| Dover | The North Sea | Plymouth | Monte Cristo | Kentish Knock |
| Dungeness | Portland | Leghorn | North Foreland | Scheveningen |
All dates are given in the "Old-Style" (OS) Julian calendar, which was used in England until 1752. The dates of these battles are often given in the "New-Style" (NS) Gregorian calendar, which was widely used in Europe. During the 17th Century, the Julian date was 10 days behind the Gregorian equivalent, e.g. the battle of Kentish Knock is 28 September 1652 OS, equivalent to 8 October 1652 NS.
Dover, 19 May 1652
The battle of Dover was fought before the official declaration of the Anglo-Dutch War. In April 1652, Lieutenant-Admiral Marten Tromp's fleet of 42 ships set sail to patrol the Channel and protect Dutch shipping from English aggression. On 18 May 1652, Tromp was forced by bad weather to shelter under the South Foreland near Dover, where he encountered eight English ships commanded by Nehemiah Bourne. A squadron of 12 ships under the command of General-at-Sea Robert Blake was further down the coast at Rye. The next day, Tromp sailed away towards Calais. In mid-Channel, he met with a Dutch ship and was informed of a recent incident in which a Dutch convoy had been harassed by Blake's ships. Tromp immediately sailed back to protest to Blake. In the late afternoon of 19 May, he sighted Blake's squadron near Dover and altered course into the path of the English ships. Although the Dutch fleet was in English waters, Tromp provocatively refused to make the conventional salute of lowering his flag to the English General-at-Sea and Blake fired a warning shot across his bows. Both sides claimed that the other fired the first broadside. In the ensuing fight, one Dutch ship was captured and another badly damaged. The Dutch fleet withdrew as Bourne's squadron approached to reinforce Blake.
The North Sea, July 1652
In June 1652, the Council of State sent Blake's fleet to disrupt the Dutch fishing fleet in the North Sea while Sir George Ayscue's squadron of 20 men-of-war was ordered to intercept Dutch merchant convoys passing through the Straits of Dover. After Ayscue's squadron destroyed a convoy near Calais in early July, Tromp set sail to confront him. Outnumbered four-to-one, Ayscue took up a defensive position in the Downs. Adverse winds prevented Tromp from attacking Ayscue's squadron, so he sailed into the North Sea to search for Blake's main fleet.
Meanwhile Blake had dispersed the Dutch herring fleet, captured its escorts and was lying in wait between the Orkneys and Shetlands for a Dutch East India convoy expected to sail home via Scotland rather than run the gauntlet of the Channel. Tromp's fleet sighted Blake off the Shetlands on 26 July. Before battle could be joined, a fierce north-westerly gale sprang up. Blake's fleet sheltered in Bressay Sound, but the Dutch fleet was scattered in the storm and many ships wrecked on the rocks around Sumburgh Head. Tromp was forced to sail home with less than half his fleet. His political enemies attacked him for failing to protect the North Sea fishing fleet and he resigned his commission rather than waiting to be dismissed.
Plymouth, 16 August 1652
On 13 August 1652, the Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter set sail from Calais with 32 men-of-war to escort a merchant fleet of 60 ships through the Channel to the Mediterranean. General-at-Sea Sir George Ayscue was patrolling with 38 men-of-war and armed merchantmen in search of prizes. He sighted the Dutch convoy off Plymouth on 16 August. De Ruyter altered course to fend off Ayscue's attack. Although the English ships were better armed, many failed to keep their station in the line of attack and Ayscue lost his advantage. The battle continued all afternoon. As evening fell, Ayscue broke off the engagement and sailed back to Plymouth. He was pursued by de Ruyter who intended to attack the English ships in their anchorage until a change of wind forced him to withdraw. No ships were lost, but both sides suffered heavy casualties among their crews. The Dutch merchant convoy succeeded in escaping down the Channel.
