Key Facts
- Date
- 30 May 1798
- Theater
- Off the Normandy coast, English Channel
- British flagship
- HMS Hydra (fifth rate)
- French vessels engaged
- Corvette Confiante and Vésuve
- Result for Confiante
- Run ashore, boarded, and burned
- Result for Vésuve
- Escaped to Sallenelles, later repaired and returned to Le Havre
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 30 May 1798, the British squadron spotted two French vessels, Confiante and Vésuve, attempting to pass undetected between Le Havre and Cherbourg. Laforey gave chase, and the French turned back toward Le Havre but could not outrun the British. HMS Hydra engaged Confiante directly while smaller British ships pursued Vésuve. After a brief exchange of fire, both French crews ran their ships aground near the mouth of the Dives to avoid capture.
01 / The Origins
During the French Revolutionary Wars, Britain maintained blockading squadrons along the Normandy coast to interdict French coastal traffic and suppress naval activity. In May 1798, following the Battle of St Marcou earlier that month, a British force under Sir Francis Laforey continued patrol operations in the area between Le Havre and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, where French vessels still moved along the coast and landing barges from the St Marcou raid had taken shelter near the river Dives.
03 / The Outcome
With Confiante stranded and badly damaged, British boarding parties from Hydra and accompanying vessels boarded and burned her the following morning. Vésuve had sustained less damage, and shore-based troops protected her until her crew brought her into Sallenelles harbour. She was subsequently repaired and returned to Le Havre, leaving Britain with a partial tactical success and continued dominance of the Normandy coastal waters.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Sir Francis Laforey.
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.