action february action february minor naval engagement french revolutionary wars fought mouth french frigate royal_navy frigate exceptionally large powerful ship engaged commerce raiding operation british merchant shipping port calcutta british india eliminate threat sent madras pursuit acting information released prisoners captain sailing distant gunfire alerted presence evening february french frigate discovered anchor mouth recently captured british merchant ships unclear reasons french captain properly prepare receive attack frigate consequently killed broadside british ship crew continued resist hours surrendering ship reduced battered wreck crew killed wounded british losses contrast light struck shot height action suffered lingering death months later wounds captured merchant ships subsequently escaped french prize crews executive officer lieutenant repaired took ships calcutta commissioned royal_navy frigate accidentally wrecked red_sea years later background spring royal_navy enjoyed naval supremacy french navy presence limited frigates loosely blockaded france april reinforcements sent comprising frigates commanded squadron avoided blockade arrived july sailed eastwards summer intending raid british trading ports september squadron intercepted driven british squadron northeastern coast sumatra winter january sailed encountering large annual convoy east january ensuing incident british commander managed believing convoy warships french admiral retreating flagship operations gun frigate commanded elderly captain built based hull frame ship line frigate weighed tons largest purpose built frigate sea main battery consisted pounder long guns second frigate built manage heavy armament augmented fourteen pounder long guns upper deck pounder quarterdeck totaling heavy cannon complemented pounder swivel guns uniquely sides ship lined prevent splinters common precaution taken deck protect crew falling debris ship weakened ill disciplined crew expressed doubts ability aged returned squadron broke ships sent france longer supply repairs manpower provisions support dispersal squadron encouraged governor disposed ruling france remaining crews rebellious sent commerce raiding operation autumn achieved success time force returned sailed leaving instructions follow order seizing selling frigate concern ordering operate independently autumn furious alter arrangements start largely british naval commander rear admiral taken ships westwards red_sea participate opposition campaign egypt leaving single frigate protect trade shipping region ship gun large powerful ship captured french battle weighing tons battery pounder long guns supplemented pounder long guns fourteen pounder formidable ship significantly weaker massive crew fallen ill ship stationed calcutta leaving compensate crew augmented detachment frigate hms fox soldiers command captain distinguished early war negotiating surrender french mediterranean port city toulon action threat execution republican faction city led siege toulon destruction half january participated successful raid manila battle raiding cruise initially proved devastating usual raiding season passed shipping mouth unprepared assault rapid succession seized local trading country ships chance surprise forced send sailors away prize crews reducing complement quarter missed major convoy cape colony escorted lord taken february coming fire bow gunfire attracted attention returning calcutta transporting lord governor general india madras sailed february instructions search february encountered sent madras brought ship february sailing southeast flashes seen northeast horizon initially dismissed lightning continued convincing cause turning northeast took investigate captured merchant ships visible brilliantly illuminated tropical night brought westwards order weather wearing bearing french ship light wind southwest despite illumination french ship sails clearly identified gave orders prepare action thought sails belonged approaching despite concerns officers wished lure close ensure defeat coming engagement approximately midnight slowly moved lee firing small broadside long range british ship bow accompanied scattered fire french prize crews merchant ships apart damage remained unharmed advancing darkness french fire continued little effect allowing bring yards stern fire broadside followed second british ship pulled alongside french frigate cannon complemented soldiers aboard swept exposed deck damage french ship catastrophic guns smashed carriages dozens men killed wounded dead including lieutenant despite losses french survivors returned remaining guns broadside scattered sea shot merchant ships french gunners aimed high shot tearing rigging british slammed hull problem partly attributed french gun days earlier exacerbated lack suitable gun crews meant guns french gunners firing warning shots distant merchant ships realised guns needed depressed combat point blank range hour half frigates poured shot close range struck shot march replaced lieutenant hour action continued french fire gradually stopped completely time french guns remained operational hailed ask surrendered french reply ordered broadside second hail brought response sailors seen attempting repair rigging concerned french attempting escape concentrated fire masts bringing crashing completely resistance ended british merchant prisoners board emerged decks hailed requesting boat sent british lieutenant formally surrender french ship summary table guns refers cannon carried ship including guns taken consideration calculating rate carried aboard broadside weight records combined weight shot fired single simultaneous discharge entire broadside aftermath damage extensive stern facing beaten gunfire shot holes combined form holes hull waterline masts bulkheads smashed apart deck furniture splinters crew killed including captain approximately wounded crew listed casualties wounded later died effects damages considerably lighter shot struck hull entire battle gun worst damage cabin round shot destroyed furniture addition damage masts rigging proved superficial crew killed outright wounded including british captain struck left arm shot exiting near spine additional injuries chest right arm eventually died long deterioration calcutta buried monument military honours memorial subsequently placed memory initial aftermath victory attempted lure captured merchant ships close raising french british ensign lord took bait closed british ship gave chase prizes fled british crew unable effectively pursue losing damaged cross jack yard lost anchors battle consequently repairs combatants took days particularly fitting jury masts comfortable making journey calcutta permanent repairs commended victory promoted commander later post captain subsequently taken service royal_navy gun fifth rate frigate command continued service indian_ocean june frigate wrecked arabian red_sea coast near nearly decades battle admiralty recognised action february attached awarded application british participants living battle considered british historians unusual engagement marked extremely disciplined fire product unusually extensive gunnery training complemented musket fire soldiers affected accuracy french gunners naval historian wrote action sic fought sides fought weaker exercise skill ultimately successful
Action of 28 February 1799