Naval Battle of Hyères Islands
Encyclopedia
The Naval Battle of Hyères Islands was fought on 13 July 1795 off the Hyères Islands
, a group of islands off the French Mediterranean coast, about 25 km east of Toulon
. The battle was fought between the van of a British fleet chasing the French squadron, and the French rear. The rear-most French ship, Alcide, surrendered before exploding.
at Cape Noli, and the capture of Ça Ira and Censeur
, the damaged French fleet retreated to the Hyères Islands.
The Victoire
, Timoléon
, and HMS Berwick
, as well as the frigates Alceste and Minerve
were dispatched to Toulon for repairs, leaving the squadron with only 11 ships of the line.
On 4 April 1795, a squadron of six seventy-fours supported by four frigates, under counter-admiral Renaudin
, arrived from Brest.
In May, a mutiny broke out in the Toulon squadron, while Renaudin's ships remained loyal. Renaudin moored his ships at the entrance of Toulon road to cover the harbour against a possible English attack. Meanwhile, Conventional Deputy Joseph Niou, formerly a naval engineer, restored order by setting the sailors against the English, and having them pledge to "wash their crimes in the blood of the enemies of the Republic".
On 7 June, the French fleet set sail.
made contact. By the evening, the French were in pursuit, and the next morning, Agamemnon signaled the British fleet by means of cannon fire. At 9:30, the 17-ship French squadron found the 22-ship Royal Navy squadron anchored in Fiorenzo bay, including six three-deckers.
Finding himself out-numbered and out-gunned, Martin attempted to avoid battle by escaping to Fréjus
bay, with the British giving chase. In the evening of the 12th, the British squadron received intelligence from two corvettes, HMS Flêche and HMS Cyclops, that the French were South of the Hyères Islands.
Contact was made again the next morning and the chase continued. The French squadron became becalmed and the rear guard was soon overtaken by the British van, comprising HMS Victory, HMS Culloden, and HMS Cumberland. Without assistance from the main body of the squadron, an artillery duel broke out, battering the rear-most French ship Alcide, damaging HMS Cullodens rigging, and almost de-masting HMS Victory. Despite the best efforts of her sister ships in the French line to protect her against overwhelming odds, Alcide struck her colours at 2:00pm. The frigates Justice and Alceste attempted to take her in tow to safety, but were repelled by gunfire from HMS Victory.
As the main body of the French squadron prepared to intervene to rescue Alcide, a fire broke out on her fore-top. She was consumed by an explosion half an hour later causing the loss of about 300 of her crew, while 300 survivors were rescued by the British squadron.
After the explosion of Alcide, the fighting died out, with the French retreating to Toulon and the British retreating to Leghorn, via San-Fiorenzo.
commanding
British ships
, 100 guns, Admiral William Hotham, Captain John Holloway
, 100 guns, Rear-Admiral Robert Man, Captain John Knight
, 98 guns, Vice-Admiral Samuel Goodall
, Captain John Purvis
, 98 guns, Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Captain Thomas Foley
, 98 guns, Vice-Admiral Robert Linzee
, Captain John Gore
, 90 guns, Captain John Bazely
, 80 guns, Captain John Pakenham
, 74 guns, Captain Samuel Reeve
, 74 guns, Captain William Young
, 74 guns, Captain Charles Chamberlayne
, 74 guns, Captain James Douglas
, 74 guns, Captain Bartholomew Rowley
, 74 guns, Captain George Campbell
, 74 guns, Captain Thomas Wells
, 74 guns, Captain John Sutton
, 74 guns, Captain Thomas Troubridge
, 74 guns, Captain Davidge Gould
, 74 guns, Captain Benjamin Hallowell
, 74 guns, Captain William Shield
, 64 guns, Commodore Horatio Nelson
, 64 guns, Captain Charles Tyler
, 32 guns, Captain George Cockburn
, 28 guns, Captain William Hotham
, 24 guns, Captain Robert Plampin
, 14 guns
, 20 guns
, 20 guns, Commander Thomas Boys
, 18 guns, Commander Charles Brisbane
, 12 guns
, cutter
Neapolitan Ships
Guiscardo, 74 guns
Sammbita, 74 guns
Îles d'Hyères
The Îles d'Hyères is a group of three islands off Hyères in the Var département, in the south-east of France. The three mediterranean islands are named Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Île du Levant. Together, they make up an area of .-See also:...
