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