Battle of the Saintes
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 | Guns | Captain | Ships fate | |
| 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Ardent | 64 | 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 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 | ||