, a group of islands off the French Mediterranean coast, about 25 km east of Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
. The battle was fought between the van of a British fleet chasing the French squadron, and the French rear. The rear-most French ship, Alcide, surrendered before exploding.
Context
After the Battle of GenoaNaval Battle of Genoa (1795)
The Naval Battle of Genoa was fought on 14 March 1795 off the coast of Genoa, a port city in north-western Italy, between French warships under Rear-Admiral Pierre Martin and British and Neapolitan warships under Vice Admiral William Hotham...
at Cape Noli, and the capture of Ça Ira and Censeur
French ship Censeur (1782)
Censeur was a 74-gun Pégase-class ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1782. She served during the last months of the American War of Independence, and survived to see action in the French Revolutionary Wars. She was briefly captured by the British, but was retaken after a few months...
, the damaged French fleet retreated to the Hyères Islands.
The Victoire
French ship Languedoc (1766)
The Languedoc was a ship of the line of the French Navy and flagship of Admiral d'Estaing. She was offered to King Louis XV by the Languedoc, as part of a national effort to rebuild the navy after the Seven Years' War. She was designed by the naval architect Joseph Coulomb.In 1776, France decided...
, Timoléon
French ship Commerce de Bordeaux (1785)
The Commerce de Bordeaux was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Renamed Timoléon in February 1794, she took part in the Battle of the Nile under captain Louis-Léonce Trullet. In the confusion of the battle, her rudder was damaged by misdirected fire from the neighbouring...
, and HMS Berwick
HMS Berwick (1775)
HMS Berwick was a 74-gun Elizabeth-class third rate of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 18 April 1775, to a design by Sir Thomas Slade. She fought the French at the Battle of Ushant and the Dutch at the Battle of Dogger Bank...
, as well as the frigates Alceste and Minerve
French frigate Minerve (1794)
The Minerve was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy. She was captured twice by the British and recaptured once by the French. She therefore served under four names:*Minerve, 1794–1795*HMS Minerve, 1795–1803*Canonnière, 1803–1810...
were dispatched to Toulon for repairs, leaving the squadron with only 11 ships of the line.
On 4 April 1795, a squadron of six seventy-fours supported by four frigates, under counter-admiral Renaudin
Jean François Renaudin
Jean François Renaudin was a French admiral.He joined the Navy at 12 and rose in rank through a number of actions against the British....
, arrived from Brest.
In May, a mutiny broke out in the Toulon squadron, while Renaudin's ships remained loyal. Renaudin moored his ships at the entrance of Toulon road to cover the harbour against a possible English attack. Meanwhile, Conventional Deputy Joseph Niou, formerly a naval engineer, restored order by setting the sailors against the English, and having them pledge to "wash their crimes in the blood of the enemies of the Republic".
On 7 June, the French fleet set sail.
Battle
In the afternoon of the 7th of June, HMS AgamemnonHMS Agamemnon (1781)
HMS Agamemnon was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She saw service in the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and fought in many of the major naval battles of those conflicts...
made contact. By the evening, the French were in pursuit, and the next morning, Agamemnon signaled the British fleet by means of cannon fire. At 9:30, the 17-ship French squadron found the 22-ship Royal Navy squadron anchored in Fiorenzo bay, including six three-deckers.
Finding himself out-numbered and out-gunned, Martin attempted to avoid battle by escaping to Fréjus
Fréjus
Fréjus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one town...
bay, with the British giving chase. In the evening of the 12th, the British squadron received intelligence from two corvettes, HMS Flêche and HMS Cyclops, that the French were South of the Hyères Islands.