Monte Cristo, 27 August 1652
Two English squadrons were in the Mediterranean convoying merchantmen from the Levant when the war broke out: Blake's former vice-admiral Richard Badiley commanded eight warships, Henry Appleton commanded six. They faced a Dutch naval force of 16 ships under the command of Johan van Galen. Badiley sent an urgent plea to Appleton to join forces, but Appleton was blockaded at Leghorn. When Badiley's squadron arrived off Elba on 27 August, van Galen sent most of the Dutch squadron to intercept him. In a fierce, close-range action near Monte Cristo, Badiley's flagship the Paragon was badly damaged and the Phoenix was captured. Badiley retreated into Porto Longone on Elba, where he was blockaded by part of the Dutch squadron. Appleton made no attempt to support Badiley; his explanation that he had been ill was dismissed with contempt.
In November 1652, Captain Owen Cox led a daring night raid to recapture the Phoenix, anchored among the Dutch fleet blockading Appleton's squadron at Leghorn.
Kentish Knock, 28 September 1652
After Lieutenant-Admiral Tromp's resignation, he was replaced as commander by Vice-Admiral Witte Corneliszoon de With. The appointment was unpopular with the Dutch fleet because of de With's republicanism and his reputation for severity. Officers and crew of Tromp's old flagship the Brederode refused to allow de With to move his flag to it and he was forced to use the East Indiaman Prins Willem. On 22 September, de With joined forces with de Ruyter at Ostend when he returned from escort duty. The combined Dutch fleet of about 62 ships set sail to seek out the English fleet.
On the afternoon of 28 September, the Dutch were near the Kentish Knock, a sandbank in the Thames Estuary when they sighted Blake's fleet of 68 men-of-war approaching from the south. Blake, flying his flag in the Resolution, had the advantage of the wind and led the attack on the Dutch line. As Blake broke through, de With tacked to the south trying to gain the wind, only to be attacked by Vice-Admiral Penn's squadron. The battle became a confused mêlée, with ships engaging in individual combat, rather than a concerted fleet action. The action began at about 5 p.m. and lasted for three hours until darkness brought it to an end. One Dutch ship was sunk and another captured but many were badly damaged because of the superior firepower of the English fleet. Some 20 Dutch ships held back from joining in the action because of discontent among their crews. The following day, de With was unable to persuade his captains to re-engage. Blake chased the retreating Dutch fleet for two days until they found refuge at Goeree.
Dungeness, 30 November 1652
Following the defeat at the Kentish Knock, Lieutenant-Admiral Tromp was recalled to restore discipline to the fractious Dutch navy. In preparation for escorting a convoy of over 250 merchantmen down the Channel, Tromp put to sea with 85 warships. With much of the English fleet refitting or victualling, Blake has only 45 ships at his disposal when Tromp appeared off the southern entrance to the anchorage of the Downs on 29 November 1652. Despite his smaller force and the apprehension of some of his captains, Blake was eager to engage the Dutch. Bad weather prevented immediate action. Tromp sought shelter under the cliffs at South Foreland, Blake anchored in the Dover Roads.
The following day, weather conditions improved. Both fleets sailed on a parallel course westwards along the Kent coast separated by shoals. Once clear, soon after noon on 30 November, Tromp closed with the English and a violent fight began between the leading ships of the two fleets. The English ships found it difficult to manoeuvre because of the proximity of Dungeness; Blake later complained that many of his ships had avoided the action. The Garland and Bonaventure, which attacked Tromp's flagship the Brederode, were overwhelmed and captured. Three more English ships were sunk and many badly damaged, including Blake's flagship the Triumph which lost its foremast. The Dutch lost only one ship. As darkness fell, Blake's fleet disengaged and escaped to the safety of the Thames estuary.
Tromp's victory allowed Dutch merchant convoys to sail freely through the Channel. For the first time, the English fleet was blockaded in its own harbours. According to legend, Tromp fixed a broom to the mast of his flagship as a sign that he had swept the sea clean of his enemies. Blake's offer of resignation was rejected but six English captains were dismissed from the Navy following a government enquiry, including Blake's own brother Benjamin.
During the winter of 1652-3, the Commissioners of the Navy in London made a thorough review of naval tactics and administration in the light of the defeat of Dungeness. This resulted in the issuing of the first official Articles of War and Fighting Instructions to English naval commanders. The Fighting Instructions included line-ahead fleet formations to maximise the use of the broadside and remained the basis of naval tactics throughout the next century. The fleet was reorganised into three divisions — red, white and blue — with a commander for each division, to make fleet actions more manageable. George Monck and Richard Deane were appointed joint Generals-at-Sea with Blake.
Portland a.k.a. the Three Days' Battle, 18-20 February 1653
Dutch control of the Channel through the winter of 1652-3 allowed a revival of commerce, but by early February 1653, the English fleet had been refitted and reorganised. Around 65 ships put to sea on 10 February under the joint command of the Generals-at-Sea Blake, Monck and Deane to search for Tromp, who was due to return with the Mediterranean convoy.
On 18 February, Tromp's fleet of 80 warships was sighted off Portland Bill, escorting a large convoy of 200 merchantmen. The English fleet had lost cohesion during the search: Blake and Deane were in the Triumph with a few ships of the Red squadron; a few more of the same squadron were with John Lawson in the Fairfax a mile behind. William Penn in the Speaker was ahead of Blake with ships of the Blue squadron. Monck with the White squadron was four miles away to leeward. Seeing that he greatly outnumbered Blake's squadron, Tromp attacked immediately. Blake turned into the wind to face the Dutch attack while Penn's squadron tacked around to support him. For an hour, the battle raged fiercely around the Triumph. Blake's flag captain and secretary were killed; Blake himself was badly wounded in the thigh. Lawson skillfully manoeuvred to join the battle from the south-west. When Monck arrived with the White squadron, the battle swung decisively in favour of the English. A group of frigates bypassed the main action and made for the unprotected Dutch merchantmen. Tromp was forced to disengage from the battle to protect the convoy. Sporadic fighting continued until nightfall but a lack of wind prevented the English fleet from pursuing the Dutch.
On the afternoon of 19 February, the English again made contact with the Dutch as they moved up the Channel. Tromp deployed his warships in a defensive crescent formation to protect the merchantmen. In a running battle, the Dutch warships acted as a rearguard and successfully held off English attempts to break through the formation. By the time darkness fell, the Dutch were running dangerously short of ammunition.
Fighting was renewed on 20 February when the fleets were off Beachy Head. This time the English succeeded in penetrating the Dutch defence and getting in amongst the merchantmen. When darkness fell, the English fleet anchored for the night, intending to renew the attack the next morning. With great skill, Tromp managed to escape during the night and sail into the shallow waters of the Flanders and Zealand coast, where the English didn't risk pursuing him. However, the Dutch had lost eight warships and up to 50 merchantmen. English naval supremacy had been restored and the Channel was now closed to all Dutch seaborne trade.
Leghorn a.k.a. Livorno, 4 March 1653
Early in November 1652, Richard Badiley was appointed commander of English naval forces in the Mediterranean. He planned to relieve Appleton's squadron blockaded at Leghorn by approaching the port with his own squadron to lure the Dutch away. Appleton was to sail out after them and the two small English squadrons would simultaneously attack van Galen's larger Dutch force.
According to plan, on 4 March 1653, the Dutch sailed away from Leghorn to confront Badiley, but Appleton was too early in setting out after them. The Dutch turned about and attacked his squadron before Badiley was near enough to join the fight. Five of Appleton's ships were captured or destroyed. Only the Mary escaped to join Badiley. When Appleton's own ship, the Leopard, was boarded, the crew seized him and surrendered. Heavily outnumbered, Badiley retreated after an initial exchange of gunfire. The Dutch commander Johan van Galen was mortally wounded in the engagement, but the victory secured Dutch control of the Mediterranean and crippled England's trade with the Levant.
North Foreland a.k.a. Gabbard Shoal, 2-3 June 1653
The Dutch Admiralty fitted out another fleet after the battle of Portland, but ignored Tromp's recommendation to build larger and better-armed ships to match the English. In May 1653, Tromp put to sea with 98 warships and six fireships, with de With and de Ruyter as vice-admirals. Meanwhile the English fleet was patrolling the North Sea. At dawn on 2 June, Tromp sighted the English fleet near the Gabbard, a sandbank off Orfordness on the Suffolk coast. The English fleet was slightly larger than the Dutch, with around 110 men-of-war and five fireships. Both fleets were divided into three squadrons in line ahead, with Monck and Deane aboard the Resolution commanding the Red squadron in the centre, Lawson in the George commanding the White squadron ahead and Penn in the James with the Blue squadron astern. The Dutch were in a similar formation, with Tromp in the centre, de Ruyter ahead and de With astern.
