On this day 14 March

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On the 14th of March 1795, British, Neapolitan, and French ships concluded the naval Battle of Genoa off the coast of northwest Italy. The British and Italians, under the command of Vice Admiral William Hotham defeated the French, under the command of Rear Admiral Pierre Martin. When morning came on the 14th, the British observed that two French ships-of-the-line, the Ça Ira (80) and the Censeur (74), were separated from their fleet. Hotham ordered HMS Captain and HMS Bedford, two 74-gun ships-of-the-line, to attack the Censeur and her tow, the dismasted Ça Ira. All four ships suffered severe damage and the two British SOLs withdrew. Martin ordered the Duquesne (74) to intercede against the British replacements HMS Illustrious (74) and HMS Courageux (74), but the wind did not cooperate. The Duquesne did manage to come within range of the HMS Lowestoffe (32) and fire upon her, but subsequently engaged the Minerva, a Neapolitan frigate that came to Lowestoffe’s aid. The French formed a three-ship line consisting of the Duquesne, Victoire (80), and Tonnant (80). They engaged the Illustrious and Courageux for more than an hour before abandoning the Censeur and Ça Ira.

Genoa:


HMS Captain:


Capture of the Ça Ira:



For more on this event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Genoa_(1795)