Battle of Hougue
The Bataille of Hougue is the decisive naval battle during the Guerre Last nine Year old. She opposed in 1692 the fleet anglo-Dutchwoman to the French fleet of the vice-admiral of Tourville, with broad of the point of Cotentin. She was a disaster for the marine Frenchwoman.
To help his/her cousin, the catholic Jacques II of England, to find its throne, Louis XIV proposes to him a fleet and men put under the authority of Tourville. The loading is envisaged in Cotentin with 20.000 men and 44 vessels to unload close to the Île of Portland cement.
After the victory of Sir Drake over the Invincible Armada in 1588, this new victory of the Royal Navy confirmed the naval supremacy of the England. It will last until the Second world war.
Battle of Barfleur
The May 29th 1692, the fleet of Tourville moves towards Hougue, to embark the army of Jacques II. But one announces the fleet anglo-Dutchwoman with broad of Barfleur. Tourville thus decides to attack, with 44 vessels against 99, the enemy fleet in full center, during close 12 hours. The battle is undecided, however the French fleet gives up projected forwarding and tries to be put at the shelter. This one is forced with the escape benefitting from the night and the fog.The French did not lose any vessel. On the other hand the English deplore the death of the rear-admiral Carter and the loss of two ships.
Battle of Hougue
For lack of fortification on the coast Norman, Tourville envisages to join Brest or Saint-Malo. A majority of the ships (that is to say 27 ships) manages to cross the Cape of La Hague, but thirteen cannot cross currents of the Raz Blanchard. They are then constrained to return towards the enemy while taking refuge in bay of Hougue.June 1st, three ships strongly touched during the Battle of Barfleur whose Royal Sun flagship, is failed broad of Cherbourg: the Triumphing close to the mouth over Divette, Admirable the over Mielles, and the royal Sun with the point of Hommet. The artillery of the fortifications of the city holds for some time the remote enemy. The powder stock of the Royal Sun and the Triumphing , while blazing up, explodes and projections cause large property damages and human in the city.
The 2 and June 3rd, the English, embarked on launches, set fire to one after the other the ships in roads of Hougue. Jacques II looks on the heights of Quinéville, this spectacle which means the end of its ambitions. Louis XIV does not hold rigor in Tourville that it names Marshal of France in 1694.
This severe defeat reveals the need for consolidating the defense of bay, with two similar turns, one on the fort of Hougue and the other on Tatihou. It also bitterly reveals the error made by the adversaries of Vauban, which convinced the King to stop work of the wearing of Cherbourg and to even destroy its fortifications.
Wrecks of Hougue
During a few decades, the vestiges of the fleet of Tourville were used of damping for the sailors and wood resources. Forgotten little by little, the wrecks are redécouvertes in 1985, giving place to the important archaeological research, presented partly to the maritime museum of Tatihou.
Internal bonds
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