Historic Naval Fiction The Home of Naval Fiction Set in the Age of Sail

Battle of Copenhagen

The Battle of Copenhagen took pace on 2nd April 1801 anchored of Copenhagen.

The Royal Navy, under the command of Sir Horatio Nelson (overall command Sir Hyde Parker) defeated the Danish defenders under Olfert Fischer and Steen Bille. 

Summary:

The League of Armed Neutrality comprising Scandinavia, Prussia, and Russia, to enforce free trade with France, was seen by Britain as a threat to the supply of timber and naval stores from Scandinavia.

A fleet was sent which needed to act before the Baltic Sea thawed and released the Russian fleet. Parker was ordered to detach Denmark from the League by 'amicable arrangement or by actual hostilities'. On 30 March they passed through the narrows.

The Danish fleet was moored along the shore with old ships (hulks), no longer fit for service at sea, but still powerfully armed, as a line of floating batteries off the eastern coast of the island of Amager, in front of the city in the King's Channel. The northern end of the line terminated at the Tre Kroner forts armed with 68 guns. Batteries covered the water between the Danish line and the shore, and further out to sea a large shoal, the Middle Ground, constricted the channel. The British spent most of the night of 31 March taking soundings in the channel up to the Danish line.

Parker gave Nelson the shallower draft ships whilst he remained to the north-east screening Nelson from external interference. The British ships anchored by the stern about a cable (240 yards) from the Danes and they exchanged broadsides until a ship ceased firing. Thinking that Nelson might be being fought to a stand-still but unable to retreat without orders Parker signalled to discontinue the action but upon receiving it Nelson made his famous comment "You know, Foley, I only have one eye - I have the right to be blind sometimes," and holding his telescope to his blind eye "I really do not see the signal!".

Eventually the superior gunnery of the British started to silence the Danish ships. The cessation of firing left the way open for the British bomb vessels to approach Copenhagen. Several Danish ships fired on British boats sent out to them after their officers had signalled their surrender and Nelson said that he 'must either send on shore and stop this irregular proceeding, or send in our fire ships and burn them'. He sent a note under a flag of truce to the Dano-Norwegian regent, Crown Prince Frederik. After a further exchange of notes a twenty-four hour ceasefire was agreed.

The Danish-Norwegian loses were estimated between 1,135 to 2,215 captured, killed or wounded. British casualties were 264 killed and 689 wounded. Eleven Danish prizes were burnt and Holsteen returned to England with the wounded.

Novels based around this battle.

