Capítulo 52: Planning for Bermuda

"Two years ago, three ships managed to avoid the island's defenses and patrols and sneaked several barrels of gunpowder out of the Bermuda magazine before fleeing. While the British naval presence was negligible during that time, that brief incursion did allow us to acquire information about potential landing points and the rough positions of the defenses on the island," Colonel Knowlton pointed at the map of the Atlantic Ocean and Bermuda that was strewn on the meeting table, "What if we divert the attention of the British Navy and then land troops similar to the previous operation while they are distracted? It is well known that the British Navy has been aggressive towards hostile vessels. So if we send out a diversion force, we can have it avoid a confrontation but lure away any nearby British ships from the island. I suggest that we divert them south as our main landing forces will be coming from the northeast. To make the deception convincing, we will need to devote many of our ships to act as the bait. Once the British take the bait, the remainders of the task force can land on the island relatively unmolested and strike the defenses rapidly. Once the invasion force lands, the remaining ships will head south and strike the British from the north, while the decoy force turns around to face off against the British, catching them from both sides and allowing us to seize Bermuda. If for some reason the battle turns awry, then we'll have some ships near Bermuda to withdraw our forces and return to the mainland."