Howe's unconventional attack

At the start of the battle, Howe defied naval convention by ordering his ships to turn towards the French and rake and engage their immediate opponent. The French responded by firing on the British ships as they approached, but their lack of training and coordination was obvious; many ships that obeyed Howe's order arrived in action without significant damage. Defence, the seventh ship of the British line, successfully cut the French line between its sixth and seventh ships, Mucius and Tourville.