The Battle of Lowestoft 13th June 1665 (A Scenario Based on the Opening Moves) - General at Sea

The Battle of Lowestoft 1665 - Jan de Quelery
https://www.quelery.nl/Q/works/The-Battle-of-Lowestoft-1665

The Anglo-Dutch Wars sees the first tactical developments of a fixed order of battle to be imposed on conservative captains, with English admirals well aware of the evil of allowing a battle to degenerate into a series of private duels and detached skirmishes, and the temptation among their commanders to acquire glory by boarding and taking an enemy ship, knowing too well the nature of their gentlemen captains and captains of hired merchantmen, only too anxious to make private captures.

Apart from the size of the fleets involved making the maintenance of cohesion particularly difficult, if the enemy fleet started to shed small groups here and there through disablement, inefficiency or faint heartedness, or as part of a ruse de guerre, common sense demanded complete concentration of the main force so as to take, sink or disable as many enemy ships as possible, including the flagship of the commander-in-chief.

There really are not many helpful comparisons with this early era of age of sail naval warfare with that of the far smaller and more highly trained fleets of Nelson's time and thus makes the gaming of these early battles a very interesting intellectual challenge for the gamer handling similar issues faced by the respective commanders. 

In 'Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail' by Brian Tunstall, the author, poses the question 

'What were the sea battles of the Second and Third Dutch Wars really like?' stating that ' Despite narratives and observations in flag-officers journals and elsewhere, the evidence for effective tactical cohesion is slight. It was the squadron commanders of the Red, White and Blue who dictated the form of the battle, even though they could not wholly prevent their own vice-admirals and rear-admirals from fighting independent small divisional actions. In view, moreover, of the individual differences in gunpower of the so called ships-of-the-line, it is scarcely surprising that the 'flagmen' in the big ships, tended to become centres of local engagement.

There was of course a great awareness of the need to co-operate, and particularly of the need to relieve ships in distress. There was also a keen sense of the need to anticipate the next move of the nearest enemy and to take action in advance to cover or relieve ships of another squadron or division rather than merely to safeguard one's own.

All this showed an admirable sense of what a hundred and thirty years later could be characterised as mutual support. It stemmed, however, from tactical anarchy rather than from tactical formalism, which was wisely ignored when deemed necessary, by sophisticated commanders.' 

The Battle of Lowestoft took place on the 13th June 1665 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, when a fleet of more than a hundred ships of the United Provinces commanded by Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer, Lord Obdam, attacked a British fleet of equal size commanded by James, Duke of York, forty miles east of the port of Lowestoft in Suffolk.

Jacob Baron van Wassenaer (1616-65)
attributed to Abraham Willaerts

The battle showed most of the tactical shortcomings characteristic of both wars, with Lord Sandwich recording his observations;

'Whereas our order of battle was a line, that so every ship might have his part in fighting and be clear of his friends from doing them damage, yet many of our ships did not observe it, but luffed up to windward that we were in ranks of 3, 4 or 5 broad, and divers out of reach of the enemy fired over us and several into us and did us hurt.'

Although it was a substantial English victory, the escape of the bulk of the Dutch fleet deprived England of the chance of ending the war quickly with a single decisive victory, and as a result, the Dutch were able to make good their losses by building new and better-armed ships and improving their organisation and discipline. 

Their Dutch fleets would not be so badly organised or ill-disciplined in the remaining battles of this war and, in Obdam's replacement, Michiel de Ruyter, the Dutch had gained a superb tactician and leader for the remainder of the war.

This post follows in a series hosted here on JJ's, showcasing a friend of mine's marvellous collection of 1:1200 collection of Anglo-Dutch warships, which have featured here in a series of posts using the rules General at Sea published by the Pike and Shot Society; with these posts designed to show how these naval battles can be brought to the table and the games they create, combined with the eye-candy this unique period of the age-of-sail has to offer.

If you would like to look back at the previous posts including fleet reviews of the English and Dutch collections, you can follow the link below.

JJ's Wargames - Anglo-Dutch Wars

So with the historic preamble setting the scene for our historic sea-battle summarised, I now have the pleasure of presenting Capt. Steve's scenario based on the opening moves of the Battle of Lowestoft, as recreated using his wonderful collection of model ships and his account of the moves and action from his solo play. The comments around the pictures are direct quotes from Steve to me as he played through each turn.

