Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue

Overview

The Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue took place during the Nine Years' War, between 19 May O.S. and 4 June O.S. 1692. The first was fought near Barfleur on 19 May O.S., with later actions occurring between 20 May O.S. and 4 June O.S. at Cherbourg and Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue in Normandy, France.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue unfolded across more than two weeks of fighting between late May and early June 1692, spanning engagements near Barfleur and subsequent actions at Cherbourg and Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue in Normandy. The allied English and Dutch fleet under Edward Russell and Philips van Almonde brought a considerable numerical advantage over the French force commanded by Anne Tourville and Bernardin Bellefonds, with English-allied forces recorded at 39,000 against 21,000 French. The drawn casualty figures — 5,000 on each side — indicate that the fighting was costly despite the disparity in force sizes. Fought within the Nine Years' War, the engagement formed part of the broader maritime contest between France and the allied powers that shaped control of the Channel and Atlantic approaches during that conflict.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (4)