Action of 12 March 1672

Action of 12 March 1672
	Part of the Franco-Dutch War
	; Holme's attack on the Smyrna Fleet, off Beachy Head, 12 March 1672
Date	12–13 March 1672
Location	English Channel
Result	Most of the Dutch convoy escapes
Belligerents
England	Dutch Republic
Commanders and leaders
Sir Robert Holmes; Sir Frescheville Holles	Adriaan de Haaze †; Cornelis Evertsen
Strength
9 warships	5 warships ; 66 merchantmen
Casualties and losses
1 ship disabled (Saint Michael) and severe damage to the other ships	1 warship lost (Klein Hollandia); 4 small merchantmen captured

The action of 12 March 1672 was a naval battle in the Third Anglo-Dutch War between a squadron commanded by Sir Robert Holmes and Sir Frescheville Holles against the Smyrna convoy, which was protected by 5 warships under De Haaze and Cornelis Evertsen. The Battle took place before the official start of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, but now there was no turning back and England declared war on the Dutch Republic on March 17, 1672.

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