Q&A ยท 2:30:46-2:31:46

Portsmouth's forts and a Dutch raid

The ships would still be attractive targets, but Portsmouth's approaches and forts would make the attack harder.

Question

Would a Dutch raid have been harder if English ships of the line were moored at Portsmouth instead of Chatham?

Short answer

The ships would still be attractive targets, but Portsmouth's approaches and forts would make the attack harder.

Notes

Moving the fleet would not remove the Dutch incentive to destroy it. The difficulty lies in reaching and attacking the moored ships. Chatham relied on a defensive chain, whereas Portsmouth presented different approaches and numerous forts. Those defences would complicate the raid without eliminating the reason to attempt it.