Action of March 1677

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This battle took place in March 1677 in the West Indies when a Dutch fleet under Jacob Binkes repulsed a French force attempting to recapture the island of Tobago. There was much death and destruction on both sides. One of the Dutch supply ships caught fire and exploded; the fire then quickly spread in the narrow bay causing several ships, among them the French flagship Glorieux, to catch fire and explode in turn which resulted in great loss of life. The French under d'Estrees retreated but would make a second attempt at the end of the year with a much stronger fleet.

Ships involved:

[edit] France (d'Estrees)

• Glorieux (flag) - Burnt; 60 people dead
• Intrépide (Louis Gabaret) - Captured and burnt
• Précieux - Aground and captured
• Marquis - Blew up
• Galant - Damaged
• Fendant - Damaged
• 4 anonymous other ships, and some smaller vessels

[edit] Netherlands

• Bescherming (flag) - 50 people dead
• Huis te Kruiningen - Captured, blown up by its own crew; 56 people dead
• Zeelandia - 44 people dead
• Leyden - Damaged
• 6 anonymous other ships, and some merchant ships