Battle Of The Red-Mouthed Gun Revisited

A few years ago I used Galleys & Galleons to do a refight of the battle of Kepuwaha’ula’ula or The Red-Mouthed Gun, fought off the coast of Hawaii in 1791. This was the culmination of years of civil war on the islands and was fought by the forces of the eventual unifier of the islands, Kamehameha, and an alliance of the western islands of Maui and Kauai. The original post is here.

The battle's name derives from it being the first major action to feature large numbers of cannon and other firearms.

I refought the scenario today. As I say in the original post, I have no idea of the actual forces involved, or how accurate my models and depictions are of those actually used. So it's somewhat impressionistic. I do include the small American schooner Fair American, which had been commandeered by the Hawaiians, and served as Kamehameha's flagship. 

Both sides have four groups of war-canoes and three catamarans. Kamehamaha's forces have the Fair American, whilst those of the Alliance have a fourth catamaran as a their flag. The stats are below. 

I included a coastline along one edge, and two rocky islets.

Here's the action a couple of turns in. The Alliance are on the left, with their canoes top-left and the catamarans working their way around the islet at the bottom. Kamehameha's forces are on the right, with the catamarans and schooner creeping along the coast and the canoes centre-right.

A closeup of Kamehameha's fleet. 

Opening shots - two of Kamehameha's catamarans open fire with their bow guns at some Alliance canoes, damaging them. 

On the other flank the Alliance catamarans return the favour.

The fighting becomes more general. Even the canoes are armed with chasers in this battle, but their fire was mostly ineffective. 

After teh initial volleys of fire, the vessels closed for boarding, and melees broke out along the line. Kamehameha's forces were a little slow at this point and the Alliance got the jump on them. 

Alliance catamarans attack an isolated group of Kamehameha's canoes. At the very top of the picture one of Kamehameha's catamarans and the Fair American are heading towards the centre of the action. 

The first loss - one of Kamehameha's catamarans strikes. 

Fierce fighting in the centre. Kamehameha's canoes (right) were getting the better of it. 

More melee as the isolated canoes are quickly overwhelmed by the warriors on two Alliance catamarans. 

Alliance canoes are defeated in the centre, as one of their catamarans comes up in support. 

A general view of teh action, showing the three melees. at the top of the picture Kamehameha's vessels are losing, in the centre the Alliance are in trouble and at the bottom the Alliance has the upper-hand. But Kamehameha himself and one of his catamarans are yet to commit. 

The Alliance flag engages the Fair American.

The Fair American returns the favour. 

Its first broadside damaged the Alliance catamaran, which turned and grappled the schooner. With vessels being defeated or badly damaged across teh board, this would be the deciding action. 

Fighting continues, but fewer and fewer vessels and canoe groups are in action now. 

Despite its edge in boarding Kamehameha triumphs, defeating the enemy flagship. 

Although both sides had a couple of canoe groups left, they were all badly damaged. The only truly active vessels now in action were the Fair American on Kamehameha's side and two catamarans on the Alliance side. They were on opposite tacks and unlikely to easily come into action with each other, so I ended the action at that point. Neither side could be called a victor in what was a bloody draw.

The ship stats were:

Canoes - Q2 C2 - Boats, Intimidating, Bow Chasers

Catamarans - Q3 C2 - Lateen Rigged, Unarmed, Bow Chasers, Intimidating, Yare, Sweeps, Shallow Draft

Alliance Flag - Q3 C2 - Lateen Rigged, Unarmed, Flagship, Bow Chasers, Intimidating, Drilled Soldiers, Yare, Sweeps, Shallow Draft

Fair American - Q3 C2 - Lateen Rigged, Carronades, Intimidating, Flagship, Shallow Draft

I gave Kamehameha's flagship an emphasis on gunnery, whilst that of the Alliance had drilled Soldiers to make it superior in boarding to anything else in play. As it was the Fair American fired one broadside all game, and then defied the odds to win the boarding action. 

The last time I played out this action Kamehameha's forces won a decisive victory without losing a vessel. This refight was a lot bloodier. 

One thing I am considering is making a small change to Boats. They do not roll on the All At Sea table, so damage doesn't affect them until they take an excess hit. What I will change is have them roll the requisite number of red dice for activation when grappled, and if they roll a '1' then they strike, like any other vessel would. As it is, boats are surprisingly resilient in boarding actions when fighting similar strength 'conventional' vessels.