One of the few naval engagements of the era fought between two ships of near-equal strength, notable for its close-range ferocity and severe casualties on both sides.
Key Facts
- Date
- 21 April 1798
- Ships engaged
- HMS Mars (74 guns) vs Hercule (74 guns)
- French casualties
- at least 290
- British casualties
- approximately 90
- Duration of close action
- more than one hour
- Hercule's subsequent service
- Repaired and served in Royal Navy until 1810
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The British blockade fleet under Admiral Lord Bridport departed St Helens on 12 April 1798 to maintain the blockade of Brest. On 21 April, while crossing the Iroise Passage, British lookouts spotted sails to the east. The newly commissioned French 74-gun ship Hercule, sailing from Lorient to join the main fleet at Brest, was identified as a target and three British ships were detached to intercept her.
Faced with overwhelming odds, French captain Lhéritier attempted to escape through the narrow Raz de Sein passage but found the tide against him and was forced to anchor and await attack. HMS Mars came alongside Hercule at 21:15 and for over an hour the two ships fired directly into each other at such close range that guns could not be run out. British captain Alexander Hood was mortally wounded during the fighting, and casualties were severe on both sides before Hercule was ultimately compelled to surrender.
Hercule was taken as a prize and conveyed to Britain, where she was repaired and subsequently served in the Royal Navy until 1810. Both commanders received high praise for their conduct. The battle became historically noted as a rare example of a single-ship action between two vessels of approximately equal strength fought without external influence, underscoring the exceptional intensity of close-quarters naval combat.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain Alexander Hood, Admiral Lord Bridport.
Side B
1 belligerent
Captain Louis Lhéritier.