minor naval engagement small french_navy british_royal_navy squadrons named mauritius early stages french revolutionary wars battle fought control waters blockade british squadron french warships operating island posed significant threat vital british trade routes connected china attempt island british commander region ordered gun hms gun institute blockade began october concerned food shortages rebellious slave population french naval commander led small squadron comprising frigates smaller vessels drive british squadron october squadrons met northern battle lasted quarter hours fought close duel left ships badly damaged supported remainder squadron successfully withdrew fire support distant forced retire repairs unable continue blockade british force returned india allowing food supplies reach necessity campaigns dutch_east_indies british blockade renewed french unable advantage increasing civil unrest island population background war great_britain began february news arriving french british east indian colonies june strongest french positions indian_ocean islands lay substantially west british bases bombay madras british india small french frigate squadron supported smaller warships operated islands posing considerable threat british maritime trade indian_ocean counter threat british commander region captain ordered ships blockade island summer force comprised gun fourth rate ship gun hms captain large gun frigate captain ships sailed madras august stopping allied port french controlled island arriving october state turmoil french revolution republican_party island seized control suspected arrested including naval commander executions arrival news abolished slavery intervention governor prevented unrest naval authorities prevented offensive operations reduced squadron commanded captain remained battle despite shore arrival british blockade squadron provoked taking action defences prepared orders food supplies running low rice available quantity potential famine consequent social unrest slave population severe sailed immediately intercept french squadron comprised gun frigate captain gun gun brig force accompanied gun ships crews heavily augmented volunteers including young detachment soldiers squadron sailed october seeking british north island october close northwest british ships sighted issued orders advance french squadron responding forming ships line battle advancing meet led french line closely followed focusing ordering smith engage firing began close range broadside followed immediately fire ships sides damaged opening exchanges sails rigging torn ordered squadron pull range firing passed came range frigate fire brought british ship fore return fire managed sufficiently damage french ship unable retreat light winds largely ships began close range duel hour exchange continued unable intervene smith repeatedly refusing orders support ship remaining long range contributing intermittent inaccurate fire distant light breeze enabled slowly pull ship force despite loss main close main fell feet water hold outnumbered ship damaged reluctantly withdrew threat lifted able tow retire direction followed night fell 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 immediate result battle inconclusive squadrons retiring ship damaged apiece french losses heavy killed wounded including killed wounded sailor killed wounded casualties reported contrast men killed wounded damage ship severe repair resupply ships nearby repairs affected india thousand miles away forced abandon blockade retire bombay madras action brought repercussions smith failure support noted smith claimed simply maintaining line battle subsequently emerged captains engaged personal dispute result smith decided refuse orders behaviour featured initial dispatch smith challenged account demanded court martial held investigate panel decided smith behaviour unacceptable dismissed navy time lost wrecked rock august invasion ceylon smith appealed sentence restored captain list called service retired british historians considered smith refusal participate probably cost battle wrote behaviour principle reason prize british considers action james assessment smith intervention resulted british victory instead encounter war french english resulted defeat relief blockade meant shipping particularly american vessels laden food supplies reach island threatened famine french free operate british trade particularly squadron considered blockade dangers monsoon season false report squadron french ships line soon arrive distracted sudden need guard dutch east india colonies following french conquest netherlands supervised invasion ceylon operations dutch_east_indies time attention turned heavily reinforced early frigate squadron commanded
Battle of Île Ronde