Howe finally sighted the French fleet after following merchant intelligence into the Atlantic and began a running action in heavy weather. On 29 May he deliberately signaled a plan to pass through the French line and fight from leeward, turning an earlier opportunistic maneuver into a premeditated doctrine. Caesar's hesitation disrupted the British van, while Queen, Invincible, and later Queen Charlotte pressed into close action. Young Edward Codrington nearly drowned inside Queen Charlotte when open lower-deck ports admitted heavy water during the maneuver. The episode shows that tactical innovation depended on captains obeying signals, ships retaining sail power, and crews controlling the sea entering their own gun decks.
Chapter · 3:10:56-3:21:10
How Howe attempted deliberate line-breaking before 1 June
The actions of 28 and 29 May show Howe deliberately trying to gain the weather gauge and cut the French line before the final battle, with uneven execution across his captains.