Which navy defeated the British fleet at the 1781 Battle of the Chesapeake?

The French Navy defeated the British fleet at the 1781 Battle of the Chesapeake.

The naval battle took place on September 5, 1781, near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. A French fleet commanded by the Comte de Grasse fought British ships led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves.

The French victory prevented the British from using the bay to relieve Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown. French control of the sea also helped protect the arrival of allied troops and supplies supporting the American and French siege.

The battle was not a complete destruction of the British fleet, but its strategic effect was crucial. Without reliable naval access, Cornwallis could not receive effective reinforcement or escape by sea. The resulting isolation contributed directly to the British surrender at Yorktown in October.