	Ships	Guns	Captain	Ships fate
British Fleet - Nelson's Squadron
	Polyphemus	64	John Lawford
	Isis	50	James Walker
	Edgar	74	George Murray
	Ardent	64	Thomas Bertie
	Glatton	56	William Bligh
	Elephant	74	Flag - Vice Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson Cptn. - Thomas Foley
	Ganges	74	Thomas Francis Fremantle
	Monarch	74	James Robert Mosse
	Defiance	74	Flag - Rear-Admiral Thomas Graves Cptn. - Richard Retalick
	Russell	74	William Cuming
	Bellona	74	Thomas Boulden Thompson
	Agamemnon	64	Robert Devereux Fancourt
	Désirée	36	Henry Inman
	Amazon	38	Edward Riou (Killed in Action)
	Blanche	36	Graham Eden Hamond
	Alcmène	32	Samuel Sutton
	Jamaica	24	Jonas Rose
	Arrow	28	William Bolton
	Dart	28	John Ferris Devonshire
	Cruizer	18	Cdr. James Brisbane
	Harpy	18	Cdr. William Birchall
	Discovery	Bomb	Cdr. John Conn
	Explosion	Bomb	Cdr. John Henry Martin
	Hecla	Bomb	Cdr. Richard Hatherhill
	Sulphur	Bomb	Cdr. Hender Whitter
	Terror	Bomb	Cdr. Samuel Campbell Rowley
	Volcano	Bomb	Cdr. James Watson
	Zebra	Bomb	Cdr. Edward Sneyd Clay
	Otter	Fireship	Cdr. George M'Kinley
	Zephyr	Fireship	Cdr. Clotworthy Upton
Danish Fleet - King's Deep Division (North to South)
	Prøvesteenen	60	Cptn. L. F. Lassen	Captured
	Wagrien	50	Cptn. F.C. Risbrich	Captured
	Rendsborg	20	Lt. C.T.Egede	Captured
	Nyborg	20	Lt. C.A. Rothe	Sunk
	Jylland	50	Cptn. E.O.Branth	Captured
	Sværdfisken	20	Lt. S.S. Sommerfeldt
	Kronborg	22	Lt. J.E. Hauch	Captured
	Hajen	20	Lt. J.N. Müller
	Dannebrog	60	Flag - Cptn. Olfert Fischer Cptn. - F.A. Bruun	Caught fire & blew up
	Elven	10	Lt. H. Holsten
	Grenier's float	20	(floating battery)
	Aggershus	20	Lt. T. Fassing	Sunk
	Siælland	74	Cptn. F.C.L. Harboe
	Charlotte Amalia	26	Cptn. H.H. Kofoed	Captured
	Søehesten	18	Lt. B.U. Middelboe
	Holsteen	60	Cptn. J. Arenfelt	Captured
	Indfødsretten	64	A. de Turah
	Hjelperen	16	Lt. P.C. Lilienskiold	Withdrew
Danish - Fortifications
	Sea battery TreKroner	68
	Sea Battery Lynetten
	Land battery Sixtus
	Land battery Quintus
	Fortress Kastellet
British Fleet - Also Present - Parker's Reserve Squadron
	London	98	Flag - Admiral Sir Hyde Parker Cptn. of the Fleet - William Domett  Cptn. - Robert Walker Otway
	St George	98	Thomas Masterman Hardy
	Defence	74	Henry Paulet
	Ramillies	74	James William Taylor Dixon
	Saturn	74	Robert Lambert
	Warrior	74	Charles Tyler
	Raisonnable	64	John Dilkes
	Veteran	64	Archibald Collingwood Dickson
Danish Fleet - Also Present - Inner Run Division
	Elephanten	70
	Mars	74
	Sarpen	18
	Nidelven	18
	Danmark	74
	Trekroner	74	(not to be confused with Tre Kroner fortress)
Danish Fleet - Also Present - Inner Harbour Division (Flag - Cptn. Stein Bille)
	Iris	40
	Aalborg		x
	Arendel		x
	Christiansund		x
	Flensborg		x
	Langesund		x
	Naskau
	Nykøbing		x
	Odense		x
	Stavaern
	Stege
	Viborg

Battle of Camperdown

The Battle of the Camperdown (Kamperduin) took place on the 11th October 1797 off the Dutch coast.

The Royal Navy, under the command of Admiral Adam Duncan with 24 ships defeated a Dutch fleet of 25 ships under the command of Admiral Jan Willem de Winter.

Summary:

The British attacked in two columns with Duncan leading one line in Venerable and Vice-Admiral Richard Onslow leading the other in Monarch. The British attacked quickly to prevent the Dutch ships from reaching the protection of shallow waters near the coast. Venerable broke through the Dutch line and engaged de Winter's flagship, Vrijheid and several other British ships broke through as well. After a close action several Dutch ships managed to flee east; 11 were captured including the flagship, Vrijheid, but the British ships were too damaged to pursue.

British casualties were 220 killed and 812 wounded; Dutch casualties were 540 killed and 620 wounded. Admiral de Winter, taken prisoner when his flagship, dismasted and with over half her crew killed or wounded, struck attempted to hand his sword to Duncan who refused and shook his hand instead.

Novels based around this battle.

