Battle of La Hougue
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Image:Paton, Battle of Barfleur.jpg Image:Bataille-hougue.jpg
The naval nattles of Barfleur and La Hougue took place between 27 May and 3 June, 1692 (17-23 May in the Julian calendar then in use in England) at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue near Barfleur in the Cotentin peninsula, Normandy, France. It was the decisive naval battle of the War of the Grand Alliance.
In May 1692 the French fleet of 44 ships of the line under the command of the Comte Anne Hilarion de Tourville was preparing to transport an invading army of Franco-Irish troops to restore James II to the English throne. The French victory at the Battle of Beachy Head two years earlier, in June 1690, had opened up the possibility of destroying the allied fleet and landing an invading army.
On 27 May the French set out from Bertheaume Bay and in the English Channel encountered the Anglo-Dutch fleet of 99 (or 98) ships commanded by Admiral Edward Russell. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the French attacked, forcing the English and Dutch to retreat with two ships sunk and 5000 dead, against 1700 for the French and all ships afloat.
Action was rejoined on 29 May and the allies gave chase westwards that day and the next. On 1 June the French ships Soleil Royal, Admirable and Triomphant were beached for repairs near Cherbourg, as the rest of the French fleet rested in the Bay of La Hougue. On 2 June, Russell attacked with boats and fire ships and destroyed the three ships at Cherbourg. On 3 June the allied fleet made its way into the bay and burnt another twelve French ships of the line.
Ships involved:
- Britain:
- Netherlands:
- Total allied: 98 ships with 7154 guns
- France: 44 ships with 3132 guns
| English ships | Guns | Fate | French ships (Tourville) | Guns | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Sunk | Bourbon | 68 | Burnt La Hougue | |
| Monarque | 90 | ||||
| Aimable | 70 | ||||
| Saint-Louis | 64 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Diamant | 60 | ||||
| Gaillard | 68 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Terrible | 80 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Merveilleux | 90 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Tonnant | 80 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Saint-Michel | 60 | ||||
| Sans Pareil (Vermandois?) | 62 | ||||
| Sérieux | 64 | ||||
| Foudroyant | 84 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Brillant | 62 | ||||
| Modéré | 52 | ||||
| Illustre | 70 | ||||
| Souverain | 80 | ||||
| Content | 68 | ||||
| Admirable | 90 | Burnt Cherbourg | |||
| Dutch ships | Guns | Fate | Saint-Philippe | 84 | Burnt La Hougue |
| ? | Sunk | Soleil Royal | 104 | Burnt Cherbourg | |
| Conquérant | 84 | ||||
| Glorieux | 64 | ||||
| Perle | 52 | ||||
| Courageux | 58 | ||||
| Maure | 52 | ||||
| Couronne | 76 | ||||
| Ambitieux | 96 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Henri | 64 | ||||
| Fort | 60 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Excellent | 60 | ||||
| Prince | 56 | ||||
| Magnifique | 86 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Laurier | 64 | ||||
| Brave | 58 | ||||
| Entendu | 60 | ||||
| Triomphant | 76 | Burnt Cherbourg | |||
| Orgueilleux | 94 | ||||
| Fier | 80 | Burnt La Hougue | |||
| Fleuron | 56 | ||||
| Courtisan | 64 | ||||
| Grand | 84 | ||||
| Saint-Esprit | 74 | ||||
| Sirène | 64 |
Sources
A History of the French Navy
