During the Franco-Dutch War. Dutch and French forces were converging on the city of Messina who was in revolt to its Spanish rulers. The Dutch were allied with the Spanish. The French did far more damage than the Dutch force; however, battered the Dutch were the French pulled off making the victory meaningless.

French

Commander Duke of Mortemart

24 Ships of the line
5 Frigates
25 Galleys
9 FireShips

Dutch-Spanish Force

Commander Jan den Haen, and Diege de Ibarra

14 Ships of the Line
13 Frigates
19 Galleys
4 Fireships

Wargame

RuleSet Black Seas
2-5 Players
Models Needed: 100
Tablesize: 4×8
Terrain: Enough islands or rocks to create a bay.

Set-Up

The Spanish ships should be arrayed in line formation at the mouth of the bay. The Dutch ships should be arrayed in a similar fashion on the opposite side, facing the same direction.

The French should have their ships arrayed in a line approaching from the Spanish side. Frigates and galleys should be in the space between the two lines.

Objectives;

The French must inflict as much damage as possible on both fleets without losing a capital ship. The French must also evade the coastal batteries, which should have the firepower of a first-rate ship of the line.

The Spanish and Dutch forces need to use their screen to avoid losing any ships of the line. They do not need to inflict any damage. The fleet may flee at any time into the bay.

Additional Rules:

Fireships played a significant role in the battle, dealing most of the damage to the French.

Coastal batteries cannot be destroyed and should deal high damage.