American War of Independence
1775–1783
What began as a colonial rebellion became a world war at sea. The Continental Navy and the state navies could only raid, but France joined the Americans in 1778, Spain in 1779 and the Dutch Republic was dragged in in 1780, and for the first time in a century Britain faced the fleets of Europe without an ally. The war was fought from Lake Champlain to the Bay of Bengal. De Grasse's victory off the Chesapeake trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown and decided American independence; Rodney's victory at the Saintes the next spring saved Jamaica and let Britain make peace on better terms. Off India, Hughes and Suffren fought five hard battles in eighteen months without either losing a ship in action.
How the fleets moved
Click a route to see which ships made it, or a battle for its summary. Routes are approximate.
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British movement
American movement
French movement
Spanish movement
Dutch movement
Battle (size: ships engaged)
Routes are approximate.
Major battles
The 4 biggest of the 31 battles covered here, by ships engaged.
9 August 1780
Capture of the East and West Indies convoyAtlantic, west of Cape St Vincent
Franco-Spanish victory; 55 merchantmen taken
66 (55 lost)
vs
32
12 December 1781
Second Battle of UshantBay of Biscay, west of Ushant
British victory; the French convoy broken up
12
vs
129 (15 lost)
20 October 1782
Battle of Cape SpartelOff Cape Spartel, at the Atlantic mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar
Indecisive; Gibraltar relieved
35
vs
46
Fleets
Each navy's ships in the war, from its biggest down.