Battle of Fort Royal
Battle of Fort Royal | |||||||
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Part of the Anglo-French War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Great Britain | France | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Samuel Hood | François Joseph Paul de Grasse | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
18 ships of the line | 24 ships of the line | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
39 killed 162 wounded[2] | Reports vary[2] |
The Battle of Fort Royal was a
Background
In March 1781, a large
On 17 April, Grasse had detached a cutter which arrived at Martinique on 26 to inform
Hood was under orders from the fleet's station commander, Admiral
Battle
Grasse ordered his fleet to prepare for action on the morning of 29 April, and sailed for Fort Royal with the convoy ships hugging the coast and the armed ships in battle line.
The two fleets continued to push for advantageous positions, however Hood's leeward position meant he was unable to prevent Grasse from bringing the convoy to the harbour, and Grasse's fleet and the four blockaded ships soon met. Around 1100, Grasse's van began firing at long range, with no effect. Saint-Hippolyte's division then set sail, leaving the harbour of Fort-Royal and making their junction with Grasse.[4]
By 1230 the two fleets were aligned, but Grasse refused to take advantage of the weather gauge to close with Hood, despite Hood's efforts to bring the French to him, as doing so entailed risking his transports.[4] The fleets then exchanged cannonades and broadsides for the next hour; at long range, the damage incurred was modest, although Centaur, Russell and Intrepid required repairs. Centaur had her captain, first officer and 10 others killed, and 26 wounded.[4][6] The French suffered mostly light damage to their rigging.[4]
From 1400, the French convoy slipped between the coast and Grasse's squadron, safely arriving at Martinique.[7]
Hood finally drew away toward Saint Lucia. On 30, Grasse, having successfully completed his convoy escort, was free to give chase, and he harassed the British for a couple of days, but Hood refused to be brought to action. In the chase, the disparity of sailing performance between the French ships scattered Grasse's squadron, to the point that by 1 May, Grasse had only 11 ships with him and was losing sight of the last ones.[8] He then returned to Fort-Royal, where he arrived on 6 May.[4]
Aftermath
Hood dispatched
Order of battle
French fleet
Saint-Hippolyte's division[4] | |||||||
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Division | Ship | Guns | Commander | Casualties | Notes | ||
Killed | Wounded | Total | |||||
Victoire | 74
|
Joseph François Auguste Jules d'Albert de Saint-Hippolyte | Division flagship | ||||
Caton | 64
|
Georges-François de Framond | |||||
Réfléchi | 64
|
Armand-François Cillart de Suville | |||||
64
|
Louis-Toussaint Champion de Cicé |
British fleet
British order of battle as provided by Clowes, p. 482.
- Alfred, 74, Captain William Bayne
- Belliqueux, 64, Captain James Brine
- Alcide, 74, Captain Charles Thompson
- Invincible, 74, Captain Sir Richard Bickerton
- Francis Reynolds
- Barfleur, 90, Captain John Knight, Rear-Admiral Samuel Hood
- Terrible, 74, Captain James Ferguson
- Princessa, 70, Captain Sir Thomas Rich
- Ajax, 74, Captain John Symons
- Resolution, 74, Captain Lord Robert Manners
- Montagu, 74, Captain John Houlton
- Sir Francis Samuel Drake
- Centaur, 74, Captain John Neale Pleydell Nott
- Prince William, 64, Captain Stair Douglas
- Torbay, 74, Captain John Lewis Gidoin
- Intrepid, 64, Captain Anthony James Pye Molloy
- Shrewsbury, 74, Captain Mark Robinson
Citations
- ^ Castex (2004), p. 175-76.
- ^ a b c Clowes (1898), p. 487.
- ^ a b Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 392.
- ^ a b c d e f g Troude (1867), p. 102.
- ^ a b Troude (1867), p. 101.
- ^ "John Neale Pleydell Nott". More than Nelson. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 393.
- ^ Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 394.
- ^ Kerguelen (1796), p. 182-183.
- ^ Troude (1867), p. 100—101.
- ^ Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 648—649.
- ^ Contenson (1934), p. 150.
- ^ Kerguelen (1796), p. 224.
References
- Castex, Jean-Claude (2004). Dictionnaire des batailles navales franco-anglaises. Presses Université Laval. ISBN 978-2-7637-8061-0.
- OCLC 7842336.
- Clowes, William Laird; et al. (1898). The royal navy: a history from the earliest times to the present, Volume 3. London: S. Low, Marston. OCLC 20348745.
- Kerguelen, Yves-Joseph (1796). Relation des combats et des évènements de la guerre maritime de 1778 entre la France et l'Angleterre (in French). Imprimerie de Patris.
- OCLC 763372623.
- OCLC 836362484.