Contact was made again the next morning and the chase continued. The French squadron became becalmed and the rear guard was soon overtaken by the British van, comprising HMS Victory, HMS Culloden, and HMS Cumberland. Without assistance from the main body of the squadron, an artillery duel broke out, battering the rear-most French ship Alcide, damaging HMS Cullodens rigging, and almost de-masting HMS Victory. Despite the best efforts of her sister ships in the French line to protect her against overwhelming odds, Alcide struck her colours at 2:00pm. The frigates Justice and Alceste attempted to take her in tow to safety, but were repelled by gunfire from HMS Victory.
As the main body of the French squadron prepared to intervene to rescue Alcide, a fire broke out on her fore-top. She was consumed by an explosion half an hour later causing the loss of about 300 of her crew, while 300 survivors were rescued by the British squadron.
After the explosion of Alcide, the fighting died out, with the French retreating to Toulon and the British retreating to Leghorn, via San-Fiorenzo.
Orders of battle
| Admiral Martin' squadron | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship | Guns | Commander | Notes | |||||||
| Orient French ship Orient (1791) The Dauphin-Royal was an Océan class 118-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.During the French Revolution, she was renamed Sans-Culotte in September 1792, and eventually Orient in May 1795.... |
120 | Vice-Amiral Pierre Martin Capitaine de vaisseau Lapalisse |
||||||||
| Tonnant | 80 | Contre-amiral Jean-Louis Delmotte Capitaine de vaisseau Julien Cosmao Julien Cosmao Julien Marie Cosmao-Kerjulien was a French Navy officer, admiral, and hero of the Battle of Trafalgar.- Early career :... |
||||||||
| Victoire French ship Languedoc (1766) The Languedoc was a ship of the line of the French Navy and flagship of Admiral d'Estaing. She was offered to King Louis XV by the Languedoc, as part of a national effort to rebuild the navy after the Seven Years' War. She was designed by the naval architect Joseph Coulomb.In 1776, France decided... |
80 | Capitaine de vaisseau Savary | ||||||||
| Généreux French ship Généreux (1785) The Généreux was a French Téméraire class ship of the line.She was launched in 1785 at Rochefort. With the Guillaume Tell, she was one of only two ships to escape the British attack at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798.... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Louit | ||||||||
| Heureux French ship Heureux (1783) The Heureux was a Centaure class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She cruised in the Mediterranean in 1794 and 1795.Under Captain Jean-Pierre Etienne, she took part in the Expedition to Egypt, and in the Battle of the Nile. The first ship to spot the British fleet on 1 August, Heureux... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau La Caille | ||||||||
| Barra HMS Donegal (1798) The Barra was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She was renamed Pégase in 1795, and Hoche in 1797. She was captured by the British on 12 October 1798 and recommissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Donegal.... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Maureau | ||||||||
| Guerrier French ship Guerrier (1754) The Guerrier was a Magnifique class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the Battle of Minorca and in the Battle of Lagos... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Louis-Antoine Infernet | returned to harbour | |||||||
| Mercure French ship Mercure (1783) The Mercure was a 74-gun Séduisant-class ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the Battle of the Nile under Captain Cambon. She fought against HMS Majestic and was captured by HMS Alexander. Damaged beyond repair and aground, she was burnt.-See also:*List of ships captured in the... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Lindet-Lalonde | returned to harbour | |||||||
| Alcide French ship Alcide (1782) The Alcide was a 74-gun Pégase class ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1782.In 1782, she took part in the American war of Independence in De Grasse's fleet.... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Leblond-Saint-Hilaire | Burnt with the loss of 300 men | |||||||
| Timoléon French ship Commerce de Bordeaux (1785) The Commerce de Bordeaux was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Renamed Timoléon in February 1794, she took part in the Battle of the Nile under captain Louis-Léonce Trullet. In the confusion of the battle, her rudder was damaged by misdirected fire from the neighbouring... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Charbonnier | ||||||||
| Duquesne French ship Duquesne (1787) The Duquesne was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.It directed in 1793, under captain Vence, an important convoy of Levant then escaped the hostile monitoring from a squadron Anglo-Spanish.... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Lallemand | ||||||||
| Peuple Souverain French ship Souverain (1757) The Souverain was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.She took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake, in 1781. In 1792, she was renamed Peuple Souverain .... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Lindet-Lalonde | ||||||||