Setup and Start

Here is the initial set up. Wind from the south west, English on a broad reach and the Dutch beating to windward. I have set them just far enough apart so that whichever wins the initiative, will get ahead of the other, that 'other' side then having to either give way or attempt to breakthrough. 

This could be nasty.

Wind from the south west, English on a broad reach and Dutch beating to

windward.

Turn One

The Dutch won the initiative and moved first. English Vice-Admiral Myngs came into contact with the lead Frisian and was disrupted by its fire.

Undaunted, he attempted to break through and did so, stern taking the Frisian as he did and inflicting level two damage. Once through, the Frisian fired with its port side but as she was firing for the second time in this turn, was disrupted and at level two damage, and thus this caused no further damage to Myngs. 

Vice-Admiral Christopher Myngs (1625-1666)
by Peter Lely

Both Myngs and the Frisian were able to recover from disruption but now Myngs is cut off from the rest of his division unless they also follow him through.

Turn Two

Dutch win the initiative and move first, slowed by the damaged stand leading them. This stand and the Frisian admiral fire on the second English stand, disrupting it twice and so causing level one damaged.

The English stand tries to follow Myngs but as disrupted and damaged fails to break through and so turns to port. Myngs also turns to port and exchanges long range fire with the third Frisian. Both disrupted but recover.

It looks like Myngs will have to pass the whole Dutch line - as one English ship did at Lowestoft - or try to break back through to rejoin his currently out of command division.

Turn Three

Dutch have initiative again and move first. The third English stand turns to port to follow the damaged stand. Both sides firing at close range. The damaged stand is scattered and the other disrupted. The English van narrowly passes its Squadron reaction test. 

Myngs having thrown a six uses his remaining CPs to recover the third stand and himself from disruption but fails to recover the scattered stand.

Close range fire leaves the leading English ship, top centre, damaged and it becomes scattered, whilst the second in line becomes disrupted.

Turn Four

The Scattered stand turns and begins to limp away. The Dutch move first and begin to turn from the second stand, allowing their damaged lead to move off to repair. Close fighting along the line leads to one damage to an English fourth rate. Meanwhile Myngs turns to pass the Dutch rear next turn, sustaining damage level one but recovers from disruption.

The scattered English stand can be seen to have turned and begins to limp away.

Turn Five

The English have the initiative and move first, turning to port in line. Heavy fighting, some at close range results in many stands disrupted and at damage level one. 

'Heavy fighting, some at close range results in many stands disrupted and at damage level one.' 

Myngs turns and takes the rearmost Zealander. One English stand is scattered but the squadron passes its reaction test and Rupert manages to recover it, reducing it to disrupted.

'Myngs turns and takes the rearmost Zealander.'

Turn Six

Rupert launches a fireship at the damaged Frisian opposite him. This, plus the fire from the ship astern, causes the Frisian level two damage and is scattered. 

The squadron passes its reaction test. Firing down the line at long range results in some disruption but these are recovered.

'Rupert launches a fireship at the damaged Frisian opposite him.'

Turn Seven

The firing became general along the line. The scattered Frisian turns to port to try to escape its tormentors and try to put out any fires created by the fireship. Rupert at damage level two is disrupted and is scattered, however the Squadron passes its reaction test. 

Rupert manages to recover from scattered but decides that it is time for him to withdraw because he may not be so lucky next time.

Turn Eight

Rupert has started to pull out of line. Myngs is trying to gather what is left of his command back together. Evertsen in the Zealand flagship considered breaking through the English stand ahead of him but the presence of another English stand behind it, prevents him and he has to veer off. Sadly he does not have enough CPs left to launch his fireship. Other firing is not effective as stands are no longer at close range and are disrupted and damaged.

Rupert withdraws, covered by two of his supports. Firing along the line only causes some stands on both sides to become disrupted. Poor dice throws mean insufficient CPs to recover them.

Turn Nine 

The scattered English stand finally leaves the table. The rear English stand exchanges fire at close range with the third Zeelander. Both cause disruption but as they are both already disrupted, this means they both receive level one damage. Other long range fire has no effect.

End of Turn Ten

Both sides moving out of range, apart from two stands that exchange fire to no effect as they separate. 

I will end the game here.

