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BATTLE // May 12, 1796

Action of 12 May 1796

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Significance

The action of 12 May 1796 was a minor engagement within the broader British effort to contain Batavian naval forces during the War of the First Coalition. The British North Sea fleet under Admiral Adam Duncan was maintaining a blockading presence off the Texel anchorage, and the detachment under Captain Lawrence Halstead intercepted a Batavian squadron that had been sheltering on the Norwegian coast since its defeat at the action of 22 August 1795. The engagement illustrates the sustained British pressure on Batavian sea communications during this period, as returning enemy vessels could be intercepted before regaining the protection of their home anchorage.

Tactics

The British squadron was detached from Duncan's North Sea fleet, which was cruising off the Texel, and moved to intercept the Batavian squadron as it neared the Dutch coast on its return from Norway. Halstead's force attacked the five Batavian ships as they approached their home waters. The overview does not describe the specific maneuvers, formations, or dispositions employed during the engagement.

Commanders (1)

Great Britain

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Last verified June 2026
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