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Honour - SCHOONEVELD 1673


Date - 28-May and 04-June
Type - Fleet or Squadron Actions
Conflict - Third Dutch War; 1672-74

 
Description The Schooneveld was a long basin guarding the entrance to the Scheldt estuary. Two battles were fought there between an Anglo-French fleet and a Dutch Fleet.

During the first battle the allies had 81 ships-of-the-line 11 frigates and 35 fireships, the Dutch 52 ships-of-the-line, 12 frigates and 25 fireships. The battle began at noon and lasted 9 hours. The Dutch with their superior local  knowledge were able to restrict the allies ability to manoeuvre in the shallow waters. The French lost 2 ships and the Dutch one. Although inconclusive the Dutch claimed it as a strategic victory.

Following the first battle the allies cruised the Dutch coast for a week when the Dutch came out and attacked. The battle continued in heavy weather, the allies were in a state of confusion and the fleets closed to within 4 miles of the British coast, before both sides disengaged.

By the next morning the Allies had returned to the Thames estuary and the Dutch to Schooneveld. Again the Dutch claimed a strategic victory.

 

 
 
HM Ships
Advice  Anne  Assurance  Bonaventure  Cambridge *
Charles  Constant Warwick  Crown  Diamond  Dreadnought 
Dunkirk  Edgar  Falcon  Foresight  French Ruby 
Gloucester  Greenwich  Hampshire  Happy Return  Henrietta 
Henry  Lion  London  Mary  Mary Rose 
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Sweepstakes  Swiftsure **  Triumph  Unicorn  Victory 
Warspite  Welcome **  Yarmouth  York   
         
 
*   First action only
** Second action only
This page last edited - 08 November, 2012.

Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated.