Action of March 1677

Action of March 1677
	Part of Franco-Dutch War
Date	March 1677
Location	off Tobago
Result	Dutch victory, French attack repelled
Belligerents
France	Dutch Republic
Commanders and leaders
Jean II d'Estrées;	Jacob Binckes; Roemer Vlacq
Strength
10 ships; Some smaller vessels	10 ships; Some merchant ships
Casualties and losses
4 ships	7 ships

The action of March 1677 in the West Indies, often called the Battle of Tobago, took place on 3 March 1677 between a Dutch fleet under Jacob Binckes and a French force attempting to recapture the island of Tobago. There was much death and destruction on both sides. One of the Dutch supply ships caught fire and exploded; the fire then quickly spread in the narrow bay causing several ships, among them the French flagship Glorieux, to catch fire and explode in turn which resulted in great loss of life. The French under Vice-Admiral Comte d'Estrées retreated but would make a second attempt at the end of the year with a much stronger fleet.

Order of battle[]

France (d'Estrées)[]

Glorieux (flag, 60 guns) - (Jean, Comte d'Estrées) Burnt; 60 people dead
Intrépide (56 guns) - () Captured and burnt
Précieux (54 guns) - Aground and captured
Marquis (46 guns) - Blew up
Galant (46 guns) - Damaged
Fendant (54 guns) - (Charles de Courbon de Blénac) Damaged
Jeux (40 guns)
Emérillon (36 guns)
Soleil d'Afrique (30 guns)
Laurier (28 guns) - (Charles-François de Machault de Belmont)
plus some smaller vessels

Netherlands[]

Beschermer (flag) - (Jacob Binckes) 50 people dead
Huis te Kruiningen - (Roemer Vlacq) Captured, blown up by its own crew; 56 people dead
Zeelandia - 44 people dead
Leyden - Damaged
6 anonymous other ships, and some merchant ships

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