As Batavian vice admiral, Carel Hendrik van Heell was responsible for the Dutch naval side of the projected invasion of Britain. His responsibilities included the barges and the practical work needed to turn Napoleon's proposed Channel crossing into an executable operation. Invasion planning depended on transport organization as much as on battle fleets. Fending off William Sidney Smith required skill, judgment, and luck. Van Heell's overall quality remains uncertain, but avoiding destruction against Smith in a frigate action deserved respect.
Notable Point · 22:02-23:31
Van Heell and the Batavian invasion force
Carel Hendrik van Heell's role in assembling an invasion force shows the daunting practical burden behind Napoleon's plans for crossing to England.