On this day 22 July - the Battle of Cape Finisterre

[7eat51]

On the 22nd of July 1805, the Battle of Cape Finisterre was fought between British and Franco-Spanish fleets off the coast of Galicia in northwest Spain. The Franco-Spanish fleet returned from the West Indies after an attempt to draw British forces away from France. The British commander, Admiral Robert Calder, was ordered to leave his blockade duty at Rochefort and Ferrol, and to intercept the returning combined fleet, under the command of Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve. At 11:00 a.m., the fleets spotted each other and started to maneuver into position. At 5:15 p.m., the fight began, but due to fog and failing light, the battle was characterized by confusion among the ships. One notable engagement centered on the HMS Malta (80). Under the command of Sir Edward Buller, the Malta found herself surrounded by five Spanish ships. Buller led his crew in a fierce fight that resulted in the defeat of the Spanish 80-gun San Rafael and the Spanish 74-gun Firme. At 8:25 p.m., Calder signaled to disengage.

On the 23rd, Calder chose not to attack, but sailed northeast, returning to his previous blockade stations. Villeneuve spent the entire day trying to bring his fleet into fighting position with the British, but as evening approached, he decided not to engage. On the 24th, the wind favored the French, but Villeneuve chose not to attack, and turned south instead.

In the aftermath of the battle, Admiral Calder was relieved of his command and court-martialed for not reengaging the French on the 23rd and 24th, which, subsequently, could have freed England from any concern of invasion by France. Bonaparte, commenting on the battle, praised the Spanish admiral while castigating his own: “Gravina is all genius and decision in combat. If Villeneuve had had those qualities, the battle of Finisterre would have been a complete victory.” Additionally, when Villeneuve failed to obey Napoleon’s orders to sail to Brest, but instead remained south, Napoleon blamed the French admiral for the inability to invade England: “If Admiral Villeneuve, instead of entering Ferrol, had contented himself with rallying at the Spanish squadron, and had sailed for Brest to join Admiral Gantheaume, my army would have landed; it would have been all over with England.”

Robert Calder:



Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve:



Don Federico Carlos Gravina y Nápoli:



Edward Buller:



The Battle:






For more on today’s event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...isterre_(1805)

[Cmmdre]

One of history's what might have been. Would have, could have, should have...but didn't. The addition of the battle map is a real nice touch Eric. It really helps to understand positioning.

[csadn]

In the aftermath of the battle, Admiral Calder was relieved of his command and court-martialed for not reengaging the French on the 23rd and 24th, which, subsequently, could have freed England from any concern of invasion by France.

Or, alternately, could have goatsed that section of the blockade -- fighting when one cannot see clearly... well, I recall a couple posts here which show "'Friendly Fire' isn't".

Bonaparte, commenting on the battle, praised the Spanish admiral while castigating his own: “Gravina is all genius and decision in combat. If Villeneuve had had those qualities, the battle of Finisterre would have been a complete victory.” Additionally, when Villeneuve failed to obey Napoleon’s orders to sail to Brest, but instead remained south, Napoleon blamed the French admiral for the inability to invade England: “If Admiral Villeneuve, instead of entering Ferrol, had contented himself with rallying at the Spanish squadron, and had sailed for Brest to join Admiral Gantheaume, my army would have landed; it would have been all over with England.”

Methinks Napoleon's being a landsman shows here -- one wonders if the weather would have allowed Villeneuve to go to Brest in the first place; or if subsequent weather would have permitted the French to leave Brest for England.

And while Gravina was good, by any standards, he's still having to deal with the noted inadequacies of Spanish and French crews of the time.

Calder got Bynged (maybe not quite as badly as Byng himself, but still...).

[Anav]

On 22 July 1802, during the First Barbary War, the Frigate Constellation, commanded by Captain Alexander Murray, defeated nine Corsair Gunboats off Tripoli.
Read more about USS Constellation:
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c1...ellation-i.htm