| Berwick HMS Berwick (1775) HMS Berwick was a 74-gun Elizabeth-class third rate of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 18 April 1775, to a design by Sir Thomas Slade. She fought the French at the Battle of Ushant and the Dutch at the Battle of Dogger Bank... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley Vice-Admiral Count Pierre-Etienne-René-Marie Dumanoir Le Pelley was a French Navy officer, best known for commanding the vanguard of the French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.- Early career :... |
||||||||
| Junon French frigate Junon (1778) The Junon was a 32-gun Charmante class frigate of the French NavyShe took part in the Battle of Ushant under Admiral d'Orvilliers. She captured HMS Fox on 11 September 1778.... |
32 | Amand-le-Duc | ||||||||
| Friponne | Villeneuve | |||||||||
| Minerve French frigate Minerve (1794) The Minerve was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy. She was captured twice by the British and recaptured once by the French. She therefore served under four names:*Minerve, 1794–1795*HMS Minerve, 1795–1803*Canonnière, 1803–1810... |
40 | Delorme | ||||||||
| Artémise French frigate Artémise (1794) The Artémise was a Magicienne class frigate of the French Navy.She was under construction as Aurore in Toulon when the British seized the city... |
32 | Décasse | ||||||||
| Alceste | Hubert | |||||||||
| Sérieuse French frigate Sérieuse (1779) The Sérieuse was a Magicienne class frigate of the French Navy.In 1781, she ferried soldiers after the Invasion of Minorca.She was at Toulon when the British captured the city... |
32 | Saulnier | ||||||||
| Brune | Nieuport | |||||||||
| Badine | Trulet | |||||||||
| Alerte | Le Mèle | |||||||||
| Hasard | Dumay | |||||||||
| Scot | Dumeny | |||||||||
| Source: Granier, p. 108 | ||||||||||
| Admiral Renaudin' squadron | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship | Guns | Commander | Notes | |||||||
| Jemmapes French ship Jemmapes (1794) The Jemmapes was a Téméraire-class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Laid down as Alexandre, she was renamed Jemmapes on 7 January 1793 in honour of the Battle of Jemappes. She took part in the Atlantic campaign of May 1794 and ultimately in the Glorious First of June... |
74 | Contre-amiral Jean François Renaudin Jean François Renaudin Jean François Renaudin was a French admiral.He joined the Navy at 12 and rose in rank through a number of actions against the British.... Capitaine de vaisseau Lafon |
||||||||
| Tyrannicide French ship Tyrannicide (1793) Tyrannicide was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.In 1794, under Alain Joseph Dordelin, she took part in the Glorious First of June... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Alain-Joseph Dordelin | ||||||||
| Jupiter French ship Jupiter (1789) The Jupiter was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Between 1791 and 1793, she was based in Saint-Domingue. In March 1794, she was renamed Montagnard... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Richery | ||||||||
| Révolution French ship Thésée (1790) The Thésée was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. As Révolution, she took part in the Expédition d'Irlande under Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley.- External links :*... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Faye | ||||||||
| Aquilon French ship Aquilon (1789) The Aquilon was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She served off Italy under Brueys, and took part in the Battle of the Nile, where she fought HMS Vanguard, HMS Minotaur and HMS Theseus. She was captured and recommissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Aboukir.- External links... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Laterre | ||||||||
| Républicain French ship Mont-Blanc (1791) Mont-Blanc was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the French Navy.She was built at Rochefort as Pyrrhus in 1791. She was renamed Mont-Blanc in 1793 before being renamed Trente-et-un Mai in 1794. Under that name she fought at the Battle of the First of June in June 1794 under Honoré Joseph... |
74 | Capitaine de vaisseau Gantheaume Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume Count Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume was a French admiral.Ganteaume was born to a family of merchant sailors, and sailed on a dozen commercial cruises in his youth... |
||||||||
| Justice French frigate Justice (1794) The Justice was a Virginie class frigate of the French Navy, originally built and completed as Courageuse in 1794, but renamed Justice in April 1795.... |
40 | Dalbarade | ||||||||
| Alceste | 36 | |||||||||
| Embuscade French frigate Embuscade (1790) -French service:In 1792, she escorted convoys to and from Martinique, and ferried Edmond-Charles Genêt to the USA. On 31 July 1793, she encountered and fought Boston at the Action of 31 July 1793.... |
32 | Emeriau Maxime Julien Émeriau de Beauverger Maxime Julien Émeriau de Beauverger was a French Navy officer and admiral.- American War of Independence :... |
||||||||
| Félicité French frigate Félicité (1785) The Félicité was a 32-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. Captured by the British Navy and sold to the State of Haiti, she entered Haitian service as Améthyste.-French service:In 1792, she traveled to the Caribbean Sea... |
32 | |||||||||
| Source: Granier, p. 108 | ||||||||||
British-Neapolitan Fleet
Vice Admiral HothamWilliam Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham
Admiral William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham was an officer in the Royal Navy. He was the son of Sir Beaumont Hotham , a lineal descendant of Sir John Hotham....
