Saint Kitts, 1782

Hood's anchored fleet (left) repels the French fleet under De Grasse. From a painting by Nicholas Pocock

A change for us today, as we take to the high seas for the Battle of Saint Kitts, also known as the Battle of Frigate Bay. In January 1782, during the American War of Independence, the French Admiral Comte de Grasse attacked the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and laid siege to the fortress on Brimstone Hill.

On 24th January, the British fleet commanded by Sir Samuel Hood, consisting of 22 ships of the line, ran into and captured the French 16-gun cutter Espion close off the south east of Nevis.

At daybreak on 25th, the French fleet, consisting of 31 ships, including the 110-gun Ville de Paris, was discovered south of Basseterre. Hood stood towards the French fleet, with the intention of bringing them to battle, an action which had the effect of drawing the French fleet away from land. Having effected this, Hood was aided by a favourable change in the wind, and took his fleet within the anchorage of Basseterre, or Frigate Bay, which the French admiral had quitted. Hood ordered his fleet in an L formation and, once achieved, he then ordered them to lay anchor. Comte de Grasse, in frustration, made three vigorous attacks upon the British fleet on the 26th but was successively repulsed with great damage to his ships.

Losses on both sides were light but the French fleet suffered considerable damage. Hood managed to remain in position for two weeks without further incident. Despite outmanoeuvring De Grasse, Hood was unable to save the island from capture, due in part to the French siege of Brimstone Hill.