Battle of Quiberon Bay
The Battle of Quiberon Bay, fought on November 20, 1759, was a significant naval engagement during the Seven Years' War, pitting British forces under Admiral Sir Edward Hawke against the French fleet led by Marshal de Conflans. The battle unfolded after the French attempted to break out of a blockade enforced by Hawke's Western Approaches Squadron. When the French fleet emerged during a gale, the British pursued them into the narrow confines of Quiberon Bay, leading to a decisive conflict. The British suffered the loss of two ships, HMS Resolution and HMS Essex, with approximately 350 men, while the French fleet was substantially decimated, losing five ships and about 2,500 men. This battle marked a pivotal moment in British naval history, reflecting the effectiveness of reforms within the British Admiralty that improved logistical operations and blockading tactics. In contrast, the French navy faced severe challenges, including financial difficulties, which hampered their effectiveness at sea. The leadership and tactics displayed by Admiral Hawke were highly praised and contributed to the broader context of British naval dominance during this period.
Battle of Quiberon Bay
Type of action: Naval battle in the Seven Years’ War
Date: November 20-21, 1759
Location: Quiberon Bay on the west coast of Brittany, France
Combatants: British vs. French
Principal commanders:British, Admiral Sir Edward Hawke (1705–1781); French, Marshal de Conflans (1690–1777)
Result: One of the greatest British naval victories
Admiral Sir Edward Hawke had participated in a series of successful naval battles against the French. In 1759, commanding the Western Approaches Squadron of twenty-three ships from HMS Royal Oak with one hundred guns, Hawke blockaded the Brest Squadron. On the afternoon of November 20, the French, led by Marshal de Conflans, broke out of the blockade during a westerly gale. The chase involved forty-four warships close inshore in Quiberon Bay. The battle resumed the next morning. The French fleet was annihilated. The British lost HMS Resolution and HMS Essex (350 men); the French lost five ships, and several more were stranded (2,500 men). The leadership of Hawke under such extraordinary conditions was highly praised.
Significance
In 1759, the British experienced a series of victories against the French in the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763). The British Admiralty was in the midst of a reform that laid the foundation for modern British sea power. One feature of the reform was a more efficient and productive system of logistical supply for blockading squadrons. In contrast, the French navy of King Louis XV was suffering from crippling financial problems.
Bibliography
Corbett, Julian S. England in the Seven Years’ War: A Study in Combined Strategy. 2 vols. 1907. Reprint. London: Longman, 1992.
Hawke, Edward. The Hawke Papers: A Selection, 1743–1771. Publications of the Navy Records Society 129. Brookfield, Vt.: Gower, 1990.
Mahan, Alfred T. The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783. 1890. Reprint. Boston: Little, Brown, 1987.
Marcus, Geoffrey J. Quiberon Bay: British Battles Series. 1960. Reprint. Barre, Mass.: Barre, 1963.
Pritchard, James S. Louis XV’s Navy, 1748–1762: A Study of Organization and Administration. London: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1987.