campaign january campaign january series manoeuvres naval actions fought warships squadron vessels sent protect trade region later augmented dutch warships campaign developed french forces based reacted quickly british forces indian_ocean expansion french revolutionary wars february french rapidly spread british trade routes far_east concentrated narrow islands java sumatra dutch_east_indies ships soon joined french_navy frigates began inflict losses shipping region royal_navy forces indian_ocean deployed private enterprise ruled maintained fleet navy raised squadron armed merchant ships patrol drive raiders arrival british force january initially success squadron running capturing large armed january long french vessels beaten attack british trading post january action larger french squadron fought ended squadrons divided british receiving dutch frigate reinforcements french subsequently turned southwards attacked february capturing harbour returning prize background february declared war great_britain extending existing french revolutionary wars took months news outbreak war reach british india messages arriving calcutta consul george baldwin alexandria june royal_navy commander region commodore immediately set demanding surrender french trading posts india fell days major port refused besieged august siege lasted month french commander bombardment british land naval forces french presence eliminated india ordered return europe leaving minimal naval forces indian_ocean indian_ocean formed vital britain trade links wider british_empire india controlled commercial organisation maintained army navy indian waters owned fleet large merchant ships known east vessels ranged size tons carried cannons capable certain conditions fighting warships frigate usually match individual ships sailed annual route china india carrying trade goods tea silk britain goods sold replaced general cargo including military equipment troops journey indian_ocean vital parts indian trade route islands sumatra java dutch_east_indies china trade passed journey indian_ocean french ships navy warships commercially owned operated indian trade routes base isolated island recognised strategic importance soon news war arrived french ships spread indian_ocean search british dutch merchant shipping gathering significant numbers september french cruisers achieved major victory mounting guns attacked east princess royal captain anger point resisted eventually forced strike deployment royal_navy unable provide forces protect trade authorities india decided form squadron ships patrol region east diverted regular route service accompanied brig overall command commodore january force passed singapore entered sailing eastwards search french raiders british squadron travelled northern coast sumatra french attacked trading post southern coast gun captain gun captain january approached mouth close gun east lay anchor captain crew men completely unprepared action opened fire yards maintaining battle hour minutes hauling continue combat defended vessel positioning french approach time narrow mouth bay allowed drive ship turn falling damaged rigging suffered man killed sufficient damage rigging require weeks repairs immediate repairs completed abandoned retreated search weaker targets early january mitchell squadron reinforced stopped merchant ship inspection ship searched new sails appeared southwest near suspicious identity new arrivals mitchell sent pursuit ships turned away east closed fleeing ships identified british vessels soon french french opened fire larger british vessels responded captain engaged captain attacked soon supported overwhelming numbers size british squadron soon convinced resistance pointless minutes shots fired surrendered died aftermath battle losing leg french sailors killed wounded british losses killed wounded raiders subsequently supplied crews squadron battle morning january mitchell squadron lay anchor island northwestern tip java new prizes remaining miles distant sails sighted northern passing small island rapidly identified frigates brig fact french naval squadron consisting frigates brig captured renamed overall command captain canning attempted communicate strange vessels obvious lack response enemy ships greatly outnumbered canning sail northeast prizes avoid destruction evening heavy rain reduced visibility prevented decisive movement january french squadron rounded northwestern tip java pursuit canning ships joined particular struggling escape advancing enemy mitchell realised danger sailing intercept french joined remainder mitchell force hours later ships met british line managing reach safety shelter large east despite hit repeatedly stages chase hour squadrons continued general exchange fire long range mitchell turned french managing hit destructive firing continued minutes withdrew eventually island commander keen continue action mitchell fearing ships able properly engage better armed french vessels casualties french squadron known loss british ships man killed combat final operations need reinforcement resupply mitchell drew squadron joined gun dutch frigate captain armed merchant ship mitchell ships cruised weeks discovering enemy vessels concluding operation february returning indian_ocean cheap died illness june mitchell survived return britain king presented equivalent reward compensation diversion straits dutch retained warships raid french captured fight sent france carrying french prisoners french squadron retreat mitchell force withdraw indian_ocean reaching british trading post february undergoing repairs taken surprise captured merchant ship bay demanded surrender small nearby informed fort armed arrival mitchell squadron expected moment unwilling continue engagement mitchell withdrew immediately assaulting fort french squadron subsequently returned action october drew away british warships blockaded island surrounding waters remained important strategic location war subsequent organisation east convoys return royal_navy presence region assisted limiting losses french smaller warships occasion convoys east successfully discouraged large squadrons attempting attacks valuable merchant craft size power orders battle french_navy
Sunda Strait campaign of January 1794