Both sides have one scattered stand, but the Dutch have seized and retained the weather gauge. Rupert is badly damaged and will need time to recover from disruption and to reduce from level two damage down to one. So, the Dutch are in a better position to resume fighting and I declare them the winners.

Learning points.

1. Keep divisions together. The English van suffered from the loss of Myngs’ leadership once he disappeared behind the Dutch until he appeared at the end of their line.

2. It is vital that commanders retain some CPs to be able to recover disrupted stands.

3. It is also vital that disrupted stands are recovered as soon as possible, otherwise they rapidly go downhill.

4. This game was fought at close range from the start and stands sustained heavy damage from the outset.

5. Lastly, this is the best tool for these rules.

'The best tool for these rules.'

Finally, I have a postscript from Steve from his previous accounts of Livorno and the Dutch Fleet Review.

First up is a view of Steve's model of Livorno harbour that featured in his first AAR of the battle and linked above.

A revised view of Livorno Harbour.

The three ships shown in the Dutch fleet review, illustrating the detail Steve had included in the modelling of the specific stern gallery detail on individual Dutch warships omitted the name of the model at the centre which he has informed me is the Frisian ship Stad en Lande (Town and Country).

The Dutch ship in the centre of this three from the Dutch Fleet review is the Stad en Lande

Thank you to Steve for another entertaining delve into the fascinating Anglo-Dutch naval war and his ideas about recreating these battles using General at Sea.

As always, more anon.

JJ

The World Turned Upside Down - His Majesty's 46th Foot.

The County of Devonshire can lay claim to three regiments of Foot Infantry up until the first amalgamations of the late 19th century with the 11th North Devons, the 20th East Devons and the regiment featured here, the 46th South Devons .

The 46th Foot was raised in 1741 in Newcastle as John Price's Regiment of Foot by Colonel John Price, an officer of the 1st Foot Guards. 

The regiment proceeded to Scotland for a shocking introduction to battle taking part in the Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745 during the Jacobite rising, and was initially ranked as the 57th Regiment of Foot in 1747.

The Battle of Prestonpans was fought on the 21st of September, 1745, a shocking introduction to battle for the 57th Foot (Murray's) - Peter Dennis.

Sir John Cope led a British army of around 2,500 men and was confident of victory over a slightly smaller Jacobite force of around 2,000 men, situated as he was with marshy ground to his front likely to impede any highland charge and his flanks secured by the Firth of Forth and park walls, only to be undone by a night march by the Jacobites led by Lord George Murray, that caused him to have to make a hasty about-turn.

As the Highlanders began their charge, his artillerymen fled, leaving the guns to be fired by their officers. The artillerymen were soon followed by the two dragoon regiments on the flanks that panicked and rode off, and their flight exposed the infantry in the centre, which became attacked on three sides and overrun in less than fifteen minutes. With retreat blocked by the park walls behind them, most were taken prisoner, but some escaped when the Highlanders stopped to loot the baggage train. 

Map of the Battle of Prestonpans, Murray's 57th Foot were on the left flank alongside Hamilton's 14th Dragoons and Lascelles' 58th Foot.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Prestonpans.svg

Government losses were roughly 300 to 500 killed or wounded and another 500 to 600 captured, most of whom were released to save the expense of feeding them. Jacobite casualties were estimated as 35 to 40 dead plus 70 to 80 wounded.

Returning to England in 1746, the regiment's next posting was to Jersey the following year and then to Ireland in 1749.

After eight years' service in Ireland, during which the the regiment was re-ranked as the 46th Regiment of Foot in 1751, it embarked for Nova Scotia in May 1757 for service in the French and Indian War fighting at Ticonderoga (1758), Niagara (1759) and Montreal (1760). 

The Capture of Havana, 1762: The Morro Castle and the Boom Defence Before the Attack - Dominic Serres.
In July 1762 the 46th Foot took part in the storming and capture of the Moro Castle.

In 1761, the regiment was deployed to the West Indies for two years, taking part in the capture of Martinique and Havana in 1762, before returning to Canada and then Ireland for garrison duties.

Etching of Lieutenant General the Hon. Sir John Vaughan by Albert Rosenthal
Promoted to Colonel in 1772 he commanded the 46th Foot for most of its time in America.

