BATTLE OF TOULON (1744)

The naval 'Battle of Toulon' or 'Battle of Cape Sicié' took place on February 22 and 23 February 1744 (New Style) between 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Toulon, France (Cape Sicié is near Toulon). A Spanish convoy defeated Britain's Mediterranean fleet.The french fleet only went to battle at the end of this, when the british fleet retreated.

Contents

Engagement

Order of Battle

Spain ( including the french ships under Bruyere de la Court(Juan José Navarro)

Britain (Thomas Mathews)

Notes

External links

Engagement

On 22 February. 30 British ships under Thomas Mathews attacked a fleet of 27 Spanish ships under Don Juan José Navarro . Mathews had been following the French fleet in case either side declared war on the other as part of the War of the Austrian Succession. At 5:00 p.m., both sides drew away from each other. They attacked each other from afar the next day, but the British suffered heavily, and on 24 February Mathews retreated to Italy.
Mathews' second in command, Vice Admiral Lestock, later petitioned King George II of Great Britain to hold a court-martial against many of the British officers, including Mathews. Mathews and several other officers were dismissed from the Royal Navy.

Order of Battle

Spain ( including the french ships under Bruyere de la Court(Juan José Navarro)

'Van'

''Boree'' 64

''Tolosa''
★ 60

''Tigre'' 50

''Eolo'' 64

''Alción''
★ 56

''Duque de Orleans'' 68

''Esperanza''
★ 74 (flag of de Gavaret)

'Center'

''Tridente'' 64

''Dichoso''
★ 60

''Aquilon'' 44

''Sólido''
★ 64

''Diamante'' 50

''Firme'' 70

''Terrible'' 74 (flag)

''Sancti Spiritus''
★ 68

''Serio'' 64

'Rear'

''Oriente''
★ 60

''América''
★ 60

''Neptuno''
★ 60

''Poder''
★ 60 - Damaged and captured but recaptured, scuttled next day

''Constante'' 70

''Real Felipe''
★ 114 (flag of Juan José Navarro)

''Hércules''
★ 64

''Brillante''
★ 60

''Alcón''
★ 60

''San Fernando''
★ 64

''Soberbio''
★ 60

''Santa Isabel''
★ 80

3 frigates

2 brulotes

1 battleship being used as a hospital ship

Ships marked
★ were Spanish.

Britain (Thomas Mathews)

'Van'

''Chatham'' 50

''Nassau'' 70

''Chichester'' 80

''Boyne'' 80

''Barfleur'' 90 (flag of Rowley)

''Princess Carolina'' 80

''Berwick'' 70

''Stirling Castle'' 70

''Bedford'' 70

'Center'

''Dragon'' 60

''Royal Oak'' 70

''Princess'' 70

''Somerset'' 80

''Norfolk'' 80

''Marlborough'' 90

''Dorsetshire'' 80

''Essex'' 70 (Richard Norris)

''Rupert'' 60

''Namur'' 90 (flag)

'Rear'

''Salisbury'' 50

''Romney'' 50

''Dumkint''? 60

''Revenge'' 70

''Cambridge'' 80

''Neptune'' 90 (flag of Lestok)

''Torbay'' 80

''Russell'' 80

''Buckingham'' 70

''Elizabeth'' 70

''Kingston'' 60

''Oxford'' 50

''Warwick'' 60

3 frigates

3 brulotes

3 bergantines (brigantines?)

Notes

1. Carlos Martínez-Valverde, ''La campaña de don Juan José Navarro en el Mediterráneo y la batalla de Sicié (1742-1744).''

External links

★ The 1911 Encyclopedia

★ La campaña de don Juan José Navarro en el Mediterráneo y la batalla de Sicié (1742-1744)