Battle of Grenada

Battle of Grenada
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Battle of Grenada, by Jean-François Hue
Date 6 July 1779 Location Off Grenada, West Indies Result French victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
John Byron	Comte D'Estaing
Strength
21 ships of the line 1,516 guns	25 ships of the line 1,468 guns
Casualties and losses
1,055 dead or wounded, 4 ships heavily damaged	176 dead, 773 wounded

21 ships of the line

25 ships of the line

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. The British fleet of 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 superiority, the British fleet was badly mauled in the encounter, although no ships were lost. Naval historian Alfred Thayer Mahan described the British loss as "the most disastrous ... that the British Navy had encountered since Beachy Head, in 1690."

Following the entry of France into the American War of Independence as an American ally in early 1778, French Admiral the Comte D'Estaing arrived in the West Indies in early December 1778 in command of a fleet consisting of 12 ships of the line and a number of smaller vessels. At about the same time, a British fleet under Admiral William Hotham also arrived, augmenting the fleet of Admiral Samuel Barrington. The British then captured French-held St. Lucia, despite d'Estaing's attempt at relief. The British used St. Lucia to monitor the major French base at Martinique, where d'Estaing was headquartered.

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