Taken Aback

Culpeper series 4 Book 2 Napoleonic Wars

It’s 1809,the super frigate HMS Relentless is supporting the British Army fighting in the Iberian Peninsula.

It has been four years since the by now famous, battle of Trafalgar. At the time, popular opinion had it that it was the end of Napoleon, they failed to take into account the fact that he was still undefeated on land, indeed was still adding laurel leafs to his usurped crown. The French and Spanish Fleets were in a state of recovery, licking their wounds after the Royal Navy had taught them a lesson in seamanship and naval warfare that had amazed the World, and it had taught them the hard way. Some thought the role of the Navy had changed to one of logistical support, the men on the ships at sea would have disagreed, logistical support had always been there, probably always would be, but their fundamental mission had not changed it was just as formidable, as arduous and as brutally aggressive as it had ever been.