"“Bring me out the enemy’s ship if you can…” 1796 " Topic

"Close blockade of the coasts of French-occupied countries in the Napoleonic era was the most important weapon in Britain's armoury. It may indeed also have been the single most important factor in securing Napoleon's ultimate defeat. He all but acknowledged this by his remark during his exile of St. Helena: "If it had not been for the English I should have been emperor of the East, but wherever there is water to float a ship we are sure to find them in our way."

Recent articles in this blog have focussed on the confident aggression that was such a characteristic of Royal Navy personnel involved in such operations. In this article we look at an example of what was perhaps the most difficult – and all but suicidal – action of the period, the capture of an enemy vessel anchored under the protection of powerful shore batteries.

In July 1796 The great French naval base of Toulon, in Southern France, was under close blockade by forces under the command of Sir John Jervis (1735 –1823) – not yet Earl St. Vincent – who was then flying his flag in HMS Victory. On July 9th a French corvette, which later proved to be l'Utile, armed with twenty-four 6-pounders, was detected creeping along the coast into the bay of Hyères, separated from Toulon by a jutting peninsula. Lying to the east of the latter's tip were three islands, that of Porquerolles and the dual Illes d'Hyères. l'Utile anchored there, very close inshore, behind the islands and overlooked by powerful French shore-batteries. Her officers might well have regarded her position as invulnerable…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Cutting out operations always seem to be regarded as extremely dangerous, but they almost always succeed. I can only think of one failed operation, during the War of 1812. Still, a very interesting read that was new to me.

Thanks.

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand