capitulation bay saw surrender british_royal_navy dutch expeditionary force sent recapture dutch cape colony french revolutionary wars army overran french client state concerned threat posed trade routes great_britain dutch cape colony british expeditionary force landed simon town june forced surrender colony short campaign british commander vice admiral sir reinforced garrison stationed naval squadron cape protect british conquest government immediately ordered expeditionary force sail cape recapture colony force comprised ships line smaller vessels command rear admiral lucas security plans weak british knew operation lucas sailed british warned reinforced cape lucas journey took nearly months suffering shortages drinking water leading near state crews arrival fleet anchored fresh water deciding abandon operation sail french base august larger fleet discovered lucas force trapped bay aware resistance futile crews open revolt lucas surrendered ships captured force taken royal_navy joining squadron cape later baron keith recognition achievements operation force cancellation planned british invasion lucas faced court martial return netherlands died concluded defeat cape colony attacked end war treaty returned background winter army overran reformed revolutionary client state named event alarmed government great_britain allies dutch dutch empire controlled number strategically important colonies key controlling european access region dutch cape colony tip naval force based dominate trade routes europe particular economically vital links britain ensure cape colony french naval base secretary state war ordered large expeditionary force sail cape march force comprised squadrons troops overall control vice admiral sir substantial reinforcements followed arriving june conducted months fruitless negotiations government cape led august negotiations stalled ordered attack dutch positions dutch defenders withdrew forces low food ammunition numerous launch major attack cape_town september arrival british reinforcements general convinced surrender colony turned attention planning operations dutch_east_indies french island base sailed madras flagship hms monarch command maintained strong garrison naval presence cape sir commodore squadron subsequently dispersed operations indian_ocean consolidating position government determined recapture cape squadron prepared command rear admiral lucas sailed experience long expeditionary campaigns force comprised small gun ships line smaller warships taking cape lucas continue expedition order reinforce dutch_east_indies lucas voyage lucas expeditionary force sailed february intending pass north_sea scotland entering atlantic turning south unspecified french support operation promised actively blockading gun brig sighted force putting sea lucas day sending message admiral great february small british squadron led captain detached cruising division encountered weaker british making lucas formed line battle having successfully evaded pursuit lucas followed planned route arriving las april journey small british warship gun hms captain sighted force near escorting merchant ships barbados leaving merchant ships way followed lucas days sailed south bring warning cape despite noticing lucas decided attack taking supplies lucas sailed continuing south direction brazilian coast hoping profit favourable winds currents fact persistent position brazilian shore reached june delay lucas decided supply sail directly cape lucas stops journey cape_verde cape fact voyage took far longer journey distance taken surprised authors ascribed delay partially poor quality lucas crews expeditionary force speak vessel time information british eventually reached cape july bay table bay south eventually august anchored british agents observed lucas preparations netherlands reported january month expedition sailed british admiralty sent frigate hms cape warning arrived cape april vague accounts lucas mission reached earlier appearing madras march month lucas departure sailing madras march reached cape received detailed reports size status force heading cape admiralty responded threat substantial resources cape addition forces convoy transports led captain arrived small squadron followed july joined day detailed reports date lucas movements subsequent reinforcements arrived squadron based india august seven ships line seven smaller vessels command garrison cape stood british troops bay concerned force sailing cape powerful french frigate squadron sailed past cape stopping observed chased simon town force sailing bypass cape altogether decided fleet sea search august sailed southwest search lucas fierce storm caught british inflicting damage ships including loss mainmast monarch flooding fleet returned simon bay battered state august learn arrival lucas force lay anchor north following day storm swept bay ships damaged hms grounded dragged anchors wrecked lucas arrived cape july knowledge pressing concerns months ships sighted land supplies drinking water running dangerously low significant proportion crews suffering disease decided send men ashore allow better treatment lucas ordered sails ships removed repairs rendering ships temporarily august lucas warned servant dutch cape superior english force present informed dutch population assist attack british strongly advised sail away lucas hearing sailed deeper bay sir sent cavalry bay harry shore parties organised withdrawal local population livestock prevent capture following larger force command lucas held council senior officers debating attack cape_town practical abandon operation august decision sail lucas delayed unwilling leave sick men ashore force prepared sail august fleet appeared bay led scouting frigate crescent sent letter lucas demanding surrender refused strength force august led fleet bay line battle brought line anchor close gunshot range lucas ships trapped coast british lucas immediately raised flag truce sent officer negotiate terms outnumbered crews open rebellion lucas agreed terms dictated surrender force furthermore refused lucas request immediately send crews netherlands orders battle lucas order battle order battle aftermath warships squadron commissioned royal_navy attached squadron cape action criticised admiralty returned britain october baron keith capture retention cape colony sailors soldiers dutch force germans nearly entered british service royal_navy lucas dutch officers later returned europe captured ships hms notorious following year crew saint imitation britain intervention captain threw neck threatened death repeated succeeded intimidating rebellious seamen surrender caused popular outrage admiral return faced court martial april investigation lucas survive conclusion trial dying natural causes june ultimately december historians held lucas refusing fight force far superior ships men ships carried twice men expedition british troops ashore taken account lucas muster men compared command expedition criticised lack true promised french support failed appear troops insufficient number seriously threaten british garrison noted point landing men shore english site effect campaign british invasion postponed prepare lucas arrival ultimately cancelled entirely attacks cape colony war treaty returned captured dutch colonies ceylon including cape colony peace short lived early napoleonic wars second british expeditionary force prepared british seized cape colony second time following remained british_empire independence unified south_africa
Capitulation of Saldanha Bay