Rodney at the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre

At the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre, fourteen British ships of the line faced eight French ships of the line escorting about 250 merchant vessels. Six French ships of the line and seven merchants were captured, with around 800 sailors killed or wounded and about 4,000 captured. Hawke deliberately put aggressive officers toward the rear so the back of his line would enter the action. Rodney's 60-gun Eagle fought the 70-gun Neptune and Monarch until a shot disabled her steering. Rodney later testified at the court martial of Thomas Fox, captain of HMS Kent, for failing to provide support. Hawke built an effective fleet by placing officers where their different temperaments reinforced one another.