Action of 29 June 1694
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The Action of 29 June 1694 is a sea battle during the War of the Grand Alliance on 29 June 1694, when a force of 9 French ships, under Jean Bart, recaptured a French convoy, which had earlier that month been taken by the Dutch, and the 8-ship escorting force, under Hidde de Vries.
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[edit] Context
In 1692 and 1693 there were massive harvest failures in France, leading to acute famine and epidemics. From 1693 to 1694 over 2 million people died.
Therefore France needed to import large quantities of grain from neutral countries like Poland, Sweden and Denmark.
On May 29 1694, Jean Bart was instructed to sail to Norway, to escort a hugh fleet of 120 ships full of grain to France. The convoy didn't wait for the arrival of Bart's squadron and left under the protection of 3 neutral warships (2 Danish and one Swedish).
[edit] The Battle
The convoy was immediately captured by the Dutch without a shot being fired.
Jean Bart searched for the convoy and found in on June 29 at 3:00 a.m. before the Dutch island of Texel. Despite of having less guns than the Dutch, at 5:00 a.m. Jean Bart attacks the Dutch flagship of Hidde de Vries. After a fierce battle which lasted only half an hour the Prins Friso is captured. Hidde de Vries is severely wounded and taken prisoner. Two other Dutch ships are taken.
The Dutch lose 100 killed and 455 prisoners including 129 wounded.
The remaining 5 ships flee to their harbor.
Jean Bart repairs the damage to his ships and takes the convoy to Dunkirk were it arrives on July 3. An enormous crowd is awaiting and celebrating their hero.
On July 5, Jean Bart, his son François Cornil and his brother-in-law are invited to Versailles and congratulated by king Louis XIV himself.
Jean Bart is raised into the nobility on August 4, 1694.
Hidde de Vries died of his wounds on July 1.
[edit] Ships involved
[edit] France (Jean Bart)
- Maure 54 (flag)
- Fortuné 50
- Adroit 44
- Jersey 50
- Comte 50
- Mignon 50
- Bienvenu 24 (merchantman)
- Portefaix 24 (merchantman)
- Biche (corvette)
[edit] Netherlands (Hidde de Vries)
- Prins Friso 58 (flag) - Captured by Maure
- Zeerijp 34 - Captured by Fortuné
- Statenland 50 - Captured by Mignon
- Amalia 58
- ? 54
- ? 50
- ? 50
- ? 40
- 120 or more merchant ships - captured that day or soon after
