Chapter 132
September, 1873
Southern France
Within hours of the French armada emerged from their ports of Marseille, Nice and other southern French harbors, fast vessels bearing the Union Jack were steaming towards British fleets at the ready outside of Malta, Gibraltar and Algiers.
The sheer scale of the French consolidation of their naval resources had made a British blockading squadron impractical. However, once the French intent was clear, ships were quietly drawn from the Channel Fleet and the former Suez Blockading squadron to augment the Royal Navy forces in the western Mediterranean.
The lumbering French fleet, slowed by the transports and cargo ships, would plod southward. Their destination had only been given hours before sailing in sealed orders, only to be opened when on the high seas.
The French General Staff decided that Oran's harbor was large enough to handle the invasion force and the defenses still weak from the previous siege.
Only a few hours shy of Oran, the French fleet encountered the first British vessels. Led by the Ocean-Class Marango and Suffren, the French fleet consisted of ten ironclads and fourteen other warships.
The initial British vessels to cross swords with the French were from the Algiers blockade squadron. Gambling that Algiers was NOT the French destination, the commander took the risk of taking most of his fleet with him and steamed directly northwest. Whether by skill or luck, Rear Admiral Alexander Milne spied the smoke of a vast number ships and, knowing that word was being spread to the Malta and Gibraltar fleets as well, decided to engage in hopes of scattering the French or at least slowing them down.
From his flagship HMS Lord Clyde, the Admiral led his five ironclads and four other vessels directly into the French vanguard. The initial clash between Milne and his French opposite number would largely be a draw. What the Frenchman did not realize what that Milne was not interested in exchanging blows. Instead, he continued steaming northwesterly toward the transports. Milne's instructions were to halt the invasion. That meant stopping the French soldiers from landing. The French Line, expecting the British to turn about and face them again for another volley, was caught out of position.
Milne's attack would transform the already disorganizing convoy into a chaotic fleet fleeing in all directions. The French rear guard, consisting of 10 additional warships, had been positioned to cut off any attack from Gibraltar or Malta. Seeing their charges in danger, the French warships steamed forward to intercept. This time, the British vessels were forced to engage and the line broke into a series of 1x1 battles.
But Milne's attack had accomplished its purpose. The French fleet was disorganized and it took hours for even a majority to regather. This gave the British Gibraltar and Malta squadrons time to arrive. Sailing from opposite directions, the British ships now totaled 31 warships, outnumbering the French. Witnessing the chaos before them, the British commanders simply gave the "general melee" signal and effectively gave every Captain authorization to engage at will.
Led by the Devastation (recently arrived from the Channel Fleet), the Gibraltar squadron would tear apart two Alma-class ironclads and promptly seized seven French transports and cargo ships. By this point, dozens of these civilian ships turned and fled back to France.
The Malta fleet, led by the Swiftsure and Triumph, would concentrate most of their fire on the French warships, effectively saving Milne's beleaguered and outnumbered squadron.
Only nighttime ended the carnage. The morning would find the French fleet shuffling towards Marseille, the French warships shepherding their flock back to safety.
Despite the heavy beating taken by a dozen warships on either side, only four ships had been sunk or taken (3 French ships taken and 1 British vessel sunk).
The attempt to regain French North Africa was over.
Southern France
Within hours of the French armada emerged from their ports of Marseille, Nice and other southern French harbors, fast vessels bearing the Union Jack were steaming towards British fleets at the ready outside of Malta, Gibraltar and Algiers.
The sheer scale of the French consolidation of their naval resources had made a British blockading squadron impractical. However, once the French intent was clear, ships were quietly drawn from the Channel Fleet and the former Suez Blockading squadron to augment the Royal Navy forces in the western Mediterranean.
The lumbering French fleet, slowed by the transports and cargo ships, would plod southward. Their destination had only been given hours before sailing in sealed orders, only to be opened when on the high seas.
The French General Staff decided that Oran's harbor was large enough to handle the invasion force and the defenses still weak from the previous siege.
Only a few hours shy of Oran, the French fleet encountered the first British vessels. Led by the Ocean-Class Marango and Suffren, the French fleet consisted of ten ironclads and fourteen other warships.
The initial British vessels to cross swords with the French were from the Algiers blockade squadron. Gambling that Algiers was NOT the French destination, the commander took the risk of taking most of his fleet with him and steamed directly northwest. Whether by skill or luck, Rear Admiral Alexander Milne spied the smoke of a vast number ships and, knowing that word was being spread to the Malta and Gibraltar fleets as well, decided to engage in hopes of scattering the French or at least slowing them down.
From his flagship HMS Lord Clyde, the Admiral led his five ironclads and four other vessels directly into the French vanguard. The initial clash between Milne and his French opposite number would largely be a draw. What the Frenchman did not realize what that Milne was not interested in exchanging blows. Instead, he continued steaming northwesterly toward the transports. Milne's instructions were to halt the invasion. That meant stopping the French soldiers from landing. The French Line, expecting the British to turn about and face them again for another volley, was caught out of position.
Milne's attack would transform the already disorganizing convoy into a chaotic fleet fleeing in all directions. The French rear guard, consisting of 10 additional warships, had been positioned to cut off any attack from Gibraltar or Malta. Seeing their charges in danger, the French warships steamed forward to intercept. This time, the British vessels were forced to engage and the line broke into a series of 1x1 battles.
But Milne's attack had accomplished its purpose. The French fleet was disorganized and it took hours for even a majority to regather. This gave the British Gibraltar and Malta squadrons time to arrive. Sailing from opposite directions, the British ships now totaled 31 warships, outnumbering the French. Witnessing the chaos before them, the British commanders simply gave the "general melee" signal and effectively gave every Captain authorization to engage at will.
Led by the Devastation (recently arrived from the Channel Fleet), the Gibraltar squadron would tear apart two Alma-class ironclads and promptly seized seven French transports and cargo ships. By this point, dozens of these civilian ships turned and fled back to France.
The Malta fleet, led by the Swiftsure and Triumph, would concentrate most of their fire on the French warships, effectively saving Milne's beleaguered and outnumbered squadron.
Only nighttime ended the carnage. The morning would find the French fleet shuffling towards Marseille, the French warships shepherding their flock back to safety.
Despite the heavy beating taken by a dozen warships on either side, only four ships had been sunk or taken (3 French ships taken and 1 British vessel sunk).
The attempt to regain French North Africa was over.