A large invasion force was prepared and put to sea from Dunkirk in February 1744, only to be partly wrecked and driven back into harbour by violent storms.

A separate war had broken out on continental Europe regarding the Austrian Succession in which Britain and Spain were also on opposite sides and in which France remained initially neutral.

British and French troops had already fought in Europe at battles such as Dettingen and the two countries were in a state of de facto war by late 1743.

British financial subsidies were essential to keeping its continental allies Austria, Hanover and the Dutch Republic afloat.

This would reverse Britain's past successful policy of forming Grand Alliances against France on the continent through military support and financial subsidies.

A squadron under Roq would sail from Brest, checking that the Channel between Dunkirk and the English coast was clear of the British fleet.

The French had made a mistake, believing that Norris's larger British fleet was in Portsmouth when it was in fact sitting off The Downs.

[8] The following year a much smaller force was landed by France in northern Scotland to support the Jacobite rising which had broken out, led by Charles Edward Stuart.

When Stuart reached Derby, France agreed to send a much larger invasion force to support them – but this decision was taken too late.

By the time such an expedition was ready, Stuart had withdrawn to Scotland and the rebellion was ended with the Battle of Culloden in 1746 after which the French invasion plans were shelved for the remainder of the war.

His plan was to move an invasion force swiftly from Le Havre to Portsmouth, without fleet protection, and end the Seven Years' War.