	Ships	Guns	Captain	Ships fate
British Fleet - Windward Division
	Triumph	74	William Essington
	Venerable	74	Flag - Admiral Adam Duncan Cptn. - William Fairfax
	Ardent	64	Richard Burges (Killed in Action)
	Bedford	74	Thomas Byard
	Lancaster	64	John Wells
	Belliqueux	64	John Inglis
	Adamant	50	William Hotham
	Isis	50	William Mitchell
	Circe	28	Peter Halkett
British Fleet - Leeward Division
	Russell	74	Henry Trollope
	Director	64	William Bligh
	Montagu	74	John Knight
	Veteran	64	George Gregory
	Monarch	74	Flag - Vice-Admiral Richard Onslow Cptn. - Edward O'Brien
	Powerful	74	William Drury
	Monmouth	64	James Walker
	Agincourt	64	John Williamson
	Beaulieu	40	Francis Fayerman
Dutch Fleet - Line of Battle
	Gelijkheid	68	Cdr. H. A. Ruijsch	Captured
	Beschermer	56	Cptn. Hinxt (Killed in Action)
	Hercules	64	Cdr. Rijsoort	Caught fire & captured
	Tjerk Hiddes De Vries	68	Cptn. J. B. Zegers	Captured
	Vrijheid	74	Flag - Admiral Jan Willem de Winter Cdr. - L. W. van Rossum (Killed in Action)	Captured
	Staten-Generaal	74	Flag - Rear-Admiral Samuel Story Cptn. - ?
	Wassenaar	64	Cdr. A. Holland (Killed in Action)	Captured
	Batavier	56	Cdr. Souter
	Brutus	74	Flag - Rear-Admiral Bloys van Treslong Commodore Polders
	Leijden	68	Cdr. J. D. Musquetier
	Mars	44	Cdr. J. H. Kloff
	Cerberus	68	Cdr. Jacobsen
	Jupiter	72	Flag - Vice-Admiral Reyntjes Cptn. - ?	Captured
	Haarlem	68	Cptn. O. Wiggerts	Captured
	Alkmaar	56	Cptn. J. W. Krafft	Captured
	Delft	54	Cptn. G. Verdooren	Captured. Sank on 14th
British Fleet - Also Present
	Martin	16	Cdr. Charles Paget
	Active	12	Lt. J. Hamilton
	Diligent	12	Lt. T. Dawson
	King George	12	Lt. James Rains
	Rose	10	Lt. Joseph Brodie
	Speculator	8	Lt. H. Hales
Dutch Fleet - Frigate Line
	Atalante	18	Cdr. B. Pletsz
	Heldin	32	Cdr. Dumenil de Lestrille
	Galathée	18	Cdr. Riverij	Captured
	Minerva	24	Cdr. Eijlbrecht
	Ajax	18	Lt. Arkenbout
	Waakzaamheid	24	Cdr. Meindert Van Mierop
	Ambuscade	36	Cdr. J. Huijs	Captured, aground and recaptured later
	Daphne	18	Lt. Frederiks
	Monnikendam	44	Cdr. Thomas Lancester	Captured & wrecked
	Haasje	6	Lt. Hartingveld

p>

Glorious First of June

The Glorious First of June, the first fleet action of the Revolutionary War, took place over 3 days in 1794 400 nautical miles (740 km) west of Ushant in the Atlantic Ocean.

The British fleet, under the command of Lord Howe with 25 ships of the line defeated a French fleet of 26 ships under the command of Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse which was protecting a vitally important grain convoy from the United States

Summary:

The two fleets first sighted each other on 28 May when a squadron of the fastest British ships cut off the rearmost French  vessel Révolutionnaire which was engaged with HMS Audacious as darkness fell. They parted during the night and returned to their respective home ports.

Next day Howe's attempt to split the French fleet in half failed when the lead ship, HMS Caesar, failed to turn when ordered, although both fleets suffered damage in the inconclusive action that followed. Three French ships were sent back to port with damage, but the next day a detached squadron under Admral Nielly joined. The fleets did not engage the next two days because of thick fog. They met again 1 June 1794. Howe ordered each of his ships to turn individually towards the French line, intending to breach it at every point and rake the French ships at both bow and stern however many captains could not break through due to the good order of the French line. This meant that those ships which did break through met the combined fire of many ships and were badly damaged. HMS Defence was the first to break the French line. Within an hour the British and French lines were hopelessly confused, with three separate engagements being fought within sight of one another. Eventually 11 French ships under Villaret in Montagne broke away and formed a new line leaving badly damaged ships of both sides drifting between the two fleets.

