Battle of Grenada

Battle of Grenada Part of American War of Independence Battle of Grenada, by Jean-François Hue Date 6 July 1779 Location Off Grenada, West Indies Result Tactical French Victory. Belligerents Britain France Commanders Hon. John Byron Comte d'Estaing Strength 21 ships of the line 25 ships of the line Casualties and losses 183 killed, 346 wounded 190 killed, 759 wounded

v • d • e West Indies campaign Nassau – St. Lucia – Grenada – Martinique (1779) – Martinique (1780) – Fort Royal – St. Kitts – The Saintes

The Battle of Grenada took place on 6 July 1779 during the American War of Independence in the West Indies between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.

Contents 1 Origins 2 The battle 3 The aftermath 4 Order of battle 4.1 British Royal Navy 4.1.1 Vanguard 4.1.2 Centre 4.1.3 Rear 5 French Royal Navy 5.1 Vanguard 5.1.1 Ships of the line 5.1.2 Frigates 5.2 Main corps 5.2.1 Ships of the line 5.2.2 Frigates 5.3 Rear guard 5.3.1 Ships of the line 5.3.2 Frigates 5.3.3 Cutter 5.3.4 Fluyt 5.3.5 Schooner 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Origins

During the early part of 1779, the naval forces in the West Indies were mainly employed in watching one another. But in June, when the British Admiral Byron went to Antigua to guard the trade convoy on its way home, his opponent, the Comte d'Estaing first captured St Vincent, and then on the 4th of July Grenada. Byron sailed in hopes of saving the island, but arrived too late. A short action was fought off Grenada on the 6th of July.

The battle

The French fleet, under Admiral Comte d'Estaing, consisted of 25 ships of the line and several frigates. The British fleet, under Vice-Admiral John Byron, had 21 ships of the line and 1 frigate. The French were anchored off St. George's Town on the south-west of the island, and the English approached during the night. D’Estaing weighed at 4 A.M. and Byron chased. The British ships attacked in utter disorder and confusion. Fame, Lion and two other ships got separated from the main body, and were very badly mauled. Lion was forced to run downwind to Jamaica to avoid capture. The French lost no ships and eventually hauled off. The British lost 183 killed and 346 wounded. Fame had four killed and nine wounded. The French lost 190 killed and 759 wounded.

The aftermath

The war now died down in the West Indies. Byron returned home in August. D'Estaing, after co-operating unsuccessfully with the Americans in an attack on Savannah in September also returned to Europe.

Order of battle

British Royal Navy

Vanguard

• HMS Suffolk (74 guns, 617 men), Captain Hugh Cloberry Christian, Rear-Admiral Joshua Rowley
• HMS Boyne (70 guns, 520 men), Captain Herbert Sawyer
• HMS Royal Oak (74 guns, 600 men), Captain Thomas Fitzherbert
• HMS Prince of Wales (74 guns, 600 men), Captain Benjamin Hill, Vice-Admiral Samuel Barrington
• HMS Magnificent (74 guns, 600 men), Captain John Elphinstone
• HMS Prudent (64 guns, 500 men), Captain A Jack P Molloy
• HMS Medway (60 guns, 420 men), Captain William Affleck

Centre

• HMS Fame (74 guns, 600 men), Captain John Butchart
• HMS Nonsuch (64 guns, 500 men), Captain Walter Griffith
• HMS Sultan (74 guns, 600 men), Captain Alan Gardner
• HMS Princess Royal (90 guns, 770 men), Captain William Blair, Vice-Admiral Hon. John Byron (commander)
• HMS Albion (74 guns, 600 men), Captain George Bowyer
• HMS Stirling Castle (64 guns, 500 men), Captain Robert Carkett
• HMS Elizabeth (74 guns, 600 men), Captain William Truscott
• HMS Ariadne (20 guns, 160 men) Captain Thomas Pringle (To repeat signals)

Rear

• HMS Yarmouth (64 guns, 500 men), Captain Nathaniel Bateman
• HMS Lion (64 guns, 500 men), Captain Hon. William Cornwallis
• HMS Vigilant (64 guns, 500 men), Captain Sir Digby Dent
• HMS Conqueror (74 guns, 617 men), Captain Harry Harmood, Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker
• HMS Cornwall (74 guns, 600 men), Captain Timothy Edwards
• HMS Monmouth (64 guns, 500 men), Captain Robert Fanshaw
• HMS Grafton (74 guns, 600 men), Captain Thomas Collingwood

French Royal Navy

Vanguard

Ships of the line

• Zélé (74)
• Fantasque (64)
• Magnifique (74)
• Tonnant (80)
• Protecteur (74)
• Fier (50)
• Dauphin Royal (70)
• Provence (64)
• Prudente

Frigates

• Diligente (28)
• Fortunée (32)
• Ellis (20)
• Concorde
• Étourdie
• Blanche

Main corps

Ships of the line

• Fendant (74)
• Artésien (64)
• Fier-Rodrigue (50)
• Hector (74)
• Languedoc (80)
• Robuste (74)
• Vaillant (64)
• Sagittaire (54)
• Guerrier (74)

Frigates

• Alcmène (28)
• Chimère (32)
• Iphigénie (32)
• Lively (24)
• Cérès (18)

Rear guard

Ships of the line

• Sphinx (64)
• Diadème (74)
• Amphion (50)
• Marseillais (74)
• César (74)
• Vengeur (64)
• Réfléchi (64)
• Annibal (74)

Frigates

• Amazone (32)
• Boudeuse (32)

Cutter

• Alerte (14)

Fluyt

• Ménagère (30)

Schooner

• Barington

See also

Naval operations in the American Revolutionary War

References

Organisation of fleet

Robert Reatson; Naval and Military Meoirs of Great Britain from 1727 to 1783 Volume VI, London 1804 Page 160

Names of Captains

Joseph Allen; Battles of the British Navy Volume I London 1852 Page 273

Thomas White; Naval Researches or a candid inquiry into the conduct of admirals Byron, Graves, Hood, and Rodney, jn the actions off Grenada, Chesapeak, St. Christopher's, and of the ninth and twelfth of April 1782’ London 1830

External links

• (French) Etat des forces navales françaises engagées dans la guerre d’indépendance des Etats-Unis