Croisière du Grand Hiver
| Croisière du Grand Hiver | |
|---|---|
| Part of the War of the First Coalition | |
Républicain grounded on 24 December during the campaign | |
| Location | |
| Planned by | National Convention |
| Objective | Cruise the Atlantic Ocean, challenge the Royal Navy for command of the sea and attack British merchant shipping |
| Date | 24 December 1794 – 3 February 1795 |
| Executed by | French Navy |
| Outcome | French failure |
The Croisière du Grand Hiver (French "Campaign of the Great Winter") was a naval campaign carried out by the French Navy during the War of the First Coalition. Ordered by the National Convention in the wake of the French navy's tactical defeat at the Glorious First of June, the campaign was intended to challenge the Royal Navy for command of the sea. The French fleet in Brest, under Vice-admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse, was ordered to cruise the Atlantic Ocean and attack British merchant shipping; the fleet set sail on 24 December 1794.
As Villaret's fleet was in poor condition, with many ships being in a state of disrepair and lacking adequate supplies, the campaign quickly became disastrous as many French warships were mauled by bad weather. The fleet regrouped in Brest on 3 February 1795, having captured 70 merchantmen along with a British post ship. However, as a result of poor weather the French navy lost five ships of the line outright along with several more warships being damaged, further weakening its ability to challenge the Royal Navy.