After a further brief engagement the two fleets seperated and the French withdrew taking several dismasted ships with them. This led to subsequent condemnation of the British for not capturing more ships although they were badly damaged and the French would most probably have opposed the attempt. Most sources accept that French casualties in the campaign numbered approximately 7,000, including around 3,000 captured, but these figures are vague and frequently do not agree with each other on details. British casualties are easier to confirm but here too there are some discrepancies; overall British casualties are generally given as around 1,200. Whilst the British won the battle, tactically they lost as the grain convoy arrived safely.

Novels based around this battle.

	Ships	Guns	Captain	Ships fate
British Fleet (1st June)
	Caesar	80	Anthony Molloy
	Bellerophon	74	Flag - Rear-Admiral Thomas Pasley  Cptn. - William Johnstone Hope	Extensive damage to masts and rigging
	Leviathan	74	Lord Hugh Seymour
	Russell	74	John Willett Payne
	Royal Sovereign	100	Flag - Vice-Admiral Thomas Graves Cptn. - Henry Nicholls	Damage to masts and rigging
	Marlborough	74	George Cranfield-Berkeley	Totally dismasted
	Defence	74	James Gambier	Totally dismasted
	Impregnable	98	Flag - Rear-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell Cptn. - George B. Westcott	Damage to masts and rigging
	Tremendous	74	James Pigott
	Barfleur	98	Flag - Rear-Admiral George Bowyer Cptn. - Cuthbert Collingwood
	Invincible	74	Thomas Pakenham
	Culloden	74	Isaac Schomberg
	Gibraltar	80	Thomas Mackenzie
	Queen Charlotte	100	Flag - Admiral Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe Cptn. of the Fleet - Sir Roger Curtis Cptn. - Sir Andrew Snape Douglas	Extensive damage to masts and rigging
	Brunswick	74	John Harvey (Mortally wounded) Lt. William Edward Cracraft (Acting)	Lost mizenmast Extensive damage to other masts and rigging
	Valiant	74	Thomas Pringle
	Orion	74	John Thomas Duckworth	Minor damage to masts and rigging
	Queen	98	Flag - Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner Cptn. - John Hutt (Mortally wounded)	Lost mainmast Damage to other masts and rigging
	Ramillies	74	Henry Harvey
	Alfred	74	John Bazeley
	Montagu	74	James Montagu (Killed in Action)
	Royal George	100	Flag - Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Hood Cptn. - William Domett
	Majestic	74	Charles Cotton
	Glory	98	John Elphinstone
	Thunderer	74	Albemarle Bertie
French Fleet (1st June)
	Trajan	74	Dumoutier
	Éole	74	Bertrand Keranguin
	America	74	Louis L'Héritier	Captured
	Téméraire	74	Morel
	Terrible	110	Flag - Rear-Admiral François-Joseph Bouvet  Cptn. - Pierre-Jacques Longer	Lost main and mizen masts
	Impétueux	74	Douville (Killed in Action)	Captured
	Mucius	74	Larrégny	Totally dismasted
	Tourville	74	Langlois
	Gasparin	74	Tardy
	Convention	74	Joseph-Allary
	Trente-et-un-Mai	74	Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume	Extensive damage to masts and rigging
	Tyrannicide	74	Alain-joseph Dordelin	Extensive damage to masts and rigging
	Juste	80	Blavet	Captured
	Montagne	120	Flag - Rear-Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse Flag Cptn. - Paul Basire (Killed in Action) Cptn. - Jean-François Vignot
	Jacobin	80	Jean André Gassin
	Achille	74	Guillaume-Jean-Nöel La Villegris	Captured
	Vengeur du Peuple	74	Jean François Renaudin	Captured and sunk
	Patriote	74	Lucadou
	Northumberland	74	François-Pierre Etienne	Captured
	Entreprenant	74	LeFrancq
	Jemmappes	74	Desmartis	Totally dismasted
	Neptune	74	Tiphane
	Pelletier	74	Berrade
	Républicain	110	Flag - Rear-Admiral Joseph-Marie Nielly Cptn. - Pierre-Mandé Lebeau	Totally dismasted
	Sans Pareil	80	Jean-François Courand	Captured
	Scipion	80	Huguet	Totally dismasted
British Fleet - Also Present
	Latona	38	Edward Thornbrough
	Phaeton	38	William Bentinck
	Aquilon	36	Robert Stopford
	Niger	36	Captain Arthur Kaye Legge
	Southampton	36	Robert Forbes
	Venus	36	William Brown
	Pegasus	28	Robert Barlow
	Kingfisher	18	Thomas Le Marchant Gosseyln
	Ranger	16	Lt. Charles Cotgrave
	Rattler	16	Lt. John Winne
	Comet	14	Cdr. William Bradley	Fireship
	Incendiary	14	Cdr. John Cooke	Fireship
	Charon		George Countess	Hospital ship
French Fleet - Also Present
	Tamise	32	Jean-Marthe-Adrien L'Hermite
	The French fleet was accompanied by approximately 16 frigates, corvettes, brigs and cutters.

