Battle of the Saintes
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The naval Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9-12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse.
The battle is named after the Saintes (or Saints), a group of islands between Guadeloupe and Dominica in the West Indies. In 1782 the Comte de Grasse set out from Martinique with 30 ships of the line and a large convoy to capture the British island of Jamaica. He was pursued by Rodney with 36 ships of the line. There was an initial inconclusive clash on 9 April 1782, during which the French got the better of the van division of the British fleet which had become separated from the centre and rear divisions, followed by a decisive battle three days latter.
On the 12th, De Grasse bore up with his fleet to protect a dismasted ship that was being chased by four British ships as she made for Guadaloupe. Rodney recalled his chasing ships and made the signal for line of battle. As the French line passed down the British line, a sudden shift of wind let Rodney’s flagship Formidable and several other ships break through the French line, raking the ships as they did so. The resultant confusion in the French line and the severe damage to several of the French ships including De Grasse's flagship Ville de Paris 104 led eventually to De Grasse’s surrender and the retreat of many of his ships in disorder. A general chase ensued. In all, four French ships were captured and one, César blew up after she was taken
The battle is famous for the tactic of "breaking the line", in which the British ships passed though a gap in the French line, engaging the enemy from leeward and throwing them into disorder. There is some controversy about whether the tactic was Rodney's or that of his rear-admiral Sir Samuel Hood, and whether it was deliberate, but it was devastastingly effective and the battle ended French and Spanish hopes of capturing Jamaica from the British. A similar tactic was used by Nelson 23 years later in the Battle of Trafalgar.
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Ships involved
Britain (Rodney)
Marlborough 74
Arrogant 74
Alcide 74
Nonsuch 74
Conqueror 74 (George Balfour)
Princesse 70 (3rd flag of Samuel Drake)
Prince George 98
Torbay 74
Anson 64
Janie 74
Russell 74 (James Saumarez)
? 74
Hercules 74
Prothée 64
Resolution 74
Agamemnon 64
Duke 98
Formidable 98 (flag)
Namur 90
Saint Albans 64 (William Cornwallis)
Canada 74
Repulse 64
Ajax 74
Bedford 74
Prince William 64
Magnificent 74
Centaur 74
Belliqueuse 64
Warrior 74
Monarch 74
Barfleur 90 (2nd flag of Samuel Hood)
Vlaiant 74
Yarmouth 64
Montagu 74
Alfred 74
Royal Oak 74
France (Comte de Grasse)
Hercule 74
Souverain 74
Palmier 74
Northumberland 74
Neptune 74
Auguste 80 (de Bougainville)
Ardent 64 (formerly British) - Captured
Scipion 74
Brave 74
Citoyen 74
Hector 74 - Captured
César 74 - Captured but burnt
Dauphin Royal 70
Languedoc 80
Ville de Paris 104 (flag) - Captured
Couronne 80 (Mithon de Genouilly)
Eveillé 64
Sceptre 74
Glorieux 74 - Captured
Diadème 74
Destin 74
Magnanime 74
Refléchi 64
Conquérant 74
Magnifique 74
Triomphant 80
Bourgogne 74
Duc de Bourgogne 80
Marseillais 74
Pluton 74
Richmond (frigate) (Montemart)