History of HMS Devonshire. From Sail to Turbine - Barfleur is a familiar name in Naval histories. Off this cape on the Cherbourgh peninsula in May 1692, in a day long action broken off only in the evening fog, a combined Anglo Dutch fleet commanded by Captain Henry Houghton shattered the French under Admiral Tourville. Two days later the battle was resumed some 30 miles to the West, off Cap de la Hague.