Choiseul's plan answered Britain's global pressure by trying to carry the war directly onto British soil. The Mediterranean fleet was to join the Brest fleet, whose combined strength would cover an army crossing the Channel and marching on London. Boscawen's victory at Lagos prevented the first force from arriving intact. Hawke then caught the Brest fleet at Quiberon Bay rather than allowing it to wait safely for concentration. The invasion was therefore defeated through sea denial before the transports could attempt a crossing.
Chapter · 3:03:16-3:06:27
Choiseul's invasion plan fails before the crossing
France planned to unite its fleets, control the Channel, and land an army in Britain, but Lagos and Quiberon Bay destroyed the naval precondition.