The Spanish Navy was beset by mixed fortunes in the Age of Sail; achieving great victories and major defeats in an interesting balance. Particularly during the Napoleonic era; Spanish allegiances were subject to fluctuations; oftentimes at odds with the British; yet allying with them when the situation suited (such as their rejection of Napoleon in 1808 - even in the wake of Trafalgar in which a quarter of the Spanish Navy had been lost).The Spanish Navy was the largest in the world at the outset of the 1700s; though this diminished to third-largest as the century wore on. Not only fighting close to home; the Spanish Navy fought engagements as far away as the Carribean and South America; where they achieved similarly mixed results.Why sail the Spanish Navy?When using the National Special Rules; the Spanish Navy allows you to bring a huge level of firepower in your fleets. Spanish 1st Rates are allowed to take the Over Gunned upgrade for free adding a heavy and a light cannon to each broadside. This is not without compromise; however; as these vessels need to successfully pass a test to travel at full sails; and can never be crewed by veterans. Additionally; veterans for other ships cost more in Spanish fleets.This means that a Spanish Admiral will need to use extra cunning in the selection of vessels for their fleet; carefully selecting upgrades for the extremely powerful Over Gunned vessels; to offset the decreased manoeuvrability and penalty to hit. At the same time; enemy fleets will need to be extremely wary of exposing themselves to the initial broadside of a fully tooled-up Spanish 1st Rate.Spanish Navy FleetContents:3 plastic frigates6 plastic brigs3 plastic third rates1 resin first-rate1 gun boats baseA selection of metal figureheads and backplates for famous Spanish Navy Ships:San Juan Nepomuceno - a 74 gun third-rate ship of the lineNeptuno - an 80 gun third-rate ship of the lineMontañés - a 74 gun third-rate ship of the lineCeres - a 40 gun frigateDiana - a 34 gun frigateNinfa - a 36 gun frigateSpanish Navy Flags; Sails & ratline sheets + Bobbin for RiggingGame cards and wake markersModels supplied unassembled and unpainted
