Naval Battles Flashcards
Glorious First of June Statistics?
1st of June 1794
British Commander - Richard Howe.
British Strength - 25 Ships of the line.
British Losses - 1’200 casualties.
French Commander - Villaret Joyeuse.
French Strength - 26 Ships of the line.
French Losses - 6 ships of the line captured, 1 ship of the line sunk, 4’000 casualties, 3’000 captured.
Glorious First of June - Depth?
- The Royal navy had been in engaging in a blockade of France, they aimed to prevent a vital grain shipment from the US from reaching France.
- Howe attempted to break naval convention and carry out raking but it was ineffective as some of his commanders didn’t understand.
- Villaret ultimately bought enough time for the grain shipment to reach France however, their fleet was battered and in no position to try and break the blockade again. Therefore, the British claimed victory.
- It was named the Glorious First of June for propaganda purposes due to the poor performance of the army in Flanders.
Battle of Cape St Vincent Statistics?
14th February 1797
British Commander - John Jervis.
British Strength - 15 Ships of the line.
British Losses - 70 dead, 220 wounded.
Spanish Commander - Jose de Cordoba y Ramos.
Spanish Strength - 25 ships of the line.
Spanish Losses - 4 Ships of the line captured, 250 dead, 550 wounded, 3’000 prisoners.
Battle of Cape St Vincent - Depth?
- The Spanish were attempting to withdraw from the Battle, Nelson realised that the manoeuvre Jervis was trying to carry out would provide the opportunity for an Escape.
- Nelson chose to break the line and sail directly towards the Spanish fleet, his ship was heavily damaged but was able to pull up alongside the first Spanish vessel which was successfully captured, he then took a second vessel which had attempted to relieve the first Spanish Ship - Nelson’s bridge of Battleships.
- In turn Wellington used the newly captured ships to force the Santisma Trinidad away which was the largest battleship in the World at the time.
Battle of the Nile statistics?
1-2nd August 1798
British Commander - Nelson.
British Strength - 14 Ships of the line.
British Losses - 220 Killed and 680 wounded.
French Commander - Brueys d’Aigalliers.
French Strength - 13 Ships of the line.
French Losses - 6’000 Killed wounded or captured, 2 Ships of the Line Destroyed and 9 Ships of the line captured.
Battle of the Nile - Depth?
- The French fleet had eluded the British up until this point, they were finally spotted on the Coast of Egypt.
- Nelson ordered an attack despite night quickly approaching and was able to get some of his fleet around the French line allowing him to attack from both sides.
- The French ships were at anchor and were manned by a skeleton crew.
- Nelson was wounded in the head but the band of brothers doctrine allowed the battle to continue.
- At 10pm Brueys’ flagship L’Orient exploded which in turn lit up the battle allowing it to continue for longer - also made Villneuve terrified of Wellington.
- Only 2 French ships of the line and 2 frigates were able to escape the battle and in turn Napoleon was now trapped in Egypt.
Battle of Copenhagen Statistics?
2nd April 1801
British Commander - Hyde Parker.
British Strength - 12 Ships of the Line.
British Losses - 1’200 casualties.
3 Ships of the Line ran aground.
Danish Commander - Olfert Fischer.
Danish Strength - 9 Ships of the line, 1 land battery.
Danish Losses - 2 Ships of the Line Sunk, 1 Ship of the Line destroyed, 6 Ships of the Line captured, 1’600 casualties.
Battle of Copenhagen Depth?
- Parker had ordered Nelson not to attack the Danish lines but he pretended that he couldn’t see it and went against orders.
- Three British ships ran aground whilst trying to enter the main Danish canal.
- The British relied heavily upon stationary broadsides but faced heavy resistance due to hidden Danish batteries.
- British gunnery gave them the upperhand and soon most of the Danish ships began too damaged to continue firing, in turn a truce was signed after most of the fleet were sank or captured.
Battle of Trafalgar Statistics?
21st October 1805
British Commander - Nelson.
British Strength - 27 Ships of the Line, 2’148 guns, 17’000 men.
British Losses - 458 Killed, 1’208 wounded.
French/Spanish Commander - Villeneuve, Gravina.
Allied Strength - 33 Ships of the Line, 2’632 guns, 30’000 men.
Allied Losses - 4’395 killed, 2’541 wounded, 8’000 captured, 21 Ships of the Line Captured, 1 Ship of the Line Destroyed.
Battle of Trafalgar Depth?
- Nelson had been in pursuit of Villeneuve after he successfully evaded the British blockade of the Mediterranean, he chased them to the West Indies but narrowly missed them as they turned back towards Spain.
- Villeneuve after successfully evading Nelson tries to move towards the channel but is prevented by admiral Cornwallis in turn leading to him returning to Cadiz.
- Nelson returns to Britain briefly until he receives information informing him that the French had arrived at Cadiz, he then moves to join the fleet there.
- Nelson wanted to break naval orthodoxy by splitting the Franco - Spanish Line in three by sailing directly towards them, this would allow for raking as well as allowing for melee which the British crews performed better in.
- Wellington informed his commanders of his plan and ordered parts of his ships to be painted yellow and black to make them distinguishable.
- ” England expects every man will do his duty”.
- Nelson was in command of the Victory and Collingwood was in charge of the Royal Sovereign.
- The Royal Sovereign was the first ship to reach the line and successfully launched two huge broadsides on the surrounding ships.
- Wellington was hit at 1:30 but the battle continued as his officers were well versed in the plan, he died at 4:30.
- Only 11 Franco - Spanish ships made it to Cadiz and only about 5 were deemed seaworthy, they remained in Cadiz and were eventually confiscated by Spain when France invaded.
- The HMS pickle informed the British Government of the success against the Franco - Spanish fleet.
