Battle of Texel

Solebay - First Schooneveld - Second Schooneveld - Texel

In the Battle of Texel, the fourth battle of the Third English- Dutch War, met on 11 Augustjul. / August 21 1673greg. the fleet of the United Provinces of the Netherlands again the combined fleets of the Commonwealth of England and the Kingdom of France in the North Sea off the Dutch island of Texel.

In Dutch, these battles are called Battle at Kijkduin.

Prehistory

English and the French, under the command of Rupert of the Palatinate, wanted again troops land in the Netherlands and in England had 20,000 men drawn together. A fleet consisting of at least 90 ships of the line and frigates should cover the landing and hit the Texel on 75 ships of the Dutch.

Course

The Dutch commander Michiel de Ruyter took advantage of the knowledge of the coast and already succeeded in the night before the battle, so to maneuver under the coast that he could attack from a favorable wind position.

He could gain the windward position and let squadron as attack. The significantly weaker Dutch vanguard under Admiral Banckers had the French vanguard busy and put off. The respective rear guard and the main body of both fleets were about equal in strength. The battle took place in three separate battles. The Dutch vanguard broke through the enemy lines, the French vanguard left behind and supported after the attack on the center, while the French remained passive in the sequence. This could de Ruyter also claim the middle against the English and engage with the central power in the battle of the rearguard. Only when it was dark and de Ruyter had already won the French fleet was approaching.

In the evening, the British broke off the fight and gave the attempt to land on.

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