Battle of Grenada

Battle of Grenada
Part of the American Revolutionary War

Battle of Grenada, Jean-François Hue
Date6 July 1779
Location12°03′N 61°45′W / 12.05°N 61.75°W / 12.05; -61.75
Result French victory[1]
Belligerents
 France  Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Charles Henri Hector Kingdom of Great Britain John Byron
Strength
25 ships of the line 21 ships of the line
Casualties and losses
173 killed
773 wounded[2]
183 killed,
346 wounded[3]

The Battle of Grenada took place on 6 July 1779 during the American Revolutionary War in the West Indies between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy, just off the coast of Grenada. A British fleet led by Admiral John Byron (the grandfather of Lord Byron) had sailed in an attempt to relieve Grenada, which the French forces of the Comte D'Estaing had just captured.

Incorrectly believing he had numerical superiority, Byron ordered a general chase to attack the French as they left their anchorage at Grenada. Because of the disorganized attack and the French Navy's numerical superiority, Byron's fleet was badly mauled in the encounter, although no ships were lost on either side. Naval historian Alfred Thayer Mahan described the battle as "the most disastrous... that the British Navy had encountered since Beachy Head, in 1690."[4]

  1. ^ Castex (2004), pp. 196-99
  2. ^ Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 205.
  3. ^ Clowes (1898), p. 434.
  4. ^ Mahan, pp. 438–439