Battle of Saint Kitts

Battle of St. Kitts Part of the American Revolutionary War Battle of Frigate Bay, 1782, Hood's anchored fleet (left) repels the French fleet under De Grasse. From a painting by Nicholas Pocock Date 24–25 January 1782 Location Off Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies Result British tactical victory[1][2] Belligerents  Great Britain  France Commanders and leaders Sir Samuel Hood Comte de Grasse Strength 22 ships of the line 26 ships of the line Casualties and losses 72 killed and 244 wounded 107 killed and 204 wounded 1 ship captured[3]

American Revolutionary War: Caribbean theater 1st Nassau Barbados Dominica 1st St. Lucia 2nd St. Lucia Saint Vincent 1st Grenada 2nd Grenada Río Hondo Cayo Cocina San Fernando 12 December 1779 1st Martinique Guadeloupe 2nd Martinique Bermuda Fort San Juan Dutch West Indies 1st Demerara & Essequibo Sint Eustatius Fort Royal Tobago Brimstone Hill Frigate Bay 2nd Demerara & Essequibo Montserrat Roatán The Saintes Mona Passage Black River 2nd Nassau 18 October 1782 6 December 1782 15 February 1783 17 February 1783 Turks and Caicos 3rd Nassau

The Battle of Saint Kitts, also known as the Battle of Frigate Bay, was a naval battle that took place on 25 and 26 January 1782 during the American Revolutionary War between a British fleet under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood and a larger French fleet under the Comte de Grasse.

Background

When Hood returned to the West Indies in late 1781 after the Battle of the Chesapeake, he was for a time in independent command owing to Rodney's absence in England. The French Admiral, the Comte de Grasse, attacked the British islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis Hood hoping to salvage the situation made for St Kitts with reinforcements however he soon learned that he was facing a much superior force. De Grasse had landed 6,000 men on St Kitts and laid siege to the fortress on Brimstone Hill.

Action

The British fleet on 24 January consisting of twenty-two sail of the line, was close off the south-east end of Nevis. It soon ran into and captured the French 16-gun cutter Espion carrying a large amount of ammunition for the use of the besieging French forces at Brimstone Hill. At daybreak on 25 January, the French fleet was discovered standing to the southward of Basseterre, comprising one ship of 110 guns, twenty-eight two-decked ships, and two frigates. Hood stood towards the French fleet, with the apparent intention of bringing on action, which had the effect of drawing the French fleet off the land. This was achieved but no sooner had Hood effected this he was aided by a favourable change in the wind, and took his fleet within the anchorage of Basseterre or Frigate Bay, which the French admiral had quit. Hood ordered his fleet in an L formation and once this had been achieved he then ordered his fleet to lay anchor. Comte de Grasse, in frustration made three distinct and vigorous attacks upon the British fleet on 26 January but was successively repulsed with great damage to his ships.^[2]

Aftermath

Losses on both sides were light but the French fleet had suffered considerable damage. Hood managed to stay in the position for another two weeks without further incident. Despite outmanoeuvring De Grasse, Hood was unable to save the island from surrendering to the French, due in part to the French siege of Brimstone Hill, a fortress on the island. This happened on 12 February and Hood left on the 14th. Hood then joined forces with the recently arrived Admiral George Rodney.

Order of Battle

Britain

France

Notes

References

• Allen, Joseph (1852). Battles of the British Navy. London: Henry Bohn. p. 325. 
• Clowes, William Laird. The royal navy: a history from the earliest time to the present, Volume 3
• Jaques, Tony Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: A-E Greenwood 2006 ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5
• Marley, F. David. Wars of the Americas: A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present ABC-CLIO (1998). ISBN 0-87436-837-5
• Schomberg, Isaac (1802). Naval Chronology:or, An Historical Summary of Naval & Maritime Events, From the Time of the Romans, to the Treaty of Peace, 1802 4. London: T. Egerton by C. Roworth. 

See also

• Naval operations in the American Revolutionary War

Coordinates: 17°09′N 62°35′W / 17.150°N 62.583°W / 17.150; -62.583