Battle of Cap de la Roque

22^nd May 1703

On 21^st May 1703 a large merchant fleet consisting of about 110 English and Dutch ships transporting mainly salt, but also wine and sugar, left Lisbon for England. There were five escorting Dutch ships. The next day near Cabo da Roca (fr: Cap de la Roque) they encountered the squadron of Coetlogon composed of five large warships.

	The Dutch Squadron of Commodore Roemer Vlacq
	Ship's Name	Guns	Commander	Notes
	Muiderberg	50	Roemer Vlacq	Flagship
	Gaesterland	46	Thys de Wit
	Beschermer	44	Jacob Teengs
	Rotterdam	54	Samuel Forman
	Rozendaal	36	Johan Boreel
	The French Squadron of Alain Emmanuel de Coetlogon
	Ship's Name	Guns	Commander	Notes
	Vainqueur	86		Flagship
	Monarque	90
	Eole	64
	Orgueilleux	90
	Couronne	76

Description of the action

The Dutch ships engaged the French in an attempt to allow the convoy to escape, which it did. The Muiderberg was sunk and the other four vessels taken. Captain Roemer Vlacq died of his wounds in Toulon on 17^th July 1703.

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