Glorious First of June
28 May – 1 June 1794, The Atlantic, about 400 miles west of Ushant
British tactical victory; six French ships taken and one sunk, but the grain convoy reached France
France was close to famine, and a great convoy of grain ships was on its way from America. Villaret de Joyeuse took the Brest fleet out to meet it, with orders to cover it at any cost; Lord Howe sailed from Spithead to find it. The fleets met far out in the Atlantic on 28 May. In two days of skirmishing Howe's ships crippled Révolutionnaire and Indomptable and won the weather gauge. On 1 June, after a pause in the fog, Howe ordered each of his ships to break through the French line and engage from leeward. Only a few managed it, but the fighting was savage at close range. Brunswick and Vengeur du Peuple locked together for three hours; Vengeur sank in the evening, and the Republic made a legend of her crew going down shouting for the Republic. Six French ships were taken, the first fleet victory of the war. But Howe, aged 68 and exhausted, did not pursue, and the convoy arrived safely a few days later, so both sides claimed success.
Read more on WikipediaRoyal Navy
39 ships, none lost
French Navy
37 ships, 7 lost
Map
Howe sails from Spithead May 1794
Villaret sails to meet the grain convoy May 1794