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Battle Of LowestoftThe Battle of Lowestoft, 13 June 1665 was a naval battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. It remains the worst naval defeat in Dutch history. A fleet of more than a hundred ships of the United Provinces commanded by Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam attacked an English fleet of equal size commanded by James Stuart, Duke of York near the port of Lowestoft in Suffolk, England. The Dutch were desperate to prevent an English blockade of their ports. The action was fierce and lasted all day. Confusion during a delicate fleet manoeuvre made the Dutch lose all coherence; they were then trapped by the British rear. The Dutch flagship Eendracht duelling the Royal Charles - James was nearly killed by a Dutch chain-ball decapitating several of his courtiers, the head of one of them striking him down - exploded, killing van Obdam. Lieutenant-Admirals Egbert Bartholomeusz Kortenaer and Auke Stellingwerf were killed in seperate actions. By evening the Dutch were routed, having lost seventeen ships, but Cornelis Tromp and Johan Evertsen having taken over the command, made possible an escape and covered the flight, thus preventing complete catastrophe. The British lost only one ship, the Charity. Notable English captains present at the battle included Captain of the Fleet William Penn in the Royal Charles, Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich and George Ayscue. The outcome of the battle was partially caused by an inequality in fire-power, but the Dutch had already embarked on an ambitious expansion programme, building many heavier ships. The English failed to take advantage of their victory. The fleets, now much more equal in quality, met again at the Four Days Battle in June 1666. Lowestoft Lowestoft Lowestoft, Battle of
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