Battle of Saint Kitts

Battle of St. Kitts Part of the Anglo-French 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]

Anglo-French War 1778–1783 Europe 17 June 1778 1st Ushant 1st Jersey English Channel Plymouth Gibraltar Flamborough Head 6 October 1779 Cape Santa Maria 13 August 1780 2nd Jersey Minorca 2nd Ushant 3rd Ushant Île-de-Batz Cape Spartel 12 December 1782 Caribbean Dominica 1st St. Lucia 2nd St. Lucia Saint Vincent 1st Grenada 2nd Grenada 1st Martinique Guadeloupe 2nd Martinique Bermuda Fort Royal Tobago Brimstone Hill Frigate Bay Demerara & Essequibo Montserrat The Saintes Mona Passage 18 October 1782 6 December 1782 15 February 1783 Grand Turk North America Rhode Island Charles Town Savannah 1st Long Island Cape Henry Cape Breton Cape Ann Yorktown Chesapeake Yorktown Hudson Bay 2nd Long Island Delaware Bay 2nd Chesapeake East Indies Pondicherry Porto Praya Sadras Providien Negapatam Pisang Trincomalee 1st Cuddalore 2nd Cuddalore

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 Anglo-French 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 landing 6,000 men on St. Kitts and laying siege to the fortress on Brimstone Hill. Hood hoping to salvage the situation made for St Kitts with reinforcements; however he soon learned that he was facing a much superior force.

Action

Battle of St Kitts by Thomas Maynard

The British fleet on 24 January consisted of twenty-two sail of the line, and was close off the south-east end of Nevis. They ran into and captured the French 16-gun cutter Espion which carried a large amount of ammunition for the besieging French forces at Brimstone Hill.

At daybreak on 25 January, the French fleet was discovered having stood to the southward of Basseterre, comprising one 110 gun ship, twenty-eight two-decked ships, and two frigates. Hood stood towards the French fleet with the apparent intention of bringing on action, and effectively drew the French fleet off the land. No sooner had Hood effected this maneuver he was aided by a favourable change in wind and was able to guide his fleet within the anchorage of Basseterre, which the French admiral had just quit. Hood ordered his fleet in an L formation and 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 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 outmaneuvering de Grasse, Hood was unable to stop the island from surrendering to the French. The main factor was the successful French siege of Brimstone Hill fortress. The surrender occurred 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. 

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