Croisière du Grand Hiver: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Military Conflict |
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|conflict=Croisière du Grand Hiver |
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|partof=the [[French Revolutionary Wars]] |
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|image= |
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|caption= |
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|date=[[24 December]] 1794 – 3 February 1795 |
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|place=[[Bay of Biscay]] |
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|result=Disastrous damage to the French fleet |
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|combatant1=[[Image:Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg|22px]] [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] |
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|combatant2=[[Image:Flag of France.svg|22px]] [[First French Republic]] |
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|commander1= |
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|commander2=[[Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse|Villaret de Joyeuse]]<br/>[[Pierre Vanstabel]] |
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}} |
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{{Campaignbox First Coalition}} |
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{{Campaignbox French Revolutionary Wars Naval Battles}} |
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The '''''Croisière du Grand Hiver''''' ([[French language|French]] "Campaign of the Great Winter") was a [[France|French]] attempt to organise a winter naval campaign in the wake of the [[Bataille du 13 prairial an 2]]. |
The '''''Croisière du Grand Hiver''''' ([[French language|French]] "Campaign of the Great Winter") was a [[France|French]] attempt to organise a winter naval campaign in the wake of the [[Bataille du 13 prairial an 2]]. |
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The [[Bataille du 13 prairial an 2]] had ended on a strategic success for the [[French Navy]], but on the tactical level, the fleet had suffered its greatest loss since the [[Battle of La Hogue]]. |
The [[Bataille du 13 prairial an 2]] had ended on a strategic success for the [[French Navy]], but on the tactical level, the fleet had suffered its greatest loss since the [[Battle of La Hogue]]. |
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The [[National Convention]] ordered the fleet to attempt a sortie during the Winter of 1794-1795, in an attempt to catch the [[Royal Navy]] off guard |
The [[National Convention]] ordered the fleet to attempt a sortie during the Winter of 1794-1795, in an attempt to catch the [[Royal Navy]] off guard, contest its dominance over the seas and damage British commerce. |
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The plan was to have the 35-ship fleet of [[Brest, France|Brest]] sail to the [[Bay of Biscay]]. A a 6-ship and 3-frigate strong squadron would be sent to [[Guadeloupe]], and another, under [[Jean François Renaudin|Admiral Renaudin]], to [[Toulon]]. The main fleet would the sail back to Brest. The fleet, under Admiral [[Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse|Villaret Joyeuse]], departed on 4 nivôse an III (24 December 1794). |
The plan was to have the 35-ship fleet of [[Brest, France|Brest]] sail to the [[Bay of Biscay]]. A a 6-ship and 3-frigate strong squadron would be sent to [[Guadeloupe]], and another, under [[Jean François Renaudin|Admiral Renaudin]], to [[Toulon]]. The main fleet would the sail back to Brest. The fleet, under Admiral [[Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse|Villaret Joyeuse]], departed on 4 nivôse an III (24 December 1794). |
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The fleet captured around 70 British merchantmen during its mission, at the loss of three ships and severe damage on others. The Renaudin squadron had to delay its mission to reach Toulon in order support the rest of the fleet, whose units returned to Brest between the 28 January and 3 February. Renaudin eventually departed for Toulon on 22 February and arrived safely on 2 April. |
The fleet captured around 70 British merchantmen during its mission, at the loss of three ships and severe damage on others. The Renaudin squadron had to delay its mission to reach Toulon in order support the rest of the fleet, whose units returned to Brest between the 28 January and 3 February. Renaudin eventually departed for Toulon on 22 February and arrived safely on 2 April. |
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Overall, the campaign is considered as naval disaster |
Overall, the campaign is considered as naval disaster because of the heavy losses, sustained without intervention of the [[Royal Navy]], and especially since damaged ships could not easily be repaired with the endemic shortage or material in French arsenals. The French Navy effectively ceased to contest the British naval superiority from this point. |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 17:02, 11 January 2008
| Croisière du Grand Hiver | |||||||
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| Part of the French Revolutionary Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
 First French Republic | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Villaret de Joyeuse Pierre Vanstabel | |||||||
The Croisière du Grand Hiver (French "Campaign of the Great Winter") was a French attempt to organise a winter naval campaign in the wake of the Bataille du 13 prairial an 2.
Context
The Bataille du 13 prairial an 2 had ended on a strategic success for the French Navy, but on the tactical level, the fleet had suffered its greatest loss since the Battle of La Hogue.
The National Convention ordered the fleet to attempt a sortie during the Winter of 1794-1795, in an attempt to catch the Royal Navy off guard, contest its dominance over the seas and damage British commerce.
The plan was to have the 35-ship fleet of Brest sail to the Bay of Biscay. A a 6-ship and 3-frigate strong squadron would be sent to Guadeloupe, and another, under Admiral Renaudin, to Toulon. The main fleet would the sail back to Brest. The fleet, under Admiral Villaret Joyeuse, departed on 4 nivôse an III (24 December 1794).
Trouble began when République (110 guns) ran aground at the exit of Brest harbour, with the loss of 10 men. Her crew abandonned ship, and the wreck was destroyed in a tempest a few days later. Two more ships, Téméraire and Nestor, sustained damage and had to sail back to harbour on 31.
Three British frigates, HMS Diamond, HMS Flora and HMS Arethusa were dispatched on the 2 January to investigate. HMS Diamond, raised a French flag when challenged by the fleet, which allowed her to sail on. Later, she met the Nestor, and her commander, captain William Sidney Smith, speaking perfect French, managed discuss with the officers of the Nestor, and acquire significant insights of the French intentions. HMS Diamond Sailed into Brest harbour on the 3rd to confirm.
The next days, several ships sustained critical damage, from the sea and out of utter disrepair. Neptune's hull started to leak, and she ran aground to avoid sinking, with the loss of 50 crewmen. On 29 January, Neuf Thermidor; the next day, Scipion and Superbe sank, and Convention lost her rudder and had to be towed to Lorient.
The fleet captured around 70 British merchantmen during its mission, at the loss of three ships and severe damage on others. The Renaudin squadron had to delay its mission to reach Toulon in order support the rest of the fleet, whose units returned to Brest between the 28 January and 3 February. Renaudin eventually departed for Toulon on 22 February and arrived safely on 2 April.
Overall, the campaign is considered as naval disaster because of the heavy losses, sustained without intervention of the Royal Navy, and especially since damaged ships could not easily be repaired with the endemic shortage or material in French arsenals. The French Navy effectively ceased to contest the British naval superiority from this point.