Battle of Toulon (1744)

Battle of Toulon
Part of the War of the Austrian Succession
Engraving of the Battle (1796) Naval museum of Madrid.
Date 22 February 1744 Location Mediterranean, near Toulon, France Result Tactically indecisive Strategic Franco-Spanish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Spain  France	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Juan José Navarro Claude-Élisée de Court de La Bruyère	Thomas Mathews William Rowley
Strength
27 ships of the line 3 frigates 3 others (1,806 guns)	30 ships of the line 3 frigates 6 others (2,280 guns)
Casualties and losses
149 dead 467 wounded 1 ship of the line scuttled 616 killed or wounded	142 dead 196 wounded 10 ships damaged 1 fireship sunk 338 killed or wounded

Tactically indecisive

149 dead
467 wounded
1 ship of the line scuttled

142 dead
196 wounded
10 ships damaged
1 fireship sunk

The naval Battle of Toulon or Battle of Cape Sicié took place on 22–23 February 1744 (N.S.) in the Mediterranean off the coast of Toulon, France. A combined Franco-Spanish fleet fought off Britain's Mediterranean fleet. The French fleet, not officially at war with Great Britain, only joined the fighting late, when it was clear that the greatly outnumbered Spanish fleet had gained the advantage over its foe. With the French intervention, the British fleet was forced to withdraw.

In Britain the battle was regarded as the most mortifying defeat; the Franco-Spanish fleet successfully ended the British blockade and inflicted considerably more damage to the British than they received, causing the British to withdraw to Minorca in need of heavy repairs. The retreat of Admiral Mathews' fleet left the Mediterranean Sea temporarily under Spanish control, allowing the Spanish navy to deliver troops and supplies to the Spanish army in Italy, decisively swinging the war there in their favour.

Thomas Mathews was tried by court-martial in 1746 on charges of having brought the fleet into action in a disorganised manner, of having fled the enemy, and of having failed to bring the enemy to action when the conditions were advantageous. He was one of seven ship captains dismissed from service.

In English-language literature the battle is viewed as indecisive at best and a fiasco at worst.

The War of the Austrian Succession broke out in 1740, over whether Maria Theresa could inherit the throne of Hapsburg Austria. Britain supported Austria and the claim of Maria Theresa, whilst Spain and France supported the rival claim of Charles, Elector of Bavaria. Britain and Spain had been at war in the Americas since 1739, in the War of Jenkin's Ear. Britain and France were not officially at war at the start of 1744, although they were on opposite sides of the wider conflict and France was secretly planning an invasion of Britain.

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