Battle of Lagos (1693)

The battles naval of Lagos took place during the Guerre of the League of Augsburg, in 1693.

She opposes a fleet French, ordered by Tourville, with the anglo-Dutchwoman escort of an important convoy bound for the Raising and ordered by the admiral George Rooke.

Context

Each year, at the end of spring, a large convoy of trading vessels leaves England, with destination, inter alia, of Smyrna. from where its name of Convoy of Smyrna .

In 1693, the convoy gathers several hundreds of trading vessels, not only English, but also German, Danish, Dutch, Swedish.

Because of state of war, the convoy is escorted by the English navy, with the support of Dutch ships.

Tourville, remained on its failure of Hougue, conceives the idea to carry iron against the enemy trade and the convoy of Smyrna is a very indicated prey. It is envisaged to intercept it on the level of the Straits of Gibraltar.

Involved forces

French

Tourville has 72 vessels, with many small buildings (11 corvettes, 1 tartane, 3 cross bars) and 22 buildings of load.

The naval army, classically, is ordered in 3 squadrons. The avant-garde, ordered by Castle-Renault with Nesmond and Relingue, includes/understands 24 vessels and 8 Brûlot S. the body of battle, under the orders of Tourville, with the Villette-Mursay and Langeron, aligns 24 vessels and 9 scathing attacks. The rear-guard, under the orders of the lieutenant-general Drag net, with Amfreville and Panetié, includes/understands also 24 vessels and 8 scathing attacks.

Anglo-Dutch

The escort of the convoy, under the orders of Rooke and Van der Goes, aligns 21 vessels. 2 of them are of the 70 guns, the others going from 60 to 40 guns. The small buildings which follow are 8 smaller galiotes, scathing attacks and ships.

The combat

Preliminaries

Tourville leaves Brest on May 6th, 1693. June 4th, it is in the roads of Lagos. According to the " tricks of guerre" time, the French fleet raises English or Dutch houses. Visitors being received by English officers speaking.

The provision of the forces and plans envisaged

The convoy goes down along the coasts from Portugal. Its escort is in the west, on the side the broad one, from where the threat can come.

French waits until their scouts announce arivée of the convoy to install and to encircle it.

Unfolding of the combat

June 25th, Tourville is advised arrival of many sails. But the provided information is not very clear, as well on the localization as on the composition of the fleet discovered. It is not really known if it is of the convoy or the English fleet.

To avoid being surprised with damping, if the newcomers prove to be combat buildings and not the convoy, Tourville installs on June 26th.

The 27 it is with broad, under the wind of the convoy which is now recognized. It controls in the North-East to cut the road of the strait. The white and blue squadron, of Drag net, having to prohibit the escape with broad of the merchants.

Rooke is placed in line of file between French and the convoy, with which it orders to tighten the coast with nearest.

French captures 2 Dutch vessels, the Zeeland , 64 guns, and the Wapen-van-medemblik , 64, which tried to interpose. But French operates badly. instead of launching hunting, selected Drag net to put its squadron in line of battle. What takes time. The Villette-Mursay specifying that it loses also time for amariner one of the Dutch vessels of which it wanted to give the command to his son. Lastly, it does not force veils, preferring to remain under Hunier S to await the remainder of the fleet.

This makes it possible to the merchants to scatter. Rooke will be able to gain Madeira, with 54 ships of the convoy.

Following days

French will try to unearth the merchants, in particular on whom found refuge along the coast.

Thus Jean Bart, on the Glorious , burns 6 Dutch trading vessels; Langeron capture 14 merchants and 4 of the ships of the escort.

In all, nearly 90 trading vessels are captured or burned, avec4 vessels and a frigate.

Tourvile enters to the Mediterranean. July 21st, it is in front of Malaga, where it captures 4 merchants and the frigate. It carries on then its way to gain Toulon.

Consequences

The attack of the convoy will have a great repercussion, especially which it involves a financial disaster and a series of bankruptcies to London. The authors vary in their estimates which go from 1 to 30, even 60, million books.

However, the victory is only partial, because only part of the convoy was captured. According to the number of trading vessels counted at the beginning, the authors give quarter to the three-quarter of the convoy captured.

This business will encourage English to install a squadron in Cadiz.

Notes & references

Random links: