Action of 17 July 1761 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Action of 17 July 1761
Part of the Seven Years' War
Model of HMS Thunderer from 1760. National Maritime Museum
Date 14–17 July 1761 Location Off Cádiz, Atlantic Ocean Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
Charles Proby	Unknown Captain
Strength
2 ships of the line 1 frigate 1 sloop	1 ship of the line 1 frigate
Casualties and losses
34 killed 96 wounded 1 ship of the line damaged 1 frigate damaged	1 ship of the line captured 1 frigate captured

The Action of 17 July 1761 was a sea battle that happened near the Spanish port of Cádiz. It was fought between a group of ships from the British Royal Navy and a smaller group from the French Navy. This battle took place during the Seven Years' War.

By 1759, British ships were much stronger than French ships in European waters. This was because the French navy had lost many battles. To keep this control, British warships were placed outside French ports. They also watched ports in neutral Spain, which sometimes helped French warships.

In 1761, two French ships were trapped in Cádiz. These were the 64-gun warship Achille and the 32-gun frigate Bouffone. A British group of ships was blocking the port. This group included the large warships HMS Thunderer and HMS Modeste. It also had the frigate HMS Thetis and the small warship HMS Favourite. Captain Charles Proby led this group on Thunderer. When the French ships tried to leave, Captain Proby chased them. He caught them and started a battle. Thunderer was badly damaged when one of its cannons exploded. But Proby managed to get his ship close to Achille. His crew then boarded and captured the French warship. Meanwhile, Thetis and Modeste captured Bouffone.

The Battle at Sea

Why the Battle Happened

In 1759, the French Navy lost many ships in big battles. These were the Battle of Lagos and the Battle of Quiberon Bay. These losses made the Royal Navy much stronger in the Atlantic Ocean. To keep this advantage, the Royal Navy placed its ships outside major French naval bases. This strategy was called a close blockade. French ships sometimes tried to break through these blockades. They wanted to attack British trading ships.

On March 9, 1761, British ships were watching the port of Brest. Commodore Matthew Buckle was in charge. His ships saw a French warship and a frigate leaving the port. Buckle told Captain Edward Jekyll on HMS Rippon to chase them. Jekyll followed the French ships into the Bay of Biscay. The French ships were the 64-gun Achille and the frigate Bouffone.

The French ships were faster than Rippon at first. But Jekyll saw them again the next day. At 9:30 PM, he got his ship next to Achille. They started firing cannons at each other from close range. The wind was strong, and the sea was rough. It was hard for either ship to use their lower cannons. Water would splash in through the gunports. During the fight, a cannon on Rippon suddenly blew up. Many sailors were killed or hurt. Captain Jekyll had to close most of the front gunports. But Rippon's cannons still hit Achille. They broke its front mast and top mast.

This damage made Rippon pull ahead of Achille. Jekyll turned his ship to get ready for another attack. But Achille sailed past the back of Rippon. It missed a chance to fire along the British ship's length. The French ships then started to pull away. Jekyll told his crew to turn Rippon around and follow Achille. But the British ship was too damaged. Achille was able to escape in the dark.

After escaping the blockade, Achille and Bouffone sailed in the Atlantic for several months. Then they entered the Spanish port of Cádiz. Spain was neutral but friendly to France. In July, the British found them there. A small British group of ships was sent to block the harbor. They waited for Achille to try to leave again.

The Main Fight

The British ships blocking Cádiz were strong. They included the 74-gun HMS Thunderer. Captain Charles Proby was its commander. There was also the 64-gun HMS Modeste under Captain Robert Boyle Walsingham. The 32-gun frigate HMS Thetis was led by Captain John Moutray. And the small warship HMS Favourite was commanded by Commander Philemon Pownall.

This group of ships patrolled near the port in early summer. On July 14, they found out that Achille and Bouffone had recently sailed out. Captain Proby ordered his ships to search for the French. They found them on July 16. The French ships were about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Cádiz. A chase began, with the French sailing northwest into the Gulf of Cádiz.

Proby's ships were faster. Thunderer caught up to Achille on the morning of July 17. They were about 57 miles (92 km) northwest of Cádiz. Thunderer started firing cannons at Achille as they got close. The large warships exchanged many cannon shots. As the battle got more intense, a cannon on Thunderer's upper deck suddenly exploded. This blast killed and wounded many sailors.

After the explosion, Proby, who was wounded in the hand, moved Thunderer right next to Achille. He then led his crew in a boarding action. This means they climbed onto the French ship and fought hand-to-hand. They successfully captured Achille. Nearby, Thetis fought Bouffone. The British frigate held up the French ship long enough for Modeste to get close. The French captain saw his frigate was badly outgunned. He then surrendered.

What Happened After

Captain Proby took his ships and the captured French ships back to Gibraltar. The wounded sailors were treated in the hospitals there. The British had 17 sailors killed and 114 wounded. All of these were on Thunderer, mostly from the cannon explosion. Thunderer also had serious damage to its masts and ropes from French cannon fire.

The only other British ship that fought hard was Thetis. It also had damage to its masts and ropes. But Thetis had no sailors killed or wounded. Captain Proby sent a report to the British Admiralty (the leaders of the British Navy). His report did not say how many French sailors were killed or wounded.