Battle of the Raz de Sein

Battle of the Raz de Sein
Part of the French Revolutionary Wars
The furious action between H.M.S. Mars and the French '74 Hercule off Brest on 21st April 1798, John Christian Schetky
Date 21 April 1798 Location Raz de Sein, off Brest, Bay of Biscay Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	French Republic
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Hood  †	Louis L'Héritier
Strength
Ship of the line HMS Mars	Ship of the line Hercule
Casualties and losses
30 killed, 60 wounded	290 casualties Hercule captured

Coordinates: 48°02′02″N 04°46′25″W / 48.03389°N 4.77361°W / 48.03389; -4.77361

The Battle of the Raz de Sein was a naval engagement of the blockade of Brest during the French Revolutionary Wars between a French and Royal Navy ships of the line on 21 April 1798. The British blockade fleet under Admiral Lord Bridport had sailed from St Helens on 12 April and on the morning of 21 April was crossing the Iroise Passage when sails were spotted to the east. Three ships were detached in pursuit, led by the 74-gun ship of the line HMS Mars under Captain Alexander Hood. As the British ships approached their quarry a third sail was sighted to the southeast close to the coastline and moving north towards Brest.

This ship was the 74-gun Hercule under Captain Louis L'Héritier, newly commissioned at Lorient and sailing to Brest to join the main French fleet and the British squadron immediately changed direction to intercept the new target. Facing overwhelming odds L'Héritier attempted to escape through the narrow Raz de Sein passage, but found the tide against him and so anchored at the mouth of the passage to await the British attack. At 21:15 Mars reached Hercule, coming under heavy fire as Hood manoeuvred into position, bringing his ship crashing alongside the French vessel. For more than an hour the ships fired directly into one another, so close that their guns could not be run out but had to be fired from inside the ships. Damage and casualties were severe on both sides, the latter including Hood who was mortally wounded at the height of the engagement.

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