Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare: Strategy, Weapons, Commanders, and Ships: 1190 BC - Present by Dickie Iain & Jestice Phyllis & Jorgensen Christer & Rice Rob S. & Dougherty Martin J

Author:Dickie, Iain & Jestice, Phyllis & Jorgensen, Christer & Rice, Rob S. & Dougherty, Martin J. [Dickie, Iain]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: 2009-06-08T16:00:00+00:00

Deadly Melee

Hawke’s 100-gun flagship, the Royal George, bore down on the 70-gun Superbe and sank it with a single, massive broadside at the waterline. It sank with all hands, spreading panic among the French ships. Captain Kersaint, in charge of the 74-gun Thésée, did not fancy sharing the Superbe’s fate and ordered his lower gun ports opened. Unfortunately a sudden fierce squall rolled Thésée to leeward and water poured in. Both French and British onlookers were appalled as the ship sunk like a stone. The British Admiral Keppel ordered out the longboats to pick up survivors. By this point, both sides had begun to appreciate that the greatest enemy was the sea itself.Aboard the Royal George, the chaplain noted that, out of 100 shots fired by the French ships, only 40 actually hit the intended target, a sure sign that the enemy was gripped by panic. Undirected bravery of the type shown by Kersaint and the Thésée would prove no match for the discipline and experience of the British crews.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.