Battle of Solebay

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Battle of Solebay
Part of the Franco-Dutch War and Third Anglo-Dutch War
The Burning of the Royal James at the Battle of Solebay, 28 May 1672 by Willem van de Velde the Younger
Date 6 June 1672 Location Solebay, England Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Dutch Republic	England  France
Commanders and leaders
De Ruyter Banckert Van Ghent †	York Sandwich † d'Estrées
Strength
61 ships of the line 14 frigates 32 fire ships 22 smaller ships 4,500 guns 20,700 men[1][2]	80 ships of the line 13 frigates 24 fire ships 28 smaller ships 6,158 guns 35,000-40,000 men[3][2]
Casualties and losses
1 ship destroyed 1 ship captured ≈1,600 sailors killed	4 ships destroyed ≈2,500 sailors killed

The Battle of Solebay took place on 6 June 1672 New Style, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, near Southwold, Suffolk, in eastern England. A Dutch fleet under Michiel de Ruyter attacked a combined Anglo-French force in one of the largest naval battles of the age of sail. Fighting continued much of the day, but ended at sunset without a clear victory. However, the scattered Allied fleet had suffered far more damage and was forced to abandon any plans to land troops on the Dutch coast.^[4][5]