The Battle of Livorno 4th March 1653 Refight Part 1 - Set up and background

by augsburgeroberst July 02, 2020

Barry's Battle of Livorno as refought

Painting of the Battle of Livorno

This is the first time I have refought a historical battle ship for ship and also, my first blogged battle from the 1st Anglo Dutch War. I have made a couple of small amendments to the rules to simulate the Dutch preference for boarding during the earlier period.

The Dutch ship Maan (Moon) in action at Livorno. Cornelis Tromp was its captain

The Battle of Livorno (Leghorn) was fought between the English Commonwealth and Dutch Republic, so it's a real Republican ding dong. It took place just off the harbour mouth of the attractive Tuscan city of Livorno, it was, a resounding Dutch victory. It was a component of the 1st Anglo Dutch War which was chiefly triggered by English jealously over waxing Dutch commercial dominance in terms of trade and transportation by sea.

A view of the Dutch Zon (Sun) in action at Livorno (she has the Sun on her stern at left)

Read about a little of the background on Wiki here: Battle of Leghorn and also here:Battle of Livorno

The battle was fought in two parts. If the two English squadrons had combined, each side would have had roughly the same number of ships. What actually happened was that the Dutch defeated the first six English ships before the other nine arrived. These were then defeated in turn.

This scenario starts with the 'one the got away' Mary, a 30 gun converted merchantman, fleeing the scene of destruction to link up with Captain Badiley's reinforcing squadron. The Dutch are still superior in number however, in the scenario conditions, all their ships have taken some damage (this was randomized with a set range) and all, had to check to see whether they retained first broadside bonus capability.

The English have the weather gauge but not the numbers. The Dutch begin the battle inshore and entangled in the wreckage of Appleton's English squadron which they have just destroyed.

The Dutch Fleet

Van Galen's fleet off Livorno amidst the wreckage of Appleton's squadron. Mary is escaping

De Zeven Provincien (40) van Galen F

Eendraght (40) de Boer

Maan (40) Tromp

Ter Goes (40) Richewijn

Zon (40) van Zalingen

Zutphen (36) Uittenhout

Maagd van Enkhuisen (34) Roetering

Jonge Prins (28) Barentszoon

Julius Caesar (28) Merchantman. Roocher

Witte Olifant (28) Merchantman. Mol

Madonna della Vigna (28) - ran aground before battle so not included in OOB

Susanna (28) Merchantman. de Vries

Zwarte Arend (28) Merchantman. Bontebotter

Salomans Oordeel (28) Merchantman. van Oosterwout

Roode Haes (28) Merchantman. Rodenhaes

Ster (28) Merchantman. Govertszoon (Fireship)

The English Fleet

Badiley's squadron minus Mary

Mary (30) Merchantman. Fisher

Paragon (52) Badiley Flagship

Pheonix (36) Cox

Elizabeth (36) Reeves

Constant Warwick (32) Upshott

Mary Rose (32) Merchantman. Turtley

Lewis (30) Merchantman. Elie

William and Thomas (30) Merchantman.Godolphin

Thomas Bonaventure (28) Merchantman. Hughes

Charity (16) Fireship. Whyting

In part two I will detail the AAR. The game lasted eight turns with furious action and an outcome achieved between Turns 3 and 8, the six turns during which it all happened.

The table is 4 x 4 and in total there were 25 active ships. I subdivided each command into two and three groups of five respectively for initiative and activation purposes which worked very well.