Four Days Battle
The Four Days Battle was a naval battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Fought from June 11 to June 14, 1666 off the English coast, it remains one of the longest naval engagements in history.
The English fleet of 56 ships commanded by George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, was outnumbered by the Dutch fleet commanded by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. The battle ended only after both fleets had expended all their ammunition.
The Dutch inflicted significant damage on the English fleet.The English lost ten ships, thousands of men and two admirals, Sir Christopher Minns and Sir William Berkeley. HMS Sovereign of the Seas was knocked out of the battle after she lost so many sailors that she could no longer move or fire her cannon.
It was the biggest sea battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. However, the outcome proved inconclusive, with both sides claiming victory. Though the Dutch fleet was eventually forced to retreat, they had managed to cripple the English fleet. Two months later the recuperated English fleet challenged the Dutch fleet again, at North Foreland in the St James's Day Battle.
See also
