Battle of the Gulf of Roses

Battle of the War of the First Coalition
42°11′16″N 3°11′18″E / 42.18778°N 3.18833°E / 42.18778; 3.18833Result Spanish victoryBelligerents Spain FranceCommanders and leaders Juan de Lángara Captain Guet (POW)Strength 1 ship of the line 1 frigateCasualties and losses Minor 280 killed or wounded
1 frigate captured[1]
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War of the Pyrenees
Eastern Pyrenees
Western Pyrenees
  • Toulon
  • Fort-Dauphin
  • Gulf of Roses
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The Battle of the Gulf of Roses, also known as action of 14 February 1795, was a minor naval engagement of the French Revolutionary Wars fought in the Gulf of Roses between a ship of the line of Juan de Lángara’s fleet and a French squadron of a frigate and a corvette. For orders of Lángara, the Spanish Ship of the Line Reina María Luisa of 112 guns, chased the French frigate, named Iphigenie, more than one day, forcing her to strike her colors. The corvette, which separated three days before in a storm, was supposed to be lost.[2]

Several days later, on 30 March, when the Montañés of 74 guns was carrying the prize, she was attacked by a strong French squadron of eight ships of the line and two frigates which initially waved the Spanish flag.[3] Thanks to her superior speed, she was able to reach the port of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, and after a hard fight in which she fired 1,100 cannonballs,[4] the attacking forces were rejected with the only loss aboard the Montañés of three men killed and few wounded.[4] The French withdrew to Menorca.

Notes

  1. ^ Marcelino p.203
  2. ^ Debrett p.39
  3. ^ Marcelino p.204
  4. ^ a b Marcelino p.205

References

  • Debrett, John (1795). collection of State papers, relative to the war against France now carrying on by Great-Britain and the several other European powers. London: J. Debrett.
  • Marcelino Travieso, José (1856). La marina: revista científica, militar, administrativa, histórica, literaria, política y de comercio. Vol. 2. Madrid: Imprenta de T. Fortanet.