The 46th Foot composed of seven companies, were one of a six regiment reinforcement from Ireland that sailed for America, and on the 11th May 1776 Brevet Colonel Hon. John Vaughan became Colonel of the 46th Regiment at the same time as the British Army was evacuating from Boston, Massachusetts and regrouping in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There the 46th received orders to depart for South Carolina as part of General Henry Clinton's expedition to capture the capital of Charleston, reaching Cape Fear on the 1st June where they were resupplied. Three companies departed on board the Argo on the 12th May under Colonel Enoch Markham.

Engraving of a sketch of the 1776 Battle of Sullivan's Island, made by a British Army officer. A plan of the attack of Fort Sulivan, near Charles Town in South Carolina by a squadron of His Majesty's ships on the 28th day of June 1776, with the disposition of the King's land forces and the encampments and entrenchments of the rebels, from the drawings made on the spot.

In the Spring, South Carolina rebels had crossed the bay from Charleston and built a fort on O'Sullivan's Island to defend it. The expedition found the bay too deep for troops to wade through, and any amphibious assault was prevented by American firepower, thus on the 28th June, the operation was called off and the British fleet sailed north for New York to regroup.

The Battle of Long Island on 27th August 1776  - Map by John Fawkes

The 46th joined in the British offensive on Long Island, being part of Major-General James Grant's 4th Brigade which pushed along the western coast to flank the Continental Army positions around Brockland, Kings County; this flanking manoeuvre paid off and on 28th August the Americans abandoned their positions and crossed the East River to New York Island. Within a few days remaining Continental troops and militia left behind were killed or captured and Long Island fell firmly under British-Loyalist control.

The 46th would further participate in the Battle of White Plains in October 1776 and the Battle of Fort Washington in November 1776. Crossing the Hudson, they would remain at Perth Amboy, New Jersey for the winter, using an old transport ship in the harbour as barracks. 

During the Forage War, detachments would transport weapons and ammunition into New Jersey, where they faced repeated ambushes on their way to Trenton, Princetown and Burlington where the army's vanguard was stationed. On the 5th January, several companies of rebels, estimated at ninety men, attacked a detachment at Ranway under Lieutenant Cameron. One man was killed and three wounded, and though Cameron only had twenty men they were successful in beating off their attackers.

In early 1777, a detachment was sent out up the North River to secure Peek's Hill, the site of an Americans weapons cache erected in the winter, and with this attack proving successful, they returned to New York.

The 46th embarked from Sandy Hook in the August 1777, sailing around the Delmarva Peninsula and into Chesapeake Bay, from where they travelled up the Elk River, landing on its northern shore on the 25th August and joining with the rest of the British army at Head of Elk as part of Major General James Agnew's 4th Brigade. 

18th century Hessian map from the Marburg State Library in Germany of the Philadelphia Campaign

The landing and following campaign to capture the American capital Philadelphia resulted in the Battle of Brandywine on the 11th September 1777, the Battle of Paoli on the 20th September and the Battle of Germantown on October 4th 1777. 

Night attacks during the 'horse and musket' era are extremely rare occurrences, for obvious reasons given the additional problems of command and control at night, and successful night attacks are even rarer. In the Battle of Paoli, the various regiments' Light companies, that included the 46th Foot, were formed together into a Light Battalion under Major-General Charles Grey, that spearheaded a force of 1,500 men sent out to surprise the Americans of Brigadier-General Anthony Wayne's Division, two miles south-west of Paoli Tavern on the night of the 20th September, themselves left behind by the American army to strike upon the flanks of the British army as it marched north in pursuit of Washington. 

The night attack at Paoli, September 20th 1777 in which the light company of the 46th earned the regiment the nickname the Red Feathers - Xavier della Gatta.

In a swift silent attack at the point of the bayonet with General Grey having ordered his men to 'pull' the ball and charges from their barrels and to remove their flints, with no firing permitted in order to maintain silence and the element of surprise; the 2nd Light Infantry swept into the camp at bayonet point overrunning the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment who had formed up at the alert of the camp picket, but who gave their positions away by their firing in the darkness, revealing themselves to the British attack.

This was a decisive victory for Grey's men, as Wayne's division were subjected to a ferocious bayonet assault that saw 163 Americans killed, 70-80 taken prisoner and many more wounded, resulting in a strong American desire for retribution.

