action june action june minor naval engagement fought coast france french revolutionary wars french_navy largely driven atlantic_ocean early war following heavy losses series failed operations allowed royal_navy channel_fleet institute close blockade french naval ports coast particularly brest brittany blockade strategy included constantly patrolling squadron composed frigates tasked preventing passage french ships port spring french frigates stationed indian_ocean sent france base longer supply effectively ships gun frigate departed laden soldiers garrison rapid passage european waters arriving june early following morning brittany coast sight spotted frigate squadron cut coast jason gave chase fled southwards reached evening half hours frigates fell jason continued chase speed night suddenly frigates crashed coast grounded frigates continued fire finally arrived outnumbered surrendered jason badly damaged successfully refloated casualties packed decks french ship high wreck ship evacuated burnt remainder squadron returned britain prize background early years french revolutionary wars french_navy sought oppose royal_navy sea main base brest brittany royal_navy achieved victories glorious june losses inflicted fleet battles compounded large numbers ships wrecked storms disastrous grand operations royal_navy unopposed control atlantic enforcing supremacy strategy close blockade maintaining battle fleet sea brittany squadron frigates watching approaches brest june squadron included detachment comprising gun hms jason captain gun captain gun captain newman french warships oceanic travel extremely hazardous ships travelled numbers spring squadron commanded sailed reinforce french naval forces indian_ocean based port louis squadron failed significant impression driven inconclusive action sumatra tricked fleeing vulnerable merchant convoy incident january end year unhappy plans abolish slavery refused continue supplying squadron garrison forcing disperse ships ordered france early gun instructed follow carrying soldiers garrison longer supported commanded following death captain sumatra sailed march stores accompanying soldiers battle despite rapid journey european waters arriving months later june sailing brest wind rocks visible june sails appeared northeast squadron immediately gave chase diverted northwards cutting coast harbour forcing turn away fleeing southwards coast instead jason followed sail left far day chase continued british frigates gaining slowly quarry darkness fell closed larger french ship close open fire responded reducing speed half hours frigates exchanged speed french coastline rapidly approached ahead shot struck main bringing crashing consequent loss speed forced pulling away smaller ship unable escape jason steadily gaining concerned proximity coast hailed orders anchor grounded hear order correctly instead increased sail ahead jason straight close coast struck shore little distance ahead unable arrest jason momentum ship stuck lying french ship badly damaged crash masts collapsing overboard impact actually lay stronger position jason blocked arc fire ship swung rising tide leaving stern exposed took advantage position fire jason wounded command passed lieutenant responded fire cutting stern fire chase guns succeeded dragging frigate novel ordering men run bows carrying round shot sudden shift weight gently rotated grounded ship face direct pounder long guns french ship fire finally approaching determined resistance hopeless struck colours 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 dawn june revealed frigates grounded prompting response french forces nearby frigates brig squadron sent fire british ships force engaging arrival british blockade squadron comprising captain hms san captain sir captain squadron assisted force jason towed stuck water leaking hull efforts ship exhausted frigate evacuated stripped stores wreck set fire took time boarding parties reach number french crew taken delay seizure ship dive overboard swim beach making accounting casualties difficult day continued boat parties french civilians sailed ship climbed aboard breaking liquor stores leading drunken confusion deck allowed ashore temporarily men escorting lady french sailors subsequently returned captivity voluntarily subsequently refloated jury masts guns thrown overboard ship nailed sailing squadron portsmouth losses british ships light seven killed jason including second lieutenant wounded including lost killed lost overboard wounded french losses enormous effects concentrated cannon fire packed decks producing casualties approximately killed wounded including number drowned ship grounded crew brought britain prisoners war commander later exchanged twice promoted return france recognition resistance engagement rumours persisted personally shot men abandoned guns complimented pursuit repairs crew confirmed possession french ship served royal_navy time prize commissioned captors prisoners war october jason patrolling brest number french sighted gave chase jason ran submerged rock near began founder choice bring frigate land french coast frigate sank men captured sailors groups stole cutter escaped plymouth
Action of 30 June 1798