In my continuing series of battles: the Battle off Dover (29 May 1652)

I just ran the Battle off Dover scenario using Privateers Bounty. I fought it as a "fight to the finish", but the result shows just how outclassed the Dutch were at the beginning of the war. The English had 62% of their force left while the Dutch were all sunk or surrendered. Most were sunk, as only two remained afloat but surrendered.

Two pictures are posted at AngloDutchWarsBlog.com.

I took four pictures on the afternoon of the third day. Here is an example. I have more pictures posted at AngloDutchWarsBlog.com.

This picture shows the Speaker and accompanying ships towards the end. At this point, the Speaker was almost undamaged, although in finishing off the remaining Dutch ships, she did take considerable damage. The smaller 3rd Rate Worcester is in the foreground. She already has taken a lot of damage to her sails and rigging.

My conclusion from the simulation run is that the English could have inflicted considerable damage on the Dutch in this opening action. The English must not have pressed the Dutch that hard, although they did succeed in disabling and capturing two hired merchantmen, one of which was later retaken by the Dutch (the Sint Maria). As long as Robert Blake commanded the English "underachieved". The best that Blake was able to do was at the Battle of Portland, and it was his timidity towards the end that allowed the defeated Dutch to escape with the majority of their convoy.