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Battle of Malaga

The amount of repairs needed for Hawke’s Gibraltar fleet resulting from the two Minorca battles in 1756, and the length of time it took for the damaged ships to travel to England, complete repairs and return prevented the British from having the strength needed to keep a tight blockade on Toulon. The French too had pursued repairs in Toulon but there were less repairs needed and the distance was shorter.
Now both the British and the French Mediterranean fleets were at full strength again. The French having heard of the renewed British plan to take Louisburg desired to reinforce it again and sent a fleet out from Toulon to New France under Jean-François de La Clue. The British likewise did not want to let this happen and ordered Admiral Henry Osborn to make plans to intercept and prevent the Toulon fleet from leaving the Mediterranean.

The French fleet had weathered a storm in Categena last November, of which the British were aware, but Osborn was still awaiting the return of some of his fleet ships at the time. What resulted instead was a cat and mouse game over the Alboran Sea over the next month that cost Osborn the loss of one small frigate to French capture, as the fleets sought each other out.

Finally early in the morning on January 5th, just south of the Spanish city of Malaga the two large fleets met each other and formed up in a line of battle. The French has the sun at their backs and a slightly larger fleet, but the British had the favor of the wind.

French Fleet: (19)
13 Ships of the Line: Temeraine (74), Couronne (74), Redoubtable (74), Guerrier (74), Centaure (74), Triton (64), Sage (64), Fier (60), Hippopotamae (50), Ocean (80), Conquerant (74), Hector (74), Achille (64)
6 Frigates: Requin (24), Minerve (30), Oiseau (30), Gracieuse (24), Indiscret (24) and the Dolphin (24)

British Fleet: (14)
9 Ships of the Line: Monmouth (70), Royal Anne (100), Monarch (74), Berwick (64), Swiftsure (68), Hampton Court (66), Montagu (60), St. George (90), Guernsey (50)
5 Frigates: Ambushcade (40), Vestal (32), Unicorn (24), Lyme (28), Privateer Boscawan (30)

Although outnumbered, with adept maneuvering Osborn is able to put up a fierce assault against the French ships before La Clue is able to bring all of them to bear. The Triton and Achille become entangled and receive heavy damage. However the Royal Anne and the Berwick receive powerful return broadsides as the as each is forced to take on two French ships a piece.

The Boscawan, Ambuscade and Vestal attempt to capture the foundering Triton and Achille but at the last moment the two ships are separated and return heavy fire sending the Boscawan to the bottom, crippling the Ambushcade and forcing the Vestal to flee. Likewise the Requin goes down and the Hippopotamae and Minerve are forced to flee under fire after an aborted attempt to capture the demasted Berwick.

By late morning two-thirds of the British fleet had engaged half the French fleet, and half the fleet of each side was damaged. La Clue, realizing he would not be able to bring his fleet across the Atlantic in such condition began to disengage in an orderly fashion. Osborn, having accomplished his main objective of prevent the French fleet from leaving the Mediterranean, pulled away to tend to his ailing ships. He did not desire to pursue the French without obtaining more reinforcements from Gibraltar.

While this battle against superior forces was considered an important victory that helped restore the faith in the Navy, the French gave the British Mediterranean fleet a bloody nose that day, the extent of which would not be fully known until the damaged ships attempted to return to England for assessment.

Battle Results:
British Fleet:
Royal Anne condemned upon assessment of damage after return to England
Distressed Berwick sunk during attempt to return to England for repairs
Privateer Boscawan sunk in action.
Damaged Vestal captured by French Atlantic Fleet on attempt to return to England
One-Third of the surviving fleet damaged

French Fleet:
Triton sunk in action
Achille foundered during return to Toulon
Requin sunk in action
Hippopotamae condemned upon damage assessment after return to Toulon
Half the surviving fleet damaged

Bideford (20) captured by French prior to battle and sent back to Toulon

(Note 2/28/1758 OTL Battle of Cartegena does not occur)