Battle of Portland (the Three Days' Battle) 18-20 February 1653 
(De Driedaagse Zeeslag.)
(source: british-civil-wars. Commonwealth and Protectorate. By David Plant, 2001 - 6.)

Dutch control of the Channel through the winter of 1652-3 allowed a revival of commerce, but by early February 1653, the English fleet had been refitted and reorganised. Around 65 ships put to sea on 10 February under the joint command of the Generals-at-Sea Blake (English), Monck and Deane to search for Tromp, who was due to return with the Mediterranean convoy.

On 18 February, Tromp's fleet of 80 warships was sighted off Portland Bill, escorting a large convoy of 200 merchantmen. The English fleet had lost cohesion during the search: 
Blake (Dutch) and Deane were in the “Triumph” with a few ships of the Red squadron; a few more of the same squadron were with John Lawsob in the “Fairfax” a mile behind. William Penn in the “Speaker” was ahead of Blake with ships of the Blue squadron. Monck with the White squadron was four miles away to leeward. Seeing that he greatly outnumbered Blake's squadron, Tromp attacked immediately. Blake turned into the wind to face the Dutch attack while Penn's squadron tacked around to support him. For an hour, the battle raged fiercely around the Triumph. Blake's flag captain and secretary were killed; Blake himself was badly wounded in the thigh. Lawson skillfully manoeuvred to join the battle from the south-west. When Monck arrived with the White squadron, the battle swung decisively in favour of the English. A group of frigates bypassed the main action and made for the unprotected Dutch merchantmen. Tromp was forced to disengage from the battle to protect the convoy. Sporadic fighting continued until nightfall but a lack of wind prevented the English fleet from pursuing the Dutch.

The situation during the first day of the Battle of Portland.

On the afternoon of 19 February, the English again made contact with the Dutch as they moved up the Channel. Tromp deployed his warships in a defensive crescent formation to protect the merchantmen. In a running battle, the Dutch warships acted as a rearguard and successfully held off English attempts to break through the formation. By the time darkness fell, the Dutch were running dangerously short of ammunition.

Fighting was renewed on 20 February when the fleets were off Beachy Head. This time the English succeeded in penetrating the Dutch defence and getting in amongst the merchantmen. When darkness fell, the English fleet anchored for the night, intending to renew the attack the next morning. With great skill, Tromp managed to escape during the night and sail into the shallow waters of the Flanders and Zealand coast, where the English didn't risk pursuing him. However, the Dutch had lost eight warships and up to 50 merchantmen. English naval supremacy had been restored and the Channel was now closed to all Dutch seaborne trade.

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