action april action april minor naval engagement french revolutionary wars squadron french_navy frigates intercepted british battle squadron rear admiral formed blockade french naval base brest brittany french squadron split face superior british numbers vessels seeking divide british pursuit frigate followed british frigate hms ultimately brought battle closely fought engagement ships roughly equal size british ship easily able defeat french engagement lasting hour french ships pursued british ships line chase lasted longer morning april caught frigate far larger opponent french captain surrendered immediately fight futile engagement french frigate successfully escaped portsmouth ships returned station brest blockade remaining place remainder year background great_britain france war years april british dominance sea established royal_navy maintaining substantial blockade fleets principal french naval ports biggest port coast brest brittany french raiders attack british shipping english channel efficient commerce raiders frigates light fast warships strike rapidly devastating effect left unopposed major roles british blockade squadrons detection elimination french frigates emerged bases april squadron british blockade brest commanded rear admiral command ships line hms london hms frigates ships formed effective blockade march taken french corvette following day recaptured lost british merchant ship april british squadron cruising approaches brest ships spotted west immediately ordered squadron chase strange ships identified squadron french frigates french ships gun led captain month raiding cruise brest far uneventful prize taken small spanish merchant brig quickly discovered danger squadron gave orders sail westwards away british squadron wind favoured vastly superior squadron rapidly gained french frigates british ship come range gun hms captain managed exchange distant gunfire french ship gap widened battle seeing ships danger caught larger british ships line captain gave orders squadron separate splitting west ships line close pursuit swung northwest british squadron gun frigate hms captain lord managed stay contact afternoon rest pursuit far succeeded bringing range cannon ship quarterdeck opening fire guns brought response guns frigates exchanging cannon shot half hours slowly caught elusive opponent finally close lay alongside frigates exchanged fire close range minutes concentrating gunnery hull french ship ordered men disable british ship rigging masts substantially larger ship weight shot gross battle fiercely contested suffered head injury taking damage main collapsed aftermath action british ships line visible distance surrendered ship ships suffered damage injuries masts requiring urgent repairs suffered damage rigging sails french ship taken heavy casualties men killed wounded including captain contrast lost single man wounded subsequently died effected repairs ships gave temporary command lieutenant subsequently promoted brought ships portsmouth scattered squadron aftermath sailing learned captain robust succeeded catching french frigate early morning april french captain surrendering fight overwhelming british force faced shocked frigate caught ship line open waters response captain claimed sails like witch subsequently joined robust chase succeeding firing shot french ship falling period calm weather chase days captain ship throwing guns stores overboard ultimately escaped pursuit later rejoining brest fleet participating number subsequent campaigns purchased royal_navy entirety squadron sharing prize money prior arrangement ship particularly good condition long service british fleet returned blockade brest squadron following brief refit portsmouth remaining port remainder year
Action of 10 April 1795