LA HOGUE, BATTLE OF, a clumsy name given to the naval operations between the English, Dutch and French fleets off the Normandy coast, May 19 to 23, 1692. Louis XIV. had assembled near La Hogue, for the invasion of England, a mixed French and Irish army, together with transports, under the com mand of Marshal Bellefonds and the exiled king, James II. Ad miral the comte de Tourville was bringing the Brest fleet of 44 of the line up the Channel, his orders being to protect the cross ing of the invading army, which implied a possible action with the English and Dutch fleets then concentrated off Spithead. These comprised 63 English and 36 Dutch ships of the line, under the supreme command of Admiral Edward Russell, assisted by Admiral Philippus van Almonde (Dutch) and Admiral Sir John Ashby. French hopes that Jacobite intrigues would cause dis affection in the English fleet were entirely shattered by Russell's vigorous assertion of his own and his officers' complete loyalty, in response to a personal appeal by the queen. Tourville was sighted off Portland on May 15, and Russell at once took the allied fleet across the Channel, and early on the J9th sighted Tour ville westward, off Cape Barfleur. At that very moment despatch boats from Louis XIV. were trying to find Tourville, with last minute instructions, permitting him to avoid battle against such superior forces. But the vessels never reached him, and, stung by the king's previous aspersions, he determined to fight.
The wind being south-west, Russell formed the allies in line ahead on the starboard tack, heading south-east towards the French coast, and at about 9 A.M. Tourville bore down to attack, keeping his van at long range and disposing his inferior force equally along the whole allied line. For some time the French held their own, the Dutch ships in the allied van being unable to double them, owing to the wind dropping; but about 2 P.M. it began to blow north-west by west and Rear-admiral Clowdisley Shovel was able to break through the French line with the leading division of the allied centre. Rear-admiral Richard Carter had meanwhile doubled the French rear with the sternmost division of the allied rear, and the French were in a most critical position.
However, the wind again dropped and both fleets anchored on the flowing tide at 3 P.M. The English ships which had weathered the enemy's fleet were now cut off, and as they tried to drift back through the French line on the tide they received heavy damage, Carter being killed.
At 5 P.M. Tourville who had put up a most courageous fight against very superior forces began to withdraw, having so far not lost a single ship. But from this moment he was completely overwhelmed, though fogs and changing winds for some time held up the allied chase. This was continued intermittently throughout the next day. On May 21 both fleets were off Cape La Hogue, and d'Amfreville led 20 of the French to St. Malo through the treacherous Race of Alderney. The remainder being unable to round the Cape doubled back eastwards on the tide. Tourville's flagship, the "Soleil Royal," which was too damaged for further use, ran into Cherbourg bay with two other three-deckers, all being burnt later by Vice-admiral Sir Ralph Delavall. Meanwhile, Tourville, with 12 of the ships which had turned back to the east, rounded Cape Barfleur and anchored in the bay of La Hogue where the army for the invasion was encamped. Tourville warped six ships under the guns of Fort Lisset, and the other six under the guns of Fort St. Vaast, thinking himself fairly secure. But on the night of May 23 Russell sent in a strong force of 200 boats supported by shallow draft frigates, all under the command of Admiral George Rooke, who succeeded in burning the six ships under Fort Lisset, despite the fire from the fort's guns and the small arms of the troops. Next morning, May 24, Rooke again entered the bay and destroyed the ships under St. Vaast as well as the transports for the army. The remaining nine of the French fleet escaped to other harbours.