battle saint battle saint engagement fought saint near peninsula france french revolutionary wars british garrison placed islands operated resupply base royal_navy ships cruising coast seeking eliminate british presence islands simultaneously test equipment tactics developed france projected invasion britain french launched amphibious assault southern island landing ships thousands troops significant royal_navy forces area combination wind tide prevented intervening island strong garrison left resist attack despite overwhelming french majority numbers attack disaster nearly french soldiers killed boats caught open water island gun batteries sunk hands heavy fire batteries prevented single french soldier landing retreating fleet subject heavy fire smaller island north inflicting losses british casualties operation indicated probable result scale invasion britain threat remained british forces began close blockade surviving landing craft anchored ports month battle strategy resulted secondary success french frigate corvette passing coast intercepted defeated blockade squadron background french revolutionary wars british warships patrolled french coast destroying french maritime traffic blockading french ports captain sir prominent royal_navy officer recognised resupply points established islands french coast cruising warships extend time sea purpose smith seized lie nautical miles peninsula normandy smith constructed barracks gun batteries manned islands sailors including large proportion men unfit ship board service described offered provide garrison french captured smith fell royal_navy regularly supplied food britain visiting vessels brought bags earth allowed development vegetable garden smith supported islands including converted shark nancy class floating battery purpose built defence islands lieutenant captain unpopular officer repeatedly passed promotion commanded british occupation price spent time islands prostitute brought portsmouth french victory italy austrians pressure growing france direct action britain command army deployed named initially given general later passed general prepared invasion britain captain naval administrator antwerp instructed develop suitable fleet landing craft convoy troops english channel commissioned swedish naval architect design invasion barges ships design construction northern french coast supervision boats known french soldiers type boats april ordered prepare squadron barges attack saint islands operation intended simultaneously british garrison restore french control raiding base test effectiveness barges military amphibious operation focus british naval attention away preparations toulon invasion egypt april sailed barges command april found passage blocked british frigates hms diamond captain sir hms captain sir frigates barges mouth opened fire diamond grounded soon frigate brought darkness able inflict damage april french flotilla able leave anchor harbour sur arrival fourth rate captain persuaded return sheltered anchorage mouth returned eastward came fire diamond french flotilla sheltered batteries damage repaired weeks situation changed rear admiral informed difficulties sent reinforcements barges armed fishing ships late april opportunity escape interception british force offshore sailed far west islands waited right combination wind tide allow attack ahead british squadron followed flotilla westwards battle conditions attack perfect calm winds prevented british warships flotilla weak tides prevented disruption craft heavy waves british aware conditions necessary attack swift preparations arm batteries line shore small boat islands watched force rowed steadily approached islands evening sixth rate captain brig commander joined adamant stranded nautical miles away islands calm despite efforts vessels able reach islands time action midnight island boat signaled approach french lieutenant price defences force mustered vessels including number mounted large cannon intended provide covering fire landing barges main body attacking troops numbered french soldiers drawn largely coastal defence units based unwilling risk night attack waited dawn remaining cover night draw craft formation facing western defences southern island lay yards offshore landing barges approach cover attack dawn broke ordered advance smaller cannon barges opened fire british defences batteries lieutenant price consisted cannon pounder long guns pounder guns relatively light batteries inflicted devastating damage light invasion craft despite severe casualties french barges continued approach musket range yards garrison opened fire artillery crews switched shot seven boats sank entire crews troops heavily damaged losses high french called attack return journey carried barges past command lieutenant mounted battery pounder massive guns inflicted additional severe losses squadron desperate efforts reach battle wind light able chase remaining ships aftermath battle disaster french according unofficial accounts lost approximately men killed drowned wounded addition loss number newly constructed landing craft france newly appointed minister marine ordered second attempt islands soon orders immediately want embarrassment second disastrous attack instead gave orders surviving ships sent detachments later reaching ordered return remainder britain successful defence islands highly praised price promoted reward despite recommendation official report british losses included single marine killed personnel wounded victory seen britain likely fate attempted invasion helped ease british fears threat french amphibious attack nearly decades later admiralty issued isles application british participants living british strengthened islands defences case attacks number warships patrolled area observe french movements intercept invasion craft strategy achieved unexpected success intercepted french frigate corvette mouth river british drove ashore boarding parties later burnt islands remained british occupation french attacks peace returned islands french control napoleonic wars remained french protected significant garrison
Battle of the Îles Saint-Marcouf