Light winds prevented the fleets from closing with one another. At about 11 a.m. they came within range and the battle began with an exchange of cannon fire. Deane was hit by a cannon ball during the first Dutch broadside and killed outright. Monck covered his body with his cloak to avoid discouraging the sailors. The cannonade continued for three hours. Monck made no attempt to break the Dutch line because the light wind would have prolonged his approach, leaving his ships exposed to their broadsides. John Lawson's squadron gradually edged towards de Ruyter, and Tromp moved up to help him, taking immediate advantage of a change in the wind to trap Lawson's squadron between his own ships and de Ruyter's. Monck came up as quickly as he could to assist Lawson, whose ships were hard pressed. Fierce fighting continued until nightfall. The Dutch lost two ships, one blown up and the other sunk.
The battle was renewed at noon the next day, the two fleets having moved south to the vicinity of Dunkirk. The English opened the attack from the north-west. The Dutch were running short of gunpowder and Tromp's position was rendered hopeless when Blake joined the battle with another 18 men-of-war. After resisting for four hours, the Dutch retreated into the shallow waters of the Flemish coast, where the larger English vessels did not risk following them.
Eleven Dutch ships were sunk in the battle and a further nine captured. The English lost no ships and suffered relatively few casualties, though the death of General-at-Sea Deane was a great loss to the Commonwealth. The overwhelming English victory was attributed to bigger and more manoeuvrable ships, to better quality gunpowder and to the new Fighting Instructions which introduced the line-ahead fleet formation. After the victory at North Foreland, Monck's fleet imposed a total blockade on Dutch ports, capturing hundreds of Dutch merchant and fishing vessels. Overseas commerce came to a complete standstill and the Dutch were forced to consider peace terms with the Commonwealth.
Scheveningen a.k.a. The Texel, 31 July 1653
On 24 July 1653, Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp's fleet of 100 warships set sail in an attempt to lift the English blockade of the Dutch coast. Tromp's first objective was the island of Texel, where a squadron of 27 warships and 10 fireships under the command of Vice-Admiral de With was blockaded by 120 English ships commanded by General-at-Sea George Monck. On 29 July, the English sighted Tromp's fleet and sailed to attack. A partial engagement took place a few hours later off Katwijk, but Tromp wanted to avoid a battle until he could join forces with de With. With Monck lured away from Texel, de With's squadron escaped into the open sea.
Tromp and de With met off Scheveningen during the afternoon of 30 July. At 7 a.m. the following day, they sighted Monck's fleet. Having the advantage of the wind, the Dutch moved in to engage the English. The battle was watched by hundreds of spectators on the beaches as the two fleets met in a fierce fight of the line. In the early stages of the battle, Tromp was killed by a musket shot as his flagship the Brederode led the Dutch attack. Tromp's death was kept secret for many hours to avoid undermining Dutch morale. The battle raged all through the morning and afternoon of 31 July with the two lines passing one another several times. Gradually the smaller and more lightly-armed Dutch ships were overwhelmed. With around 10 ships sunk and many badly damaged, the Dutch retreated to the safety of the Texel at about 8 p.m. The commanders de With, de Ruyter and Jan Evertson formed a rearguard to avoid a repetition of the chaos that had ensued during Tromp's retreat from the battle of North Foreland. After the battle, the English also had to return to port to refit and so were unable to maintain the blockade.
Tromp's death was a severe blow not only to the Dutch navy but also to the Orangist political faction, which wanted to defeat the Commonwealth and restore the Stuarts in England. Republican influence grew stronger in the United Provinces after the battle of Scheveningen and peace negotiations began in earnest. The Treaty of Westminster ended the First Anglo-Dutch War in April 1654.
First Anglo-Dutch War: summary
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