Battle of Dogger Bank (1696) explained

Conflict:Battle of Dogger Bank
Partof:War of the Grand Alliance
Date:17 June 1696
Place:Dogger Bank, Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates:54.724°N 2.769°W
Result:French victory
Commander1: Jean Bart
Commander2: Rutger Bucking
Strength1:7 frigates
1 fireship
2 longboats
2 privateers
Strength2:5 frigates
112 merchant ships
Casualties1:31 killed and wounded
Casualties2:Unknown killed and wounded
1,200 captured
4 frigates destroyed
1 frigate captured
25 merchant ships destroyed

The Battle of Dogger Bank is the name of a battle which took place on 17 June 1696 as part of the War of the Grand Alliance. It was a victory for a French force of seven ships over a Dutch force of five ships and the convoy it was escorting.

Battle

The French privateer Jean Bart found a Dutch convoy of 112 merchant ships, escorted by five Dutch ships near Dogger Bank.

The French had more warships and more cannons than the Dutch. Furthermore, the French crews were very experienced and led by an exceptional commander, so the outcome of the battle was very predictable. However, the French had to hurry because a large English squadron, under Admiral John Benbow, was aware of the French presence and was looking for them.

The battle started on 19:00, when Jean Bart on the Maure attacked the Dutch flagship, the Raadhuis-van-Haarlem. the Dutch fought valiantly for three hours until their captain was killed. Then they surrendered and so did the 4 other ships, one after another.

Jean Bart captured and burned 25 merchant ships until Benbow's squadron of 18 ships approached. The French squadron fled towards Denmark. They remained there until July and then slipped through the allied lines into Dunkirk with 1200 prisoners, on 27 September.

Ships involved

France

Netherlands

Bibliography