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 | |
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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 |
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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 | |
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Brutus | 74 | Flag - Rear-Admiral Bloys van Treslong Commodore Polders |
|
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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 |
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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 | |
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Diligent | 12 | Lt. T. Dawson | |
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King George | 12 | Lt. James Rains | |
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Rose | 10 | Lt. Joseph Brodie | |
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Speculator | 8 | Lt. H. Hales | |
| Dutch Fleet - Frigate Line | ||||
|
Atalante | 18 | Cdr. B. Pletsz | |
|
Heldin | 32 | Cdr. Dumenil de Lestrille | |
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Galathée | 18 | Cdr. Riverij | Captured |
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Minerva | 24 | Cdr. Eijlbrecht | |
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Ajax | 18 | Lt. Arkenbout | |
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Waakzaamheid | 24 | Cdr. Meindert Van Mierop | |
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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 | |
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