Intelligence indicated that any American victory in response to this attack was to give no quarter to captured soldiers, and as a sign of defiance, the 46th's Light company began wearing red-stained feathers on their hats to identify themselves as part of the guilty party of Paoli, and the successors to the regiment, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry wore red patches on their headgear to remember their participation in the Paoli Affair.

The British enter Philadelphia, September 26th 1777.

In the following month, the army continued their push towards Philadelphia, occupying Germantown along the way, where on the morning of the 4th October an American force confronted them, but were defeated once more. 

By the year's end the brigade had reached Philadelphia as planned, though it was largely deserted, and with the American hierarchy increasingly decentralised the loss of their capital no longer collapsed authority as would have done in Europe. 

The 46th remained in Philadelphia over the winter, and with news of a new Commander-in-Chief and war with France, the British force began moving back north to New York. During this movement they were harassed along the way by ambush parties as the Continental Army hoped to cut them off, and on the 28th June they fought at the Battle of Monmouth, as part of 4th Brigade under Lt. Colonel Webster, they made their way into New Jersey.

Upon its return to New York, the 46th were sent out once more under Major-General Grey, bound for the east coast of Long Island where it was understood French forces were aiding New England. The regiment fought in New Bedford, where the objective was to destroy privateer vessels, and soon after on to Martha's Vineyard before returning to New York.

The Battle of Vigie Peninsula
Plan of St. Lucia, in the West Indies: Showing the positions of the British and French forces with the attacks made at its reduction in December 1778.

After returning to New York, it became clear in reports that the French military in the West Indies, backed by French civilians within the British colonies, were taking advantage of the situation in British America to make gains undisturbed. The 46th was subsequently ordered out for Barbados, under the command of Major-General Grant, arriving in November 1778. From there they participated in an attack on St. Lucia with the 15th, 28th and 55th regiments under Major-General Prescott, capturing it in mid-December. The Light and Grenadier companies in this brigade were stationed at La Vigie, where they were able to repulse a French landing.

The regiment returned to England and was renamed the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot in 1782.

My interpretation of the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot uses the plastic British set from Perry Miniatures and a set of colours from GMB flags, finished off with my usual low profile sabot bases from Supreme Littleness Designs.

Anglo-Dutch Wars, Fleet Review - The Dutch Fleet.

 

It would seem from the responses I and Capt. Steve had to the first post in this Anglo-Dutch Wars fleet review, looking at Steve's English fleet, that I'm not the only one fascinated by this early period of fleet actions in the age of sail and if you missed that first post you can look back to it in the link below.

JJ's Wargames - Anglo Dutch Wars Fleet Review, The English Fleet

In this post our attention turns to the Dutch fleet, circa 1666, with a similar order of battle as illustrated at our look at the English, showing the three Dutch battle squadrons and their respective support vessels.

The Dutch were divided into the First or Centre, Second (van) and Third squadrons. The Centre flew their pennants from the main, the Second from the fore and the Third from the mizzen. 

Dutch Fleet Order of Battle

Within this structure are the five Admiralties which insisted on having three admirals each (lieutenant-admiral, vice-admiral and shout bij nacht) - so fifteen flag officers plus de Ruyter as commander in chief.

All flag officers flew the Dutch tricolour or Princes Flag as their command flag.

The Second Squadron

First up is the Second Squadron whose van division seen below, nearest to camera, was composed of ships from Frisia. They flew the Princes flag as both their ensign and jack.

The five ships of the van of the Second Squadron, closest to camera are from right to left: Groot Frisia, Elf Steden, Groningen, Princes Albertina and Prins Hendrik Casimir.

The five are from right to left: Groot Frisia, Elf Steden, Groningen, Princes Albertina and Prins Hendrik Casimir.

Detail of a Dutch man of war stern gallery (Rotterdam ship, Groot Hollandia) from Two Small Vessels and a Dutch Man-of-War in a Breeze by Willem van de Velde, The National Gallery.

Willem van de Velde was the leading Dutch marine painter of the later seventeenth century. The warship bears the arms of the Province of Holland – the national arms in the colours used before 1663 – and a Dutch flag flies at the stern.