commanding
British ships
, 100 guns, Admiral William Hotham, Captain John Holloway
, 100 guns, Rear-Admiral Robert Man, Captain John Knight
John Knight (Royal Navy officer)
Sir John Knight, KCB was a senior British Royal Navy officer during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries most noted for his activities as a post captain during the American and French Revolutionary Wars...
, 98 guns, Vice-Admiral Samuel Goodall
Samuel Goodall
Samuel Granston Goodall was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars in a career that spanned 50 years, rising to the rank of Admiral of the White.Goodall rose from obscure origins to the rank of...
, Captain John Purvis
, 98 guns, Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Captain Thomas Foley
, 98 guns, Vice-Admiral Robert Linzee
Robert Linzee
Robert Linzee was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary War, and the Napoleonic War....
, Captain John Gore
John Gore (Royal Navy officer)
Admiral Sir John Gore, KCB was a British naval commander of the 18th and 19th centuries...
, 90 guns, Captain John Bazely
, 80 guns, Captain John Pakenham
, 74 guns, Captain Samuel Reeve
, 74 guns, Captain William Young
William Young (1751–1821)
Sir William Young GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
, 74 guns, Captain Charles Chamberlayne
, 74 guns, Captain James Douglas
, 74 guns, Captain Bartholomew Rowley
, 74 guns, Captain George Campbell
, 74 guns, Captain Thomas Wells
, 74 guns, Captain John Sutton
, 74 guns, Captain Thomas Troubridge
Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet was a British naval commander and politician.Troubridge was educated at St Paul's School, London. He entered the Royal Navy in 1773 and, together with Nelson, served in the East Indies in the frigate Seahorse. In 1785 he returned to England in the Sultan as...
, 74 guns, Captain Davidge Gould
Davidge Gould
Sir Davidge Gould GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral...
, 74 guns, Captain Benjamin Hallowell
Benjamin Hallowell Carew
Admiral Sir Benjamin Hallowell Carew GCB, was a senior officer in the Royal Navy...
, 74 guns, Captain William Shield
, 64 guns, Commodore Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
, 64 guns, Captain Charles Tyler
Charles Tyler
Admiral Sir Charles Tyler, GCB was a British admiral who gained fame during the Napoleonic Wars as one of the Nelsonic Band of Brothers and a naval officer of great reputation and success who fought at the battles of Copenhagen and Trafalgar.-Early life:Tyler was born in 1760, the son of Captain...
, 32 guns, Captain George Cockburn
George Cockburn
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB was a British naval commander of the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries. He held important commands during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and eventually rose to become Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord.-Naval...
, 28 guns, Captain William Hotham
, 24 guns, Captain Robert Plampin
Robert Plampin
Vice-Admiral Robert Plampin was a British Royal Navy officer during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, serving in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, but best known for his time as commander of the British colony of Saint Helena...
, 14 guns
, 20 guns
, 20 guns, Commander Thomas Boys
, 18 guns, Commander Charles Brisbane
Charles Brisbane
Sir Charles Brisbane KCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence, and with distinction under Lords Hood and Nelson....
, 12 guns
, cutter
Neapolitan Ships
Guiscardo, 74 guns
Sammbita, 74 guns