline of his plans for these games together with some historical background and I thought I would share the plans for the first of those battles, Kentish Knock, as a preamble to some forthcoming AARs.

Battle sites from the First Anglo-Dutch War in the English Channel and North Sea, showing the positions of the two upcoming featured battles of Kentish Knock and Dungeness fought in 1652.

So over to Steve and his commentary about his planning to replay the Battle of Kentish Knock.

Steve's fleets go toe-to-toe in his refight of the Battle of Dover.

The Battle of Kentish Knock

I am now getting ready for my next Anglo-Dutch game, this time featuring one of my favourite actions the Battle of the Kentish Knock. 

My interest is due to two factors:

1. This is the first time that the Sovereign of the Seas (just Sovereign under the Commonwealth) goes into battle and plays a decisive part in the English victory.

Known by the Dutch as the 'golden devil', on account of her all black and gold appearance, 'Sovereign of the Seas' was the most magnificent ship of her era. Designed in 1634 by Phineas Pett she was the first ship to have three full gun decks, carrying 102 guns on the orders of King Charles I instead of the 90 originally planned. No expense was spared in her construction. All her guns were made from bronze instead of cast iron which meant they were much lighter but four times more expensive. Most impressive was her gilded and carved decoration costing over £6600, equivalent to the cost of the hull for a two decked ship. Her first engagement was the Battle of Kentish Knock during the First Dutch War on 28 September 1652 when it is alleged she destroyed a Dutch ship with a single broadside.

 2.  I feel that Witte de With has been given a hard time by historians. Yes, he had a massive chip on his shoulder all his life and was a nightmare as a colleague and commander. However, he was an excellent tactician, second only to Tromp, and he came so close to a stunning victory over Blake with an inferior fleet.

Not an entirely satisfactory map of the battle. This is the closest I have found, but even this has a mistake – de Ruyter should be leading with de With in the centre.

His decision to tack his entire fleet when in contact with the enemy is unique to my knowledge and allowed him to come within an inch of destroying the English rear squadron. He was foiled by the English managing to get Sovereign and James off the Kentish Knock shoal and launch a devastating flank attack and the disaffection of part of his fleet because the Zealanders did not want to be commanded by an Admiral from Holland and definitely not de With and the 'Orangists', disliked by all Republicans. They were definitely not a “band of brothers”.

The accounts of the action as described on Wikipedia and the BCW Project Page.

https://bcw-project.org.uk/military/first-anglo-dutch-war/kentish-knock

Blake is an exceptional commander, but de Ruyter is not because he is only commanding the van squadron.

The English Fleet - William Penn's Squadron.
Note on the Ship Stats: Combat Value (CV). Dependent on the number and rate of ships included in the stand. Shooting Factor (SF). This is found by dividing the Weight of Broadside (lbs) by 50. Fractions of 0.5 and over are rounded up and below 0.5 being rounded down. Boarding Factor (BF).This is found by dividing the number of Crew (men) by 100. Fractions of 0.5 and over are rounded up and below 0.5 being rounded down. Defence Factor (DF). This is found by dividing the Ships Tonnage by 200. Fractions of 0.5 and over are rounded up and below 0.5 being rounded down.

In his impatience to get into action, Blake has rushed out of the Downs in no order and had to wait for Penn and the rest of his squadron to catch up. The New Englander, Nehemiah Bourne, who came to Blake’s rescue at Dover, is far behind the rest of his fleet and will start to enter on the third turn. Blake’s mistake in not concentrating his fleet gave de With the chance to destroy Bourne and he seized it. 

The English Fleet - Robert Blake's Squadron

Iain and I have agreed to amend the rules on tacking – a stand will complete its tack, but should it fail the test, it will become disorganised. This follows a game we played about twelve years ago when my poor dice throwing resulted in the whole Dutch fleet heading backwards! We agreed that this was unrealistic and the chance of becoming disorganised was a sufficient deterrent to anyone wishing to copy de With’s manoeuvre.

The English Fleet - Nerimiah Bourne's Squadron

Whilst morale in the Dutch fleet was poor, I have made them average because they were still highly competent to complete complex seamanship etc – it was that they were not particularly enthusiastic, especially those who – unlike de With - had been at Dover and Plymouth and had experienced English firepower.

The Dutch Fleet - Michiel de Ruyter's Squadron

In the accounts, although the Dutch had been divided into four squadrons before the battle, after the gale there only seems to have been only three and no mention of the Zealanders. They may have hung back and not been observed by the English or were spread amongst the other squadrons. I have chosen to keep them as a separate allied squadron with poor morale, and this should mean that they will stay to the leeward of the fleet, avoiding action, as happened in the real battle.

The Dutch Fleet - Witte Corneliszoon de With's Squadron

As the shoal is directly in front of Penn’s squadron, it is highly likely that the first and second-rates will go aground. The key to the game will be whether they can be refloated in time to launch the flank attack. Also, whilst they are stuck on the shoal, they are a tempting target for a fireship attack.

The Dutch Fleet - Gideon de Wildt's Squadron

The Dutch Fleet - Cornelis Evertsen the Elder's Squadron

The action started in the late afternoon and is limited to 12 turns before nightfall.

Steve's game plan. Note the shoal squares directly ahead of Penn's squadron, which has the potential to cause the English fleet some serious issues.

If you were following Steve's games from last year you will know he has a marvellous collection of Langton fully rigged and detailed Anglo-Dutch 1:1200 models and I am very much looking forward to presenting this and the Dungeness games in future posts together with a similar run through of Steve's plans to refight Dungeness.

As always, more anon.

JJ