On this day 25 July - the St. James' Day Battle - Day 1

[7eat51]

On the 25th of July 1666 (Julian calendar), English and Dutch fleets began a two-day engagement known as the St. James’ Day Battle. The Dutch fleet, comprised of 88 ships under the command of Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, spotted the English fleet, comprised of 89 ships under the command of Prince Rupert of the Rhine, near North Foreland and began pursuing it. As the wind shifted, both commanders responded, but unfortunately for the Dutch, De Ruyter’s choice of maneuver resulted in the van of its fleet sailing directly into a high-pressure area in which it was unable to maintain a line of battle due to loss of speed. The English van, under the command of Thomas Allin, along with part of the center, immediately reacted when a small breeze started to blow by attacking the incohesive Dutch line, raining destruction upon the separated ships. The English, now with van and full center, attacked the Dutch center. De Ruyter, instead of fleeing as anticipated, led the Dutch in a vigorous fight against the English. The commander of the Dutch rear, Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Tromp, irritated by what he perceived to be a lack of competence in his fellow commanders, initiated an attack on the English rear. He cut across the English line, separating the rear, under the command of Jeremiah Smith, and having the weather gauge, pounded it until the English were routed and fled. Tromp pursued.

Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness:



Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter:



Thomas Allin:



Cornelis Maartenszoon Tromp:




For more on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James%27s_Day_Battle

[csadn]

Have fun playing out *this* battle in _SoG_ -- a shade under 200 ships total....

[Berthier]

They were Tromped!