My largest project to date, this is a new project dealing with two connected naval campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars.
The first campaign is the Atlantic campaign of 1805–1806. In the aftermath of the Trafalgar campaign of 1805, most noted for the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805 but concluded at the Battle of Cape Ortegal two weeks later, the French launched a new major offensive against British trade in the Atlantic, and particularly in the West Indies. A fleet departed Brest on 13 December 1805 for the West Indies and was rapidly broken into two squadrons. Unlike Villeneuve's fleet, these forces had clear objectives to disrupt British trade in the region and support French colonies, particularly Saint Domingue. Although both had some successes against merchant shipping, neither escaped unscathed, as the list of actions below attests.
The second campaign actually predates the first: a squadron of ships under Admiral Charles Linois left France in late 1803 under instructions to operate in the Indian Ocean. Although Linois has some success against British merchant shipping in the region, he is best known for failing to capture the British China Fleet at the Battle of Pulo Aura and again a year later, as well as some minor engagements off India. During his return journey in 1806, Linois ran into a British fleet in the mid-Atlantic, sent to search for the French squadrons, and was defeated.
Atlantic campaign of 1805–1806
edit- Article on the overall campaign
- 13 December 1805, Squadrons of Willaumez and Lessigues break out of Brest into the Atlantic
- 15 December 1805, Combined squadrons meet merchant convoy of 23 ships with minimal escorts. Convoy is divided and escapes.
- 24 December 1805, word reaches the Admiralty of the French breakout and squadrons under Warren and Strachan are sent after them, leaving in mid-January.
- 25 December 1805, A British fleet under Duckworth encounters Willaumez's ships but refuses battle.
- 6 February 1806, Battle of San Domingo, Lessgues' squadron discovered and destroyed by Duckworth's fleet
- 13 March 1806, Action of 13 March 1806, squadron under Admiral Warren, hunting for Willaumez, encounters Linois' ships and captures them.
- Early April 1806, Willaumez's squadron anchors at San Salvador, Brazil for supplies
- 19 May 1806, Strachan is sent out again, having returned without encountering the French. The composition of his squadron is changed to increase its speed.
- June 1806, Willaumez's ships raid the Leeward Islands with mixed success.
- 31 July 1806, Veteran under Jerome Bonaparte deserts Willaumez's squadron and returns to Europe without orders or warning. Willaumez wastes two weeks searching for him and thus misses a chance to intercept the Jamaica merchant convoy.
- 10 August 1806, Jerome encouters a merchant convoy from Quebec and captures 6-9 ships.
- 18 August 1806, Willaumez's fleet dispersed by a hurricane. Foudroyant takes shelter in Havanna, other ships are scattered across the Eastern Seaboard.
- 14 September 1806, Remains of Willaumez's fleet were discovered off Cape Henry. Impetueux destroyed, others escape to Europe individually, the last (Foudroyant) arriving in February 1807.
Cruise of Linois
edit- Article on the overall campaign
- 13 March 1803 - Lionois escapes from Pondicherry shortly before its capture by British forces, evading a squadron sent to intercept him under Admiral Peter Rainier.
- March - August 1803, Linois sails to Ile de France and there learns about the declaration of war.
- August - December 1803, Linois sails for Java, capturing a number of British merchant ships. On his arrival, he attacks the British trading post of Bencoolen, before anchoring in Batavia on 10 December.
- December 1803 - February 1804, Linois leaves Batavia in search of the China Fleet on 28 December, whose date of departure and route has been communicated with him.
- Action of 14 February 1804 - Battle of Pulo Aura
- Linois squadron driven off by British China Fleet.
- February - April 1804, Linois takes on provisions at Batavia and then sails for Ile de France. There he is criticised by Charles Decaen. He remains at Ile de France for two and a half months.
- June - September, Linois cruises off Madagascar, but is forced to anchor for a substantial period due to bad weather. He then operates off Ceylon, capturing a number of merchant ships and head north in pursuit of more. From his captives, he learns of the ships gathered at Vizagapatam.
- Action of 15 September 1804 - Battle of Vizagapatam
- Linois' squadron captures an East Indiamen from Vizagapatam harbour and destroys another, despite strong resistance from HMS Centurion.
- March-November 1804 - Linois returns to the Ile de France, capturing a valuable merchant ship on the way. Belle Poule seperates and also captures a merchant ship, arriving before the flagship.
- November 1804 - May 1805 - Marengo is overhauled and refitted to repair the damage from the Vizagapatam action and from extended sailing. Semillante is sent to the Philippines in March and Atalante to the Cape of Good Hope earlier in the year.
- May - July 1805 - Linois cruises off the Red Sea and then Ceylon, there engaging and capturing East Indiaman Brunswick and destroying country ship Sarah.
- Action of 6 August 1805
- Linois' squadron driven off by the escorts of a British convoy, later anchored in Simon's Bay
- September - November 1805, anchored at Simon's Bay, Dutch South Africa. Atalante wrecked.
- November 1805 - 29 January 1806, cruised off southwestern Africa, captured two merchant ships. Leanred of the British capture of the Cape and decided to sail for France. 17 February crossed the Equator.
- February - March 1806, sailed northwards into North Atlantic.
- Action of 13 March 1806
- 26,16,N 29,25, W (about 2,000km west of modern Morrocco) - Linois' squadron captured by British squadron in mid-Atlantic.