HMS Aphrodite (Sea Command Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Richard Testrake
survive.”
Admiral Jervis nodded. “Captain Mullins, at this point I am well satisfied with you. In fact, had you brought me this French corvette in seaworthy condition, my benevolent nature might well have raised you to commander and placed you in command.”
“As it happens though, I really have more use for someone of your temperament in command of your brig.”
“For now, you will return to your command and have your people list all of your brig’s deficiencies. This list should be promptly transmitted to my flag captain who will see what may be done to satisfy your requirements. I will bid you good day now and allow you to return to your brig. Hopefully, the next time we meet, you will have further victories to discuss.”
Havoc was ordered to proceed to the current supply transport, which was towing behind HMS Caesar, an eighty-gun third rate. She was directed to send a boat to the transport, which returned laden with provisions, including a store of fresh lemons. When another transport arrived from North Africa a few days later, she received a pair of thin, undersized bullocks and a few sheep.
With her needs satisfied, a boat from HMS Victory delivered a packet of orders. He was to proceed to the Ligurian coast of Italy and do what he could to disrupt the French advance into that area. Following this activity, he should continue his cruise to interdict the French coast itself. Before departing, he was to report aboard Victory for possibly updated instructions.
Expecting another audience with Admiral Jervis, Mullins was exceedingly careful as to his dress. Reporting aboard Victory, however, he found Sir John was involved with a delegation from Livorno and unable to receive him. Captain Robert Calder, Victory’s flag captain, took him in hand and discussed the realities of the mission.
Mullins learned the British position in the Med was becoming tenuous, with Spain possibly coming into the war on the side of the French. Nevertheless, the Fleet was to do what was possible to slow the French advance into the Italian peninsula. Calder reminded him that half his mission consisted of the rapid reporting of French intelligence and dispositions.
It was extremely important that any intelligence must be promptly reported, even if that meant the foregoing of a promising
prize.
With no additional instructions, Havoc took her departure from the fleet and set course for the Ligurian coast.
Following the French coastline, well off-shore, Havoc met up with a small convoy, made up of various small craft and escorted by a privateer brig. Once Havoc showed her teeth, the privateer departed for safer waters, while the convoy itself began to scatter. Mullins ran down a tartane, riding low in the water and after some noisy confrontation, brought her to heel. Her cargo consisted of part of the supply train of an invading French army division and while not inherently valuable in itself, would prove most useful in the defense of the region.
By the time he had a prize crew aboard, the other members of the scattering convoy were well on their way to making an escape. It was not until well into the mid-watch when an alert deck lookout spotted the loom of a ship crossing her stern. The watch officer put the ship about and notified Captain Mullins.
The crash of a carronade brought the ship to heel and the ship ‘Directoire’ let fly her sheets and wallowed to a halt. Midshipman Wallace took a boat crew across and took command of the prize, but it was not until daylight that a thorough survey of their capture was made.
There was a welcome surprise. She was a large one, ship-rigged and low in the water. Immediately visible was her deck load of spars and mast sections. Down below though, she had a deadly cargo of gun powder, tons of the substance, in the small casks used for such materiel. Since this ship had a rather large crew to safeguard, as well as a small cargo of muskets and accoutrements in a forward compartment,
Admiral Jervis nodded. “Captain Mullins, at this point I am well satisfied with you. In fact, had you brought me this French corvette in seaworthy condition, my benevolent nature might well have raised you to commander and placed you in command.”
“As it happens though, I really have more use for someone of your temperament in command of your brig.”
“For now, you will return to your command and have your people list all of your brig’s deficiencies. This list should be promptly transmitted to my flag captain who will see what may be done to satisfy your requirements. I will bid you good day now and allow you to return to your brig. Hopefully, the next time we meet, you will have further victories to discuss.”
Havoc was ordered to proceed to the current supply transport, which was towing behind HMS Caesar, an eighty-gun third rate. She was directed to send a boat to the transport, which returned laden with provisions, including a store of fresh lemons. When another transport arrived from North Africa a few days later, she received a pair of thin, undersized bullocks and a few sheep.
With her needs satisfied, a boat from HMS Victory delivered a packet of orders. He was to proceed to the Ligurian coast of Italy and do what he could to disrupt the French advance into that area. Following this activity, he should continue his cruise to interdict the French coast itself. Before departing, he was to report aboard Victory for possibly updated instructions.
Expecting another audience with Admiral Jervis, Mullins was exceedingly careful as to his dress. Reporting aboard Victory, however, he found Sir John was involved with a delegation from Livorno and unable to receive him. Captain Robert Calder, Victory’s flag captain, took him in hand and discussed the realities of the mission.
Mullins learned the British position in the Med was becoming tenuous, with Spain possibly coming into the war on the side of the French. Nevertheless, the Fleet was to do what was possible to slow the French advance into the Italian peninsula. Calder reminded him that half his mission consisted of the rapid reporting of French intelligence and dispositions.
It was extremely important that any intelligence must be promptly reported, even if that meant the foregoing of a promising
prize.
With no additional instructions, Havoc took her departure from the fleet and set course for the Ligurian coast.
Following the French coastline, well off-shore, Havoc met up with a small convoy, made up of various small craft and escorted by a privateer brig. Once Havoc showed her teeth, the privateer departed for safer waters, while the convoy itself began to scatter. Mullins ran down a tartane, riding low in the water and after some noisy confrontation, brought her to heel. Her cargo consisted of part of the supply train of an invading French army division and while not inherently valuable in itself, would prove most useful in the defense of the region.
By the time he had a prize crew aboard, the other members of the scattering convoy were well on their way to making an escape. It was not until well into the mid-watch when an alert deck lookout spotted the loom of a ship crossing her stern. The watch officer put the ship about and notified Captain Mullins.
The crash of a carronade brought the ship to heel and the ship ‘Directoire’ let fly her sheets and wallowed to a halt. Midshipman Wallace took a boat crew across and took command of the prize, but it was not until daylight that a thorough survey of their capture was made.
There was a welcome surprise. She was a large one, ship-rigged and low in the water. Immediately visible was her deck load of spars and mast sections. Down below though, she had a deadly cargo of gun powder, tons of the substance, in the small casks used for such materiel. Since this ship had a rather large crew to safeguard, as well as a small cargo of muskets and accoutrements in a forward compartment,
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