The Battle of the Saintes started on the 12th April 1782 and took place over 4 days in the West Indies between Dominica and Guadeloupe.
The Royal Navy, under the command of Sir George Rodney with 36 ships of the line defeated a French fleet of 33 ships under the command of the Comte De Grasse.
Summary:
De Grasse reversed his course to protect a dismasted ship that was being chased by four British ships as he made for Guadaloupe. The change of course and a sudden shift of wind left gaps in the French line and Rodney's flagship Formidable and several other ships, including the Duke and the Bedford, broke through, 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, led eventually to De Grasse's surrender and the retreat of many of his ships in disorder. Four French ships were captured and one, César, blew up after she was taken.
The British lost 243 killed, including 2 capytains, and 816 wounded. The French loss in killed and wounded has never been stated, but of captains alone, six were killed.. It is estimated that the French loss may have been as much as 8,000. A total of over 5,000 French soldiers and sailors were captured.
Novels based around this battle.
Ships Present
British Fleet - Van
Marlborough(74) Taylor Penny
Arrogant (74) Samuel Cornish
Alcide (74) Charles Thompson
Nonsuch (74) William Truscott
Conqueror (74) George Balfour
Princesse (70) Flag - Rear-Admiral Sir F. Samuel Drake, Cptn. - Charles Knatchbull
Prince George (98) James Williams
Torbay (74) John Gidoin
Anson (64) William Blair (Killed in Action)
Fame (74) Robert Barber
Russell (74) James Saumarez
British Fleet - Centre
America (64) Samuel Thompson
Hercules (74) Henry Savage
Prothée (64) Charles Buckner
Resolution (74) Lord Robert Manners
Agamemnon (64) Benjamin Caldwell
Duke (98) Alan Gardner
Formidable (98) Flag - Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney, Cptn. of the Fleet - Sir Charles Douglas, Cptn. - John Symonds
Namur (90) Charles Inglis
St Albans (64) William Cornwallis
Canada (74) Thomas Dumaresq
Repulse (64) N. Charrington
Ajax (74) Robert Fanshawe
Bedford (74) Flag - Commodore Thomas Graves, Cptn. - Sir Edmund Affleck
British Fleet - Rear
Prince William (64) George Wilkinson
Magnificent (74) Robert Linzee
Centaur (74) John Nicholson Inglefield
Belliqueux (64) Alexander Sutherland
Warrior (74) James Wallace
Monarch (74) Francis Reynolds
Barfleur (90) Flag - Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, Cptn. - John Knight
Valiant (74) G. S. Goodall
Yarmouth (64) A. Parry
Montagu (74) George Bowen
Alfred (74) W. Bayne
Royal Oak (74) Thomas Burnett
French Fleet - Blue (Third) Squadron
Hercule (74) Chadeau de la Clocheterie
Souverain (74) de Glandevez
Palmier (74) de Martelly-Chautard
Northumberland (74) de Saint Cézaire (Killed in Action)
Neptune (74) Renaud d'Aleins
Auguste (80) Flag - Rear-Admiral Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville, Cptn - Castellan
Arden (t64) de Gouzillon Captured
Scipion (74) de Chavel
Brave (74) d'Amblimont
Citoyen (74) d'Ethy
French Fleet - White (First) Squadron
Hector (74( de la Vicomte Captured
César (74) de Marigny Captured & burnt
Dauphin Royal (70) de Roquefeuil-Montperoux
Languedoc (80) d'Arros d'Argelos
Ville de Paris (104) Flag - Admiral François Joseph Paul, Marquis de Grasse Tilly, Comte de Grasse, Cptn. - Lavilleon de Vaugirauld Captured
Couronne (80) Mithon de Genouilly
Eveillé (64) le Gardeur de Tilly
Sceptre (74) de Vaudreuil
Glorieux (74) d'Escars Captured
French Fleet - Blue (Second) Squadron
Diadème (74) de Monteclerc
Destin (74) Dumaitz de Goimpy
Magnanime (74) le Begue
Refléchi (64) de Medine
Conquérant (74) de la Grandiere
Magnifique (74) Macarthy Macteigne
Triomphant (80) Flag - Vice-Admiral Louis-Philippe Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil, Cptn. du Pavillon
Bourgogne (74) de Charitte
Duc de Bourgogne (80) Coriolis d'Espinouse De Champ-martin
Marseillais (74) de Castellane Majastre
Pluton (74) d'Albert de Rions
French Fleet - Also Present
Richemond (frigate) Montemart
Plan of the Battle