Battle of Trafalgar

The Battle of Trafalgar took place on the 21st October 1805 off the coast of Spain.

The Royal Navy, under the command of Vice-Admiral the Lord Nelson (who died in the action) with 27 ships of the line defeated a combined Franco-Spanish fleet of 33 ships under the command of Vice-Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve.

Summary:

The Britsh fleet was divided into two lines under Nelson and Collingwood which, after suffering a raking fire during their approach, cut through the Franco/Spanish line to cut off and overwhelm the centre and rear before the van could turn in support. After a fierce engagement this tactic proved succesful with many French and Spanish ships taken.

A storm that blew up at the end of the battle which resulted in the loss of many of the captured ships.

Novels based around this battle.

	Ships	Guns	Captain	Ships fate
	British Fleet - Weather Column
	Victory	100	Flag - Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson (Killed in Action) Cptn. - Thomas Masterman Hardy
	Temeraire	98	Eliab Harvey
	Neptune	98	Thomas Francis Fremantle
	Leviathan	74	Henry William Bayntun
	Conqueror	74	Israel Pellew
	Brittania	100	Flag - Rear Admiral the Earl of Northesk Cptn. - Charles Bullen
	Agamemnon	64	Sir Edward Berry
	Ajax	74	Lt. John Pilford (acting captain)
	Orion	74	Edward Codrington
	Minotaur	74	Charles John Moore Mansfield
	Spartiate	74	Sir Francis Laforey
	British Fleet - Lee Column
	Royal Sovereign	100	Flag - Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood Cptn. - Edward Rotheram
	Belleisle	74	William Hargood
	Mars	74	George Duff (Killed in Action) Lt. William Hennah (Acting)
	Tonnant	80	Charles Tyler
	Bellerophon	74	John Cooke (Killed in Action) Lt. William Pryce Cumby (Acting)
	Collosus	74	James Nicoll Morris
	Achille	74	Richard King
	Revenge	74	Robert Moorsom
	Polyphemus	64	Robert Redmill
	Swiftsure	74	William Gordon Rutherfurd
	Dreadnought	98	John Conn
	Defiance	74	Philip Charles Durham
	Thunderer	74	Lt. John Stockham (acting captain)
	Defence	74	George Hope
	Prince	98	Richard Grindall
	British Fleet - Isolated attacking head of Franco-Spanish Fleet
	Africa	64	Henry Digby
	Franco-Spanish Fleet
	Neptuno	80	Don H Cayetano Valdés y Flores	Captured. Recaptured & foundered 23 Oct.
	Scipion	74	Charles Bellanger	(Eventually captured 4 Nov.)
	Rayo	100	Don Enrique MacDonnell	(Eventually captured & foundered 23 Oct.)
	Formidable	80	Flag - Rear-Admiral Pierre-Etienne-René-Marie Dumanoir Le Pelley Cptn. - Jean-Marie Lettelier	(Eventually captured 4 Nov)
	Duguay Trouin	74	Claude Toufflet	(Eventually captured 4 Nov.)
