Nelson's Squadron in 1796
On 10 April Nelson's squadron was positioned to provide bombardment in support of Beaulieu at the Battle of Voltri, only to witness an Austrian failure to advance toward the French communications along the coast at Loano.
In the prior summer of 1795, Horatio Nelson, commanding the HMS Agamemnon, was operating in the Gulf of Genoa, under Admiral Hotham. Nelson sailed from San Fiorenzo (at the tip of Corsica) towards Genoa with a small force of frigates and sloops. However, he soon encountered a much larger French fleet and was forced to retreat back to harbor.
Later, Nelson operated out of Genoa, intercepting merchantmen and capturing vessels in enemy and neutral ports. He even developed ambitious plans for amphibious attacks to counter the French army's advance on Genoa, though Admiral Hotham showed little interest. In 1796, Admiral Sir John Jervis assumed command of the British Mediterranean Fleet, with headquarters initially in Gibraltar.
In 1796 there were successful raids on the coast of Genoa, at Finale, Oneglia and upon the siege train intended for Mantua. The British fleet evacuated their base at Livorno (Leghorn) after the battle of Lodi in May 1796.
By October 1796, Spain's impending alliance with France meant that the British position in the Mediterranean had become untenable. Jervis was therefore ordered to abandon the Mediterranean bases and consolidate his forces to face the combined Franco-Spanish threat. The Admiralty made the difficult decision to withdraw the British fleet from the Mediterranean entirely, relocating it to the Tagus River in Portugal and positioning it off Cadiz.
The Rule
24.43 Blocking the French LOC: We already have rules for flotilla on Lake Garda, so adding the British Fleet doesn’t entail much more. Basically the Brits can disrupt the LOC from anywhere, but if they strike harbor facilities, then the blow is more disruptive. We even have Naval Transport rules, so we could have some marines (a 1-4-4) from Nelson's squadron. Naval infantry have to remain in coastal hexes. They are in supply if adjacent to the fleet marker. ALT Reinfs have to be handled by a die roll (2d6):
1–2 Receive 1 Alt Group
3–34 No result
35–36 The French Fleet will sortie (April only)
24.4 British Navy
24.42 Naval Transport: During the month of April 1796, with this optional rule the Naval Squadron of Horatio Nelson is available at start on 10 April anywhere on the south map edge of Map W and can reach any coastal hex during the same turn.
The squadron moves like Flotillas on Lake Garda (see 21.28, 21.29).
The squadron has on-board one unit of Royal Marines (several companies), which may debark on any coastal hex free of enemy forces. This unit may move by land once debarked, but is out of supply if it leaves the coast. Austrian units (up to 4 SPs) can be transported by sea (see 21.29).
24.43 Blocking the French LOC: The Marines can block the enemy LOC at any point on the coast road. The Marines block the LOC through the occupied hex for as long as it is occupied.
24.44 Raid: The Marines can raid port facilities in any ungarrisoned Coastal Town. On a die roll of 1 or 2 (d6) place a “Burnt City” marker (see 24.45).
24.45 Naval Bombardment: The Squadron can bombard harbor facilities of any port hex. On a die roll of 1 or 2 (d6) place a “Burnt City” marker and remove any garrison. This hex of the LOC is interdicted until a French garrison can be restored to the hex (see 17.41).
24.46 Return to Port: At the last turn of April, the squadron is withdrawn from play permanently. If the Royal marines are eliminated or left on the game map (instead of being reembarked) they are eliminated at a cost of -1VP to the Coalition Player.
OPERATIONS ON THE LIGURIAN COAST
On 1 November 1795 Hotham was replaced by Vice-Admiral Sir John Jervis, commanding 18 ships of the line, and towards the end of the year Martin was replaced by Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys, commanding 15 ships of the line.[100] Jervis was also concerned by the presence of seven Spanish ships of the line at Cartagena; the Spanish were still neutral, but their relationship with France was becoming closer.[100] In early 1796 Jervis sent a number of detached squadrons to sea in the spring; Vice-Admiral William Waldegrave took a squadron to Tunis and violated Tunisian neutrality, seizing three small French ships in the harbour.[101] A squadron under Nelson was sent to the Italian coast,[102] where Bonaparte was inflicting severe defeats on the Austrian and Sardinian armies. On 10 April Nelson's force was positioned to provide artillery support for the Battle of Voltri, only to witness an Austrian failure to inflict serious damage on the retreating French.[103] On 25 April a supply convoy was destroyed at Finale Ligure, and on 31 April Napoleon's siege train was captured on board a coastal convoy at Oneglia, the loss of which later had a major impact on French efficiency at the Siege of Mantua.[104] Jervis remained off Toulon; on 11 April HMS Ça Ira was accidentally burned off San Fiorenzo,[105] and in June, Jervis sent Southampton on a successful attack on a French corvette off the Îles d'Hyères.[106]
Nelson's operations had little effect on Bonaparte's campaign against Piedmont, and on 15 May Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia signed a treaty ceding large tracts of land to France.[103] Naples sought peace soon afterwards. Bonaparte advanced and defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Lodi, allowing French forces to spread across Northern Italy, threatening Leghorn.[107] On 27 June Jervis ordered a hasty evacuation of personnel, stores and shipping from the harbour, and HMS Inconstant came under heavy fire from advancing French troops as it withdrew.[108] Jervis responded by seizing the Tuscan island of Elba to prevent the French occupying the island in preparation for an attack on Corsica.[109] In Corsica, anti-British sentiment [110] had spread. Bitter infighting between supporters of Paoli and of the new president Carlo Andrea Pozzo di Borgo drove Paoli into exile in October 1795,[111] and British efforts to impose taxation on the populace led to an armed uprising centred on Corte in early 1796.[112] British troops initially moved against the rebels, before Viceroy Sir Gilbert Elliot managed to negotiate a truce.[113]
(Wikipedia)