Time Machine: Dave Arneson, Historic Wargamer
During a chat with game developer Alyssa Faden we talked a little bit about the early days of role-playing games and their connection with historic wargames -- and how, in their driest and most protracted form, wargames did not seem like nearly as much fun as RPGs. That brought to mind "International Wargamer," a pretty serious publication that included among its editorial staff Dungeons & Dragons creators Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson! Following is an article by Arneson from the March 1972 issue of the publication, as austere as it is typical of the era, titled "The Campaign of Trafalgar, Part 1. Orders of battle and the like were, for what it is worth, the bread and butter content of gaming publications in this era. The names of the French ships are, in any event, fun and evocative, especially the pagan ones, and reveal something about the attitude and philosophy of the nation that floated them. Arneson's article was illustrated by two crude sketches, one of a Heavy Carronade and the other of a 100 gun Ship of the Line. We have provided a pair of very similar historic images here.
As most members are well aware, the most decisive naval action of the Napoleonic Wars was the battle between the combined Franco-Spanish Fleet and the British off Cape Trafalgar on 21st October 1805. Although many of you may be familiar with the tactical game "Trafalgar," it was the existing strategic situation in 1805 that made the battle important beyond the actual material damage it caused the French and Spanish navies. It is my purpose to present all the available data pertaining to the material involved on the campaign when the French first sailed from Toulon 17 January to their defeat over nine months later.
The first order of business is to present as complete a breakdown as possible for the forces available to the British and Allied fleets during the year 1805, as nearly as can be made out from the documents in my possession. Since the Allies are the best documented force I will begin by presenting the initial disposition of their fleets.
French Fleet
Brest Fleet: Imperial/120, Invincible/110, Republican/110, Alexandre/80, Foudroyant/80, Alliance/74, Aquilon/74, Batave/74, Cassard/74, Conquerant/74, Diomede/74, Eole/74, Impetueux/74, Jean Bart/74, Jupiter/74, Patriote/74, Tourville/74, Ulysse/74, Veteran/74, Wattigny/74, Ocean/120, and one ship under repair. Cornete/40, Felicite/40, Indienne/40, Valeureuse/40, Volontaire/40, Diligente/28, Espiegle/24, Vulcan/24. A large number of gunboats (30-50) plus 150 seaward guns in the waterfront environs of Brest; 2,000 troops on board ships in the harbor.
Toulon Fleet: Bucentaure/80, Formidable/80, Neptune/80, Indomitable/80, Annibal/74, Mont-Blanc/74, Pluton/74, Swiftsure/74, Atlas/74, Intrepede/74, Scipion/74, Berwick/74, Hermione/40, Cornelie/40, Hortense/40, Incorruptible/40, Rhin/40, Sirene/40, Themis/40, Uranie/40, Furet/18, Naiade/18. There were 1,500 troops on board the ships.
Cadiz Fleet (French): Aigle/74, Torche/24, Argus/18, with 1,600 troops aboard them.
Cadiz Fleet (Spanish): Argonauta/80, San Rafael/80, Firme/74, Terrible/74, America/64, Espana/64. Ships refitting: Santisma Trinidad/130, Santa Ana/112, Rayo/100, Bahama/74, San Justo/74, Glorioso/74, San Leandro/64, Santa Magdalena/40.
Ferrol Squadron (French): Argonaute/74, Duguay Trouin/74, Fougueux/74, Heros/74, Redoutable/74.
Ferrol Squadron (Spanish): Principe de Asturias/112, Argonauto/80, Neptuno/80, Monarca/74, Montanez/74, San Augustin/74, San Ildefenso/74, San Francisco de Asis/74, San Juan Nepomuceno/74, San Fulgencio/64.
L'Orient: Didion/40.
Genoa: Genois/74.
Toulon (under construction)): Boree/74, Pomone/40. Completed sometime in June or July.
Rochefort Squadron: Majesteux/120, Maganime/74, Jemmappes/74, Suffern/74, Lion/74, Algesiras/74, Achille/74, Armide/40, Gloire/40, Thetis/40, Sylphe/28, Palinure/28.
Batavian Republic (seven ships of the line, names uncertain): Charlemagne/74, Albanais/74, Anversois/74, Cesar/74, Dalmate/74, Duguesclin/74, Audaciex/74, Fidell/40, Pallas/32, Phoenix/33, Maria-Riggersbergen/32. Defenses at the mouth of each Scheldt [River] consisted of six forts of 40 guns each.
Cartagana [sic]: Conde de Regala/112, Conception/112, Mexicano/112, San Nicholas/80, San Elme/74, San Domingo/74, San Pablo/74, San Jearo/74. Names uncertain; two of these not ready.
[The article was also accompanied by a table labeled "Invasion Flotilla" that will neither reproduce well here nor be of any use to anyone so we have opted to not include it. It lists ports and totals of vessels, men, and horses across the top, and types of vessels along the side, and is accompanied by some explanatory notes.]