	Mont Blanc	74	Guillaume-Jean-Noël Lavillegris	(Eventually captured 4 Nov.)
	San Francisco de Asis	74	Don Luis de Florès	Captured. Recaptured & wrecked 23 Oct.
	San Agustin	74	Don Felipe Jado Cagigal	Captured. Abandoned and burnt 28 Oct.
	Héros	74	Jean-Baptiste-Joseph-René Poulain
	Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad	136	Flag - Rear Admiral Báltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros Cptn. - Francisco Javier de Uriarte y Borja	Captured. Foundered 23 Oct.
	Bucentaure	80	Flag - Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve Cptn. - Jean-Jacques Magendie	Captured. Recaptured & wrecked 23 Oct.
	Neptune	80	Commodore Espirit Tranquille Maistral
	Redoutable	74	Jean Jacques Etienne Lucas	Captured. Foundered 23 Oct.
	San Leandro	64	Don José Quevedo
	San Justo	74	Don Francisco Javier Garstón
	Santa Ana	112	Flag - Vice-Admiral Ignacio María de Álava y Navarrete Cptn. - Don José de Gardoqui	Captured. Recaptured 23 Oct.
	Indomptable	80	Jean Joseph Hubert	Wrecked 24 Oct.
	Fougueux	74	Louis Alexis Baudoin (Killed in Action)	Captured. Wrecked 22 Oct.
	Intrépide	74	Louis-Antoine-Cyprien Infernet	Captured. Blown up deliberately 24 Oct.
	Monarcha	74	Don Teodoro de Argumosa	Captured. Foundered 25 Oct.
	Pluton	74	Julien-Marie Cosmao-Kerjulien
	Bahama	74	Dionisio Alcalá Galiano (Killed in Action)	Captured
	L'Aigle	74	Pierre-Paul Gourège	Captured. Wrecked 23 Oct.
	Montãnez	74	Francisco Alcedo y Bustamente
	Algésiras	74	Flag - Rear-Admiral Charles-René Magon de Médine (Killed in Action) Cptn. -Laurant Le Tourneur	Captured. Recaptured 23 Oct.
	Argonauta	80	Don Antonio Parejo	Captured & Scuttled
	Swiftsure	74	Charles-Eusèbe l'Hôpitalier-Villemadrin	Captured
	Argonaute	74	Jacques Epron-Desjardins
	San Ildefonso	74	Don Jose Ramón de Vargas y Varáez	Captured
	Achille	74	Louis Gabriel Deniéport	Surrendered & blew up
	Principe de Asturias	112	Flag - Admiral Don Federico Carlos Gravina y Nápoli (Died of his wounds 9 Mar 1806) Flag - Rear-Admiral Don Antonio de Escãno Cptn. Commodore Rafael de Hore
	Berwick	74	Jean-Gilles Filhol-Carnas	Captured. Foundered 22 Oct.
	San Juan Nepomuceno	74	Commodore Don Cosmé Damián Churruca y Elorza (Killed in Action)	Captured
	British Fleet - Also Present
	Naiad	38	Thomas Dundas
	Euryalus	36	Hon. Henry Blackwood
	Phoebe	36	Hon. Thomas Bladen Capel
	Sirius	36	William Prowse
	Pickle	12	Lt. John Richards La Penotière
	Entreprenante	10	Lt. Robert Benjamin Young
	Franco-Spanish Fleet - Also Present
	Cornélie	40	de Martinenq
	Hermione	40	Mahé
	Hortense	40	La Marre La Melilerie
	Rhin	40	MJA Chesneau
	Thémis	40	Jugan
	Furet	18	Lt. Dumay
	Argus	16	Lt. Tailliard