Unlike the English ships who sterns are, with a few exceptions uniform with just the Royal Arms, most Dutch sterns were unique and portrayed the ship’s name. Using Van de Velde’s contemporary ship portraits, I had the sterns portrayed in the models. Close ups to follow.

The rest of the Squadron was made up of the Zealand Squadron, which flew their pennants Princes flag as their ensign and the Vlissingen Jack (red with a white vase). Their ships sterns all had the Zealand arms, and below we can see the Zierikzee, Walcheren and Vlissingen.

The Zierikzee, Walcheren and Vlissingen of the Second Squadron.

Lastly, the Second Squadron is completed with the  Kampvere, Tholen and Middleburg

The fourth-rate 50-gun Kampvere, third-rate Tholen of 60-guns and the 50-gun Middleburg complete the Second Squadron.

The First (Centre) Squadron

The Centre Squadron was most composed of ships from the Maas (Rotterdam) admiralty and flew their pennants Princes same flags as the Frisians, except their pennants were at the main and not the fore.

The van division is Groot Hollandia, Eendracht and Joshua. The Eendracht is the only ship not to fly a pennant, to avoid her being mistaken for de Ruyter.

The van division of the Centre Squadron is Groot Hollandia, the 76-gun second-rate Eendracht and Joshua.

The centre division is Delft, Zeven Provincian, Provincie Utrecht and Vrede. The flagship flies their pennants Princes command pennant under the Princes flag to identify de Ruyter as c-in-c.

Michiel de Ruyter welcomes the young Prince of Orange onboard his flagship the Zeven Provinciën -Maarten Platje.
https://maartenplatje.com/product/art-print-michiel-de-ruyter-welcomes-the-young-prince-of-orange-onboard-his-flagship-the-zeven-provincien/

They are accompanied by a frigate, a pinnace and states yacht.

The centre division is (left to right) Delft, the 80-gun flagship of de Ruyter, Zeven Provincian, Provincie Utrecht and Vrede. Alongside them and nearest to camera, a frigate, a pinnace and states yacht.

Lastly the rear: Wassenear, Ridderschap van Holland and Dordrecht.

The rear of the Centre Squadron: Wassenear, Ridderschap van Holland and Dordrecht.

The Third Squadron

Now the Third Squadron, whose van was composed of ships from the Norderkwatier admiralty who flew a Princes Jack and the nine striped Triple Prince as an ensign. Here is Pacificatie, Westfriesland, Norderkwatier and Maagd van Enkhuisen.

The van of the Third Squadron: Pacificatie, Westfriesland, Norderkwatier and Maagd van Enkhuisen.

The centre was from the Amsterdam admiralty who flew Triple Prince jacks and ensigns: Beschermer, Hollandia and Gouda. 

The centre from the Amsterdam admiralty flying Triple Prince jacks and ensigns: Beschermer, Hollandia and Gouda. 

Completing the Third Squadron is the rear division, also from Amsterdam: Haarlem, Speigel and Huis Tiverdrift.

The rear was also from Amsterdam: Haarlem, Speigel and Huis Tiverdrift.

And lastly, a Dutch convoy of fluyts and coastal craft, escorted by a 48 gun warship.

A Dutch convoy of fluyts and coastal craft, escorted by a 48 gun warship.

And a wrecked Dutch warship and and a sunken vessel for those scattered units that would otherwise be removed from the table. 

To quote Steve "I do like a war game table to look good!" - To which I say "Hear hear!"

A wrecked Dutch warship and and a sunken vessel.

Finally some close ups of the Dutch sterns. Dordrecht on left, a Zealand ship on the right, and an unidentified ship in the centre because Steve couldn't remember!! (I love this attention to detail).

A selection of Dutch stern galleries. Dordrecht on left, a Zealand ship on the right, and an unidentified ship in the centre

Speaking of attention to detail, you might have noticed the glorious coastal scenery in the background of the two fleet reviews, with long low lying sandy stetches of beaches and dunes designed to capture the look of the Dutch or East Anglian coastline for those actions fought close to shore.

More Anglo-Dutch Wars to come as Steve sets out to refight the opening stage of the Battle of Lowestoft as Vice-Admiral Christopher Myngs leads the White Squadron as he attempts to gain the weather gauge over the Dutch.

The Battle of Lowestoft, 3rd June 1665 - Hendrik van Minderhout

As always, more anon.

JJ