The 21st October marks the anniversary of the greatest naval battle in military history. We take a look at the celebrated battle, and look at replicating the game using the Black Seas rules system! After pursuing the Admiral in charge of the Franco–Spanish Fleet, Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, to the Caribbean and back, Admirals Lord Nelson and…
Our Black Seas Fleet Battles bundles are ideal for launching into Black Seas. There’s now a bundle available for each Navy in the game. Our Fleet Battles sets for each Navy include the Master & Commander Starter Set, the starter fleet box for the appropriate Navy, and a venerable vessel of legend to lead the…
Support your larger vessels in Black Seas with Gunboat Squadrons. These small ships are sure to prove detrimental to the enemy’s manoeuvres. A gunboat squadron is like a gnat in comparison to the larger ships-of-the-line. Nevertheless, they have a useful place in the fleet. A gunboat would typically have only a single mast with square-rigged…
Our French Battle Line gives you the beginnings of a French Navy led by L’Orient, the 118-gun 1st Rate famed for its demise at the Battle of the Nile. Models supplied unassembled and unpainted View in Store Bundle Contains: French Navy Fleet (1 resin 1st Rate, 3 plastic 3rd Rates, 3 plastic frigates,…
We’re taking a look at boarding enemy ships in Black Seas, an invaluable technique for securing the contents of a hold, or the ship itself as a prize. There were two chief techniques of boarding in the Age of Sail. The first, and one most pertinent to Black Seas was to bring two ships close…
1st rate ships-of-the-line provide any fleet with an impressive command ship and centrepiece. The French Navy is no exception… 1st Rate ships of the line were extremely large and powerful and were a true display of a Navy’s power. They were, however, expensive to operate, so their service use was limited in times of peace….
Black Seas enables you to select from a number of different types of ammunition. We examine their usage and impact in the game. At the start of a game of Black Seas, or at the start of a ship’s activation, you can change ammunition at any or all gun positions. Whilst this does lend ships…
British Frigate vs French Frigate 1793-1814 View in Store Code: DUE 52 Author: Mark Lardas In the Age of Fighting Sail (1650-1820), ambitious officers of the navies of many nations sought command of a frigate. Speedy, nimble and formidably armed, frigates often operated independently, unlike the larger ships of the line. Legendary sailors such…
Napoleonic Naval Armaments 1792–1815 View in Store Code: NVG 90 Author: Chris Henry There were many elements to British Napoleonic naval success but one of the key factors was gunnery. Other countries developed different naval weapons to fit their maritime strategies. The French and Spanish systems developed on similar lines, while those of the…
From the French Revolution to Trafalgar View in Store Code: WAR 97 Author: Terry Crowd This book gives a detailed and authentic account of the life and experiences of French warship crews from the Revolution up to Trafalgar. It describes the recruitment and composition of crews, the different duties performed and the living conditions…
Tom Mecredy
Dan Hewitson