Sluys, battle of

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Sluys, battle of, 1340. At Halidon Hill in 1333 the Scots discovered that Edward III was rather more formidable than his father. In 1337 Edward went to war with Philip VI of France who built up a vast armada at Sluys on the Flemish coast for an invasion of England. Edward attacked it on 24 June 1340. The French lashed their ships together to form a floating platform, protected by archers and artillery. Edward's vessels crashed into them and ferocious hand-to-hand fighting lasted all day. A few French vessels made their escape but the armada was totally destroyed.

J. A. Cannon