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Battle of Bugia

2nd May 1671 (1671/05/12 NS) - 8th May 1671 (1671/05/18 NS)
Part of : The Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672 - 1674/02)
Next action : Battle of Smyrna Convoy 13.3.1671/72

 

Kingdom of England

 
English Squadron,
Sir Edward SpraggBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1661-1672
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Advice (42) 1650-1698
British 42 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
 1 Killed, 3 wounded
Dragon (40) 1647-1690
British 40 Gun
4th Rate Ship
Arthur HerbertBritish
Naval Sailor
Administrator
Service 1666-1690
1 Killed, 11 wounded
Garland (22) 1654-1698
British 22 Gun
5th Rate Ship
1660 Renamed "Garland"
Francis CourtnayBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1666-1673
6 Killed, 1 wounded
Little Victory (8) 1665-1671
British 8 Gun
5th Rate Ship
Leonard HarrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1642-1671
5 wounded Fireship - Expended
Mary (54) 1650-1687
British 54 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
1660 Renamed "Mary"
Daniel HellingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1664-1672
2 Killed, 9 wounded
Portsmouth (34) 1649-1689
British 34 Gun
4th Rate Frigate
William ColemanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1665-1679
1 wounded
Revenge (58) 1654-1678
British 58 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
1660 Renamed "Revenge"
Sir Edward SpraggBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1661-1672
Fleet Flagship 7 killed, 10 wounded
Eagle (6) 1670-1671
British 6 Gun
Unrated Fireship
Dominick NugentBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1665-1688
Fireship - Expended
Rose (4) 1670-1671
British 4 Gun
Unrated Fireship
Henry WilliamsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1671-1689
Fireship - Expended
 

Regency of Algiers (State Navy) -
TerkyAlgerian
Naval Sailor

 
Algerian Squadron
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Orange Tree (34) 1667-1671
Algerian 34 Gun
5th Rate Ship
CourhalyAlgerian
Naval Sailor
Service 1671
Burnt
Three Cyrpus Trees (34) 1671-1671
Algerian 34 Gun
5th Rate Ship
Caram HammettAlgerian
Naval Sailor
Service 1671
Burnt
Three Half Moons (34) 1669-1671
Algerian 34 Gun
5th Rate Ship
Brayham TagrinAlgerian
Naval Sailor
Service 1671
Burnt
White Horse (34) 1667-1671
Algerian 34 Gun
5th Rate Ship
Tabark RaysAlgerian
Naval Sailor
Service 1671
Burnt
Pearl (26) 1663-1671
Algerian 26 Gun
5th Rate Ship
Brayham TurcoAlgerian
Naval Sailor
Service 1671
Burnt
Gold Crown (24) 1670-1671
Algerian 24 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Halna TagrinAlgerian
Naval Sailor
Service 1671
Burnt
Half Moon (24) 1671-1671
Algerian 24 Gun
6th Rate Ship
HammetAlgerian
Naval Sailor
Service 1671
Burnt
 

Notes on Action


Relation of the Success obtained against the Turks of Argiers at Bugiaref:655

On the 20th April, when cruising off Argier the frigates Mary, Hampshire, Portsmouth and Advice were met, who reported that several Argier men of war were at Bugia. A council of war was called and it was decided to endeavour to destroy them. The Hampshire and Portsmouth left to cruise off Argier. On the 30th the fleet got into Bugia Bay and encountered a gale which seemed likely to carry it and the fireships upon the enemy. But by the time that the fleet got within half a shot of the castles and forts it became dead calm. The winds being uncertain it was decided to make the attempt upon them at night with boats. About 12 on the 2nd May all the boats were sent out with the Eagle fireship under Lieutenant Nugent. The attempt failed owing to the miscarriage of the fireships. But for this the enemy ships might have been destroyed without the loss of a man. On the following day the enemy unrigged all their ships and made a boom. On Monday the 8th of May they received several recruits probably from Argier, who were welcomed by the firing of guns and the flying of colours. About noon the ships were brought broadside on and ordered to anchor in 4 fathoms of water, close under the walls. The battery continued for two hours. A pinnace was sent in to cut the boom, a task that was very bravely performed. A fireship was then sent in and destroyed all the ships in the port, ten in all, seven of them being the best men of war at Argier. A Dutchman who escaped from Argier reports that great execution was done, the castle and town miserably torn and old Treky, the admiral wounded. The ships had been purposely commanded by the Divan to find out the English and fight them wherever they met.
List of ships burned, with the number of their guns and the names of their commanders.
List of the killed and wounded in His Majesty's fleet, numbering 17 and 41 respectively.



Sources


IDNameAuthorType
ref:655British History Online Web Site

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Friday 1st of July 2022 08:42

Unfortunately without you citing any sources it's difficlult to know what happened or whether anything you claim is true. However, it is normal practice in war to attack wtih overwhelming strength when you can.


Posted by AgerineRRover88 on Thursday 30th of June 2022 22:00

brits never dared to attack only when the biggest part of the algerine navy was absent , since the war of candia most of heavy algerine ships were in the levent to help the sultan "last was a squadron of 12 men o'war left algiers in 18 april 1671" those left behind were only 5th and 6th rate men o'war and the brits seized the opportunity to surprize them anchored in bugia, and lighted them up with fireships but all brits sources never mention brits causalities and unfortunately we had no algerine sources , those algerines belonged to bugia port not algiers and mostly belonged to locals and tagarines"muslims expelled from spain" captains


Posted by Brian on Friday 6th of June 2014 18:26

Publication date:8 June 1671
Paris June 10, By letters from Thoulon, and by others from Alicant, we have advice, that Sir Edward Spragge, Admiral of the English fleet in the Mediterranean, having met with nine Argiers men of war, and three merchant ships belonging to the same place, near Bugia, they immediately betook themselves under the shelter of the Castles there, carrying their richest things ashore, and putting themselves in the best posture of defence they could; in the meantime the English prepared to attacque them with their Fireships, which they did with that success, as to set most of them on fire, in which the Christian slaves that were on board were not wanting in what they could to contribute their assistance; the rest of the ships that escaped the fire, were seized on by the English, who have likewise received some damage in the action; and that Sir Edward Spragge was returned with his fleet before Argiers again.

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