Battle of Hyères Islands The Naval Battle of Hyères Islands was fought on 13 July 1795 off the Hyères Islands , a group of islands off the French Mediterranean coast , about 25 km east of Toulon . The battle was fought between the van of a British fleet chasing the French squadron , and the French rear . The rear - most French ship , " Alcide " , surrendered before exploding . Context . After the Battle of Genoa at Cape Noli , and the capture of " Ça Ira " and " Censeur " , the damaged French fleet retreated to the Hyères Islands . The " Victoire " , " Timoléon " , and HMS " Berwick " , as well as the frigates " Alceste " and " Minerve " were dispatched to Toulon for repairs , leaving the squadron with only 11 ships of the line . On 4 April 1795 , a squadron of six seventy - fours supported by four frigates , under Rear - admiral Renaudin , arrived from Brest after the Croisière du Grand Hiver . In May , a mutiny broke out in the Toulon squadron , while Renaudin ' s ships remained loyal . Renaudin moored his ships at the entrance of Toulon road to cover the harbour against a possible English attack . Meanwhile , Conventional Deputy Joseph Niou , formerly a naval engineer , restored order by setting the sailors against the English , and having them pledge to " wash their crimes in the blood of the enemies of the Republic " . On 7 June , the French fleet set sail . Battle . In the afternoon of the 7 July , HMS " Agamemnon " made contact . By the evening , the French were in pursuit , and the next morning , " Agamemnon " signaled the British fleet by means of cannon fire . At 9 : 30 , the 17 - ship French squadron found the 22 - ship Royal Navy squadron anchored in Fiorenzo bay , including six three - deckers . Finding himself outnumbered and outgunned , Martin attempted to avoid battle by escaping to Fréjus bay , with the British giving chase . In the evening of the 12th , the British squadron received intelligence from two corvettes , HMS " Flêche " and HMS " Cyclops " , that the French were South of the Hyères Islands . Contact was made again the next morning and the chase continued . The French squadron became becalmed and the rear guard was soon overtaken by the British van , comprising HMS " Victory " , HMS " Culloden " , and HMS " Cumberland " . Without assistance from the main body of the squadron , an artillery duel broke out , battering the rear - most French ship " Alcide " , damaging HMS " Culloden " ' s rigging , and almost de - masting HMS " Victory " . Despite the best efforts of her sister ships in the French line to protect her against overwhelming odds , " Alcide " struck her colours at 2 : 00 pm . The frigates " Justice " and " Alceste " attempted to take her in tow to safety , but were repelled by gunfire from HMS " Victory " . As the main body of the French squadron prepared to intervene to rescue " Alcide " , a fire broke out on her fore - top . She was consumed by an explosion half an hour later , causing the loss of about 300 of her crew , while 300 survivors were rescued by the British squadron . After the explosion of " Alcide " , the fighting died out , with the French retreating to Toulon and the British retreating to Leghorn , via San - Fiorenzo .