On this day 28 May - The Glorious First of June Part 1

[7eat51]

On the 28th of May 1794, British and French forces engaged in what was a multi-day fight culminating in the battle known as The Glorious First of June. On the 2nd of April, a large convoy, under the protection of a French squadron commanded by Admiral Pierre Vanstabel, and reinforced by a squadron commanded by Joseph-Marie Nielly, left America bringing food to a famished France. Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse patrolled the waters near France, ready to intercept British forces that, under the command of Lord Howe, admiral of the British Channel Fleet, tried to prevent the convoy from reaching France safely. At 6:30 a.m., Howe spotted Villaret’s fleet, and ordered his ships to pursue with the hopes of engaging the French rear. Four hours later, Howe’s chase was causing his own fleet to become scattered, so he formed his fastest ships into a flying squadron under the command of Admiral Thomas Pasley. Pasley was able to close with the French rear, and by 2:30 p.m., one of his ships, the HMS Russell, under the command of John Willett Payne, fired long-range shots at the French, who returned fire accordingly. At 5:00 p.m., Captain Vandangel of the Révolutionnaire, a 110-gun first rate, took the initiative to exchange places with the third rates in the rear, attempting to stay the British pursuers. An hour later, the HMS Bellerophon (74) engaged the Révolutionnaire, but after 20 minutes of steady action, withdrew having sustained severe damage. The HMS Marlborough (74), HMS Russell, and HMS Thunderer (74) took the Bellerophon’s place, and by 7:30 p.m., rendered the Révolutionnaire unmanageable. At 8:00 p.m., Howe signaled the flying squadron to return, fearing that it would be cut off from the rest of the fleet. All of the ships returned except for the HMS Audacious (74). Under the command of Captain William Parker, the Audacious audaciously engaged the Révolutionnaire, the two ships becoming entangled in the process. At 10:00 p.m. the two ships freed themselves and separated. The crews of both ships began repairs, and though Parker tried to return to the British fleet, the Audacious found herself a half-mile away from the Révolutionnaire come morning.

Louis-Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse:

5126

Richard Howe:

5127

Thomas Pasley:

5131

Révolutionnaire:

5128

HMS Bellerophon:

5129

HMS Thunderer:

5130


For more on today's event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_28_May_1794#28_May