Croisière du Grand Hiver

Part of the French Revolutionary Wars

Date	24 December 1794 – 3 February 1795
Location	Bay of Biscay
Result	Disastrous damage to the French fleet

Belligerents

Great Britain

First French Republic

Commanders and leaders

Villaret de Joyeuse
François Joseph Bouvet
Joseph-Marie Nielly

Pierre Vanstabel

Villaret de Joyeuse
François Joseph Bouvet
Joseph-Marie Nielly

The Croisière du Grand Hiver (French "Campaign of the Great Winter") was a French attempt to organise a winter naval campaign in the wake of the Glorious First of June.

The Third Battle of Ushant had ended on a strategic success for the French Navy, but on the tactical level, the fleet had suffered its greatest loss since the Battle of La Hogue.

At the end of the year, the National Convention ordered that a squadron under contre-amiral Jean François Renaudin, recently promoted for his defence of Vengeur du Peuple at the Third Battle of Ushant, ferry ammunition from Brest to Toulon. This squadron comprised six ships of the line, three frigates and one corvette. Vice-amiral Villaret-Joyeuse was to sail the fleet of Brest out to escort Renaudin in the Bay of Biscay, cruise these waters for a fortnight, and then return to Brest while sending a 6-ship and 3-frigate strong squadron to Guadeloupe.

The fleet was in bad shape, with ships in disrepair and lacking food. After several attempts, the fleet departed on 24 December 1794.

During the manoeuvers for the departure of the fleet, the 110-gun Républicain broke her anchor cable and, at 17:30, before she could set sails, she touched Mingant rock. Before manoeuvers could be attempted, she began to sustain damage to her hull and take in water. Despite throwing her guns overboard she proved impossible to refloat and settled on the rock as water floaded her hull. As her boats had been damaged or torn off it was impossible to evacuate, and with the heavy sea it was not until 9:00 the next day that Fougueux arrived on the scene and could send boats over to rescue the crew. Eventually, only 10 men drowned, while the rest were rescued.

...
Wikipedia