Second Battle of Cape Finisterre

25 October 1747, About 300 miles west of Brittany

British victory; six French ships of the line captured

Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke caught a convoy of some 250 merchant ships bound for the West Indies, escorted by eight ships of the line under the Marquis de l'Étenduère. L'Étenduère put his warships between Hawke and the convoy and fought to let it escape. Hawke ordered a general chase and attacked the French line from both sides. The French fought all afternoon; six of the eight ships of the line were taken, but l'Étenduère's battered flagship Tonnant and Intrépide got away, and almost all the merchant ships escaped. With its escorts gone, the French navy could no longer protect its trade, and France made peace the next year.

Royal Navy

18 ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
HMS Devonshire Rear-Admiral Edward Hawke	Ship of the line Third rate, 66 guns	Survived
HMS Edinburgh	Ship of the line Third rate, 70 guns	Survived
HMS Kent	Ship of the line Third rate, 64 guns	Survived
HMS Yarmouth Charles Saunders	Ship of the line Third rate, 64 guns	Survived
HMS Monmouth	Ship of the line Third rate, 64 guns	Survived
HMS Princess Louisa	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 60 guns	Survived
HMS Windsor	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 60 guns	Survived
HMS Lion	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 60 guns	Survived
HMS Tilbury	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 60 guns	Survived
HMS Nottingham Philip Saumarez, killed	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 60 guns	Survived
HMS Defiance	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 60 guns	Survived
HMS Eagle George Brydges Rodney	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 60 guns	Survived
HMS Gloucester	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 50 guns	Survived
HMS Portland	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 50 guns	Survived

Flotillas and other craft	Number	Lost
Fourth rate, fireships and a sloop	4	0

French Navy

10+ ships, 13 lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
Tonnant The Marquis de l'Étenduère	Ship of the line Third rate, 80 guns	Escaped
Intrépide Comte de Vaudreuil	Ship of the line Third rate, 74 guns	Escaped
Terrible	Ship of the line Third rate, 74 guns	Captured
Monarque	Ship of the line Third rate, 74 guns	Captured
Neptune	Ship of the line Third rate, 70 guns	Captured
Trident	Ship of the line Third rate, 64 guns	Captured
Fougueux	Ship of the line Third rate, 64 guns	Captured
Severn	Ship of the line Fourth rate, 56 guns	Captured

Flotillas and other craft	Number	Lost
Indiaman and frigate Content and Castor, which escaped with the convoy.	2	0
Merchant ships of the convoy	About 250	7

Flotillas and other craft

Number

Lost

Indiaman and frigate

Content and Castor, which escaped with the convoy.

Merchant ships of the convoy

About 250

Map

Hawke sails to intercept the West Indies convoy August – October 1747