Battle of Algeciras Bay
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| War of the Second Coalition |
|---|
| 1st Stockach –Cassano – 1st Zürich – Montebello – Trebbia – Novi – Bergen – 2nd Zürich – Castricum – Genoa – 2nd Stockach – Marengo – Hochstadt – Hohenlinden – Copenhagen – Algeciras – Alexandria |
| Naval Battles of the French Revolutionary Wars |
|---|
| Ushant - Genoa - Hyères - Camperdown - Nile - Copenhagen - Algeciras |
The Battle of Algeciras Bay was two separate battles between an allied French-Spanish fleet and the British near Gibraltar in July 1801.
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[edit] Algeciras Bay
The battle began in July 1801, when the French Admiral Linois brought his three ships of the line and one frigate into Algeciras after finding Cadiz blockaded. The harbour at Algeciras was protected by no less than four Spanish forts, and was considered safe despite its proximity to Gibraltar. The British observed these movements from Gibraltar, and decided to move quickly to try to neutralize this threat. On July 8, a fleet under Admiral Sir James Saumarez sailed across Algeciras Bay from Gibraltar, intending to attack the French ships.
The British fleet, consisting of seven ships of the line, a frigate, and a brig, attacked the French ships and Spanish forts, but were hampered by a lack of wind and numerous shoals in the harbour. The French squadron, with aid from the forts and Spanish gunboats, held its own and drove off the larger British force, although the French ships were purposely grounded to avoid capture. Saumarez lost the 74-gun Hannibal, which ran aground and was captured by the French, and the rest of the British squadron suffered various degrees of damage. The British lost 121 killed and 240 wounded, the French 306 killed.
Both sides retired to their respective sides of the bay, and over the next four days repaired their battle damage as best they could. The French refloated their ships and prepared them for sea.
[edit] The Gut of Gibraltar
On July 12, the French squadron, which had been reinforced meanwhile by five Spanish ships of the line, left Algeciras for Cadiz, and was pursued by Saumarez. During the pursuit, the Franco-Spanish allies showed their ships to be faster, partly due to the extensive damage the British had received during the first stage of the battle. However, HMS Superb, which was not present for the first part of the battle and was thus undamaged, was given leave by Saumarez to pursue and attack the allied fleet at will. After night had fallen, the 74-gun Superb sailed between the Hermenegilda and Real Carlos, first-rate ships of 112 guns, and attacked them both. Superb then proceeded up the Franco-Spanish line, but between the darkness and the smoke from the firing, the Spanish did not realize that she had left. Real Carlos and Heremenegilda furiously fired on one another, resulting in the loss of both ships. The Superb then attacked and captured the French St. Antoine. The French Formidable, at the rear of the French line, fought 4 to 1 to protect her fleet. The British lost 17 killed and 100 wounded; the allies, 2,000.
[edit] Trivia
The battle is described in the novel Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian, from the viewpoint of Jack Aubrey, the book's protagonist. Aubrey views the first part of the battle from on board the Desaix, a French 74 which had earlier captured him, and the second from the Rock of Gibraltar.
