raid genoa raid genoa minor naval engagement fought harbour italian city genoa year french revolutionary wars french republican forces mediterranean pressure austrian spanish armies royalist uprisings british blockade suffered loss principal naval base fleet stationed british forces lord hood seized toulon invitation city royalist faction survivors french fleet scattered mediterranean neutral italian including frigates genoa eliminate threat isolated frigates posed hood ordered squadron rear admiral investigate harbour genoa squadron arrived october discovered smaller warships anchor later day ships squadron launched ship boats instigated boarding action anchored ships defiance neutrality french crews resisted british boarding parties successfully captured vessels suffering casualties days later detached hms captain seized abandoned fled action strategic consequences republican faction genoa strong successfully barred austrian reinforcements sailing join allied garrison developing siege toulon outnumbered defenders port overwhelmed driven sea republican assault december mediterranean french revolutionary wars began conflict new following french revolution spread involve number european nations including spain great_britain addition external threats political tensions france led series uprisings republic summer particularly south country centres royalist activity city toulon major naval base home port powerful august fighting republican forces british troops control heights overlooking city toulon surrendered lord hood commander british_royal_navy mediterranean_fleet hood forces occupied city seized french fleet harbour called reinforcements defend toulon inevitable republican counterattack receiving spanish contingents following weeks siege toulon developed austrian troops promised dispatched fighting french troops reach toulon sea scheduled embark city port genoa capital italian state stage war officially neutral genoa common northern italian cities state political french revolution inspired similarly minded revolutionaries italy support republican ideas substantial republican faction government supported france cause food supplies regularly shipped genoa republican armies demands ambassador genoa trade cease went situation genoa compounded presence french warships waters parts french fleet seized toulon deprived home port taken refuge neutral italian ports relying italian neutrality protect attack numerous enemy fleets operating largest ships gun frigate gun taken shelter genoa grand respectively presented threat allied shipping movement reinforcements italian ports despite strong protests drake lord ambassador republican genoa refused french ships leave consequence hood resolved frigates eliminated republicans genoa withdrawing support raid confront french frigates hood diverted powerful squadron fleet toulon force led rear admiral gun ship line hms george included gun captain hms captain captain french royalist smaller warships accompanied larger warships hms commander force ordered sail genoa eliminate squadron arrived port october clearly visible harbour anchored mole near small mediterranean sailing craft armed guns carrying crews men senior officers squadron held council determine best course action decided diplomatic options failed appeared support french british resort military solution afternoon october slowly harbour alongside launched ship boats captain brought close french frigate british arrival reportedly greeted french sailors boarding party frigate deck met resistance french crew ordered ship fire french sailors killing wounding attack broke resolve french surrendered sea escape capture collected boats captain subdued boats approached boat parties boarded small french warships crew surrendered resisted british short melee broke deck resulting captain french sailor wounded firmly british hands raid completed british squadron withdrew genoa prizes french sailor killed operation wounded british boarding parties survived unscathed alarmed raid genoa authorities ordered leave immediately frigate sailed north took shelter cove near port days capture captain reached acting reports bay discovered french ship guns santa maria shore battery following morning october ship boats tow captain alongside boat parties ship line boarded frigate discovering french crew abandoned ship night scuttled shallow water british able possession opposition battery instructed frigate ship completing temporary repairs october sailing toulon prize aftermath high quality modern ships immediately recommissioned royal_navy hms unite ship similar service repercussions operation severe acting instructions hood violated neutrality deliberate attempt pro republican faction city actions readily seized french portrayed raid massacre unarmed sailors print form government broke diplomatic relations britain austrian reinforcements destined toulon unable embark drake british inhabitants genoa expelled initiated blockade city seizing neutral merchant shipping destined port ships stationed watch government including royalist november carrying prisoners taken raid genoa caught fire possibly result arson destroyed accounts suggest barrel ignited accidentally blaze killed royalist crew classed unfit duty austrian reinforcements defenders toulon outnumbered coming sustained attack french troops directed year old artillery officer captain december french troops seized high ground city allies forced chaotic withdrawal hood ships removed garrison refugees city boat parties led sir attempted destroy french fleet efforts partially successful ships line frigates survived form nucleus war come evening december toulon firmly republican hands
Raid on Genoa