Caesar's long-range fire and refusal to obey the renewed close-action order left Queen to attempt the manoeuvre alone and suffer heavily. Howe responded by steering Queen Charlotte directly at the French line, with Bellerophon and other ships following his example. Their breakthrough isolated French ships and forced Villaret-Joyeuse to turn back rather than abandon them. Although the damaged British ships eventually withdrew from the French counter-move, Howe ended the day holding the weather gauge and therefore the power to determine when the fleets would fight again.
Chapter · 1:44:30-1:51:23
Howe leads the 29 May breakthrough himself
After Caesar refused to close, Howe drove Queen Charlotte through the French line and won the weather gauge for the decisive battle.