Action at Cherbourg ( 1692 ) The action at Cherbourg was fought on 21 and 22 May Old Style ( 1st and 2 June ( New Style ) 1692 as part of the aftermath of the Battle of Barfleur ( 19 May ( OS ) 1692 ) Background . During the pursuit of the French fleet after the battle of Barfleur , three of the most badly damaged French ships , the " Soleil Royal " ( 104 guns ) , " Admirable " 90 , and " Triomphant " 76 , accompanied by two frigates , of 24 and 20 guns , and a fireship , sought a safe haven at Cherbourg . They were beached outside the town , as there was no suitable harbour for them . Russell detailed Delaval , his vice - admiral , to attack and destroy them . Delaval took station off Cherbourg , and so many of the English fleet joined him that his command became unwieldy . Retaining 11 of the ships with him , mostly the smaller 3rd and 4th Rates , he dispatched the rest , a further 16 , to join Russell in pursuit of Tourville and the main body of the French fleet . Action . Transferring from his flagship , " Royal Sovereign " 100 to the handier " St Albans " 50 , Delaval mounted his first attack on the morning of 21 May . The French had made serious efforts to protect the ships ; they were beached with their masts seaward , to create an obstacle for the attackers , their guns were manned , and they were overlooked by shore batteries , " Soleil Royal " under the battery at Fosse du Galet , the other two further east under the guns of two coastal towers First attack . Sending ships ahead to take soundings Delaval moved in on the morning of the 21st with " St Albans " and " Ruby " 50 to bombard the ships and the fort , but the French return fire was so fierce that after an hour and a half he was forced to retreat . Second attack . On the morning of the 22nd Delaval tried again , sending " St Albans " and " Advice " 50 to bombard the " Admirable " , while he himself , ( now in " Grafton " , 70 ) , attacked the others , supported by " Monk " 60 and a group of 3rd and 4th Rates . However , " Monk " and her consorts had insufficient depth in the low tide to get in close , and were forced to retire . Third and final attack . At one oclock that afternoon , at high water , Delaval made a third attempt , this time using his fireships with boarding parties in boats . " Soleil Royal " was hit by fireship " Blaze " , her captain ( Thomas Heath ) bringing her within pistol - shot before firing and abandoning her , while " Triomphant " was burned by fireship " Wolf " , whose captain ( James Greenway ) laid her alongside before igniting her . However , the third fireship , " Hound " , was set alight by gunfire and burned before she reached " Admirable " , so Delaval led his boats in and boarded her . Beaujeu , her captain , and her crew were forced to abandon her , but about 40 of her crew , mostly wounded , were taken prisoner ; the ship was burned , together with the two frigates and the fireship that were with her . Conclusion . Delaval had achieved a clear success with few casualties , and at later that afternoon set off to rejoin the fleet at La Hogue . Ships . English : < br > 11 ships of the line , plus auxiliaries " St Albans " 50 , " Grafton " 70 , " Burford " 70 , " Advice " 50 , " Monk " 60 , " Ruby " 50 . French : < br > 3 ships of the line , plus auxiliaries " Soleil Royal " 104 , " Admirable " 90 , " Triomphant " 76 .