Action of 12 March 1672

History & Significance

The action of 12 March 1672 was a naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War between a squadron commanded by Sir Robert Holmes and Sir Frescheville Holles against the Smyrna convoy, which was protected by 5 warships under De Haaze and Cornelis Evertsen. The Battle took place before the official start of the conflict, but now there was no turning back and England declared war on the Dutch Republic on March 17, 1672.

Sir Robert Holmes with a squadron of 5 ships cruising about the Isle of Wight, met with the Dutch Smyrna fleet, consisting of about 50 sail.

When the English fleet closed in with the Smyrna convoy, Holmes ordered Captain De Haaze to come aboard his ship. De Haaze refused, and English ship Saint Michael reacted to this refusal with a broadside after which De Haaze's ship replied in kind, and the engagement became general. At a certain point during the battle Haaze was killed, but his crew kept resisting. Holmes maintained the engagement until sunset, but failed to capture a single ship while his squadron had suffered severe damage. With dawn the action resumed. Four English warships which had hung back the day before now joined the battle. After another whole day of fighting, Evertsen managed to extract 62 merchantmen from danger. The Dutch during the engagement had lost 1 warship and only lost 4 merchantmen of which only 2 were of any value. The English ships had suffered severe damage with one ship disabled.

The Gloucester's prize the Klein Hollandia which she had disabled and captured, later foundered off Eastbourne.

The following details are from British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1603–1714.

Shomette, Donald G.; Haslach, Robert D. (1988). Raid on America: The Dutch Naval campaign of 1672-1674. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0788422454.

The ground they fought on

The site of Action of 12 March 1672 lies on Triassic Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Triassic. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduled Monuments near Action of 12 March 1672

Motte and associated earthworks at Shackerstone

Scheduled monument · ~4.5 mi

The motte and associated earthworks at Shackerstone is a Norman fortification located in Leicestershire. The monument comprises a substantial mound, characteristic of motte-and-bailey defensive architecture, which dates to the Norman period following the Conquest of 1066. The earthwork remains vi…

Roger Kidd / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Deserted village of Stretton Baskerville

Scheduled monument · ~5.8 mi

Deserted village of Stretton Baskerville is a medieval settlement site located in Warwickshire that was abandoned during the post-medieval period. The village is documented as existing in the medieval period but fell into decline, leaving behind earthwork remains and archaeological deposits that…

A J Paxton / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

The Benedictine priory and precinct of St Mary, Nuneaton

Scheduled monument · ~6.1 mi

St Mary's Priory at Nuneaton is a Benedictine priory founded in the eleventh century, originally established as a cell of the English monastery of Fontevraud Abbey before becoming independent. The priory operated as a major religious and economic centre in medieval Warwickshire until its dissolut…

JohnArmagh / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Hartshill Castle

Scheduled monument · ~6.3 mi

Hartshill Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortification located in Warwickshire, dating to the Norman period following the conquest of 1066. The castle comprises an earthwork mound surrounded by a ditch, typical of early Norman military architecture, with evidence of timber fortifications that would…

Brett Lees-Smith from Nuneaton, Warwickshire,, United Kingdom / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Grendon Bridge

Scheduled monument · ~7.6 mi

Grendon Bridge is a medieval stone bridge crossing the River Avon near Grendon in Warwickshire. The structure dates to the fourteenth century and represents an important example of medieval bridge engineering in the region. The bridge features characteristic pointed arches typical of its period a…

Robin Stott / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Kirby Muxloe Castle

Scheduled monument · ~7.7 mi

Kirby Muxloe Castle is a fortified manor house in Leicestershire built in the 1480s by William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, a prominent courtier and military commander under Edward IV. The castle represents an important example of late medieval domestic architecture, constructed largely of brick…

en:User:Neddyseagoon / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Other Jacobite Risings Battles

Battles near Action of 12 March 1672

Explore the landscape around this battlefield

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in the UK — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

• Action of 12 March 1672 · Wikipedia