Battle of Camperdown

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john sefton
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Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:59 pm

Battle of Camperdown

Post by john sefton » Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:10 pm

The Battle of Camperdown was an important naval action of the French Revolutionary Wars, fought off Camperduin on the Noord Holland coast on 11 October 1797 between a British fleet under Admiral Adam Duncan and a Dutch fleet under Vice-Admiral Jan de Winter. The French Republic had overrun the Dutch Republic two years earlier, reforming it into the Batavian Republic. In early 1797 the Dutch Navy was ordered to sail to Brest and unite with the French Atlantic Fleet in preparation for an invasion of Ireland. Shortly afterwards, the British fleets were paralysed by the Spithead and Nore mutinies, in which the sailors refused to take their ships to sea until they were awarded better pay and conditions. For two months the English Channel was undefended, but the Dutch failed to take the opportunity to sail from their harbour in the Texel. Their preparations were not complete, and a small squadron of loyal British ships under Duncan convinced de Winter that the British fleet was at sea by sending nonsensical signals to fictitious ships over the horizon.
By October 1797, the plan to attack Ireland had been abandoned and the British North Sea Fleet was again at full strength. During a brief period replenishing supplies at Yarmouth, news reached Duncan on 10 October that the Dutch had sailed and he returned to the Dutch coast, intercepting de Winter's fleet on its way back to the Texel. The Dutch formed a line of battle in shallow coastal waters to meet Duncan's attack, which was conducted in a confused mass, the British ships separating into two groups that struck the van and rear of the Dutch fleet, overwhelming each in turn and capturing eleven ships, including de Winter's flagship Vrijheid. On the return journey three of the captured ships were lost, and none of the surviving Dutch prizes was ever suitable for active service again. Both sides suffered heavy casualties during the battle as each fleet had been trained to aim at the hulls of their opponents, maximising the damage to personnel.
Although both fleets fought hard, they were suffering from popular unrest: the mutinies in Britain continued to overshadow the Navy, while the Dutch sailors were unhappy with French dominion and, in marked difference to their officers, were generally supporters of the exiled House of Orange. In addition, the Dutch were disaffected and poorly trained due to the long months blockaded in their harbours, which made them inferior seamen and gunners when compared with the highly experienced British crews. Dutch ships were also more weakly constructed than their British counterparts with a shallower draught, a necessity in the shallow waters of the Dutch coast but a liability when fighting warships built for the open ocean. The Dutch did however have the advantage of weight of shot, especially when their well-armed frigates and brigs are included statistically. Unlike the smaller British ships, these lighter craft were intended to contribute in battle, covering the gaps in the line between their larger companions.
Wikipedia.
Gambia SG
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Battle of Camperdown.jpeg
Camperdown.jpg

aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Battle of Camperdown

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu Aug 30, 2018 3:42 am

Pitcarin Island 1992 $NZ 1.80 sg 425, scott 378

Watercraft Philately volume 42 page 29 gives for the stamp. The design for the background of Pitcairn Island is from a 1798 watercolor with etched base by Samuel Owen titled "Battle of Camperdown- His Majesty's Ships "DIRECTOR" Comming Up and beginning her fire on the Larboard Quarter of the "VRIJHEID". The watercolor is at the National Maritime Museum, London.

On the stamp "VENERABLE" is partially depicted in the right background. The stamp was released as part of a four-stamp issue commemorating the 175th anniversary of the death of William Bligh, who is depicted at the stamp's centre.
Jennifer Toombs designed the stamp, which was printed by Leigh-Mardon Pty.Ltd. Australia.

Why the English always name this the Battle of Camperdown wonders my, many Dutch ships got down, but the battle took place off the Dutch coast near the village of Kamperduin and not Camperdown.

The VRIJHEID the flagship of the Dutch Admiral de Winter is not visible

Isle of Man 2021 L sg?, Scott? (On this stamp the VRIJHEID is the ship on the left) viewtopic.php?t=17936
Attachments
2021 John-Quilliam-in-the-Battle-of-Camperdown (2).jpg
2021 John-Quilliam-in-the-Battle-of-Camperdown (2).jpg (90.83 KiB) Viewed 382 times

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