action october action october minor naval engagement french revolutionary wars fought british_royal_navy frigate ships dutch ships intercepted north_sea hours leaving port nautical miles northwest british ship dutch vessels carrying large quantities military supplies french soldiers reinforcements french irish forces participating irish rebellion rebellion defeated month earlier word british victory reached european continent dutch force intended supplement larger french squadron sent earlier october french defeated battle island dutch suffered similar outcome ships defeated turn larger better armed british vessel captain discovered dutch ships early october separated nautical miles unable mutually support targeting smaller ship king able hour force surrender fight turning attention larger vessel rapidly overhauled opened heavy fire able reply half hour surrendered ships taken britain repaired commissioned royal_navy defeat ended effort continental nations land soldiers ireland action background following french revolution political organisation formed ireland named crossing social religious boundaries organisation embraced republican principles stated goal removing british government control ireland britain went war organisation declared illegal driven cover senior members going exile europe america men continued armed resistance british government persuaded launch large scale invasion ireland expedition disaster thousands french soldiers drowned single man successfully landed subsequently french controlled government persuaded attempt ireland october fleet intercepted defeated admiral battle arrest number leaders provoked widespread uprising ireland rebellion took british authorities surprise introduction regular british_army troops rapidly defeated irish armies resistance brought end september surrender small french force battle french authorities taken surprise uprising consequently unprepared forces deployed inadequate face larger british armies operating ireland time news defeat reach continent october second french invasion force set closely watched royal_navy soon left brest squadron defeated october battle island fewer french ships returned france dutch persuaded send reinforcements rebellion like french unprepared sudden uprising contributions ready october dutch ships ordered troops supplies gun frigate captain gun corvette captain assumed command expedition ships small poorly armed carried number french soldiers service ireland embarking addition ships carried stands arms large quantities military stores arm irish irregular forces expected meet battle departing night october dutch ships rapid progress nautical miles northwest sailing westwards english channel sight dutch ships british frigate new ship long tons rated guns actually carrying commanded captain participated campaign years earlier stationed watch dutch movements intercept ships smaller equal size entering leaving squadron outnumbered king ship british vessel larger faster dutch hampered position ships nautical miles apart far offer mutual support opponent king target smaller slower sail wind link ship king rapidly closed corvette avoiding contact larger came alongside fired gun prompting immediately surrender attempted come flagship aid resistance larger futile king boats containing prize crew removed prisoners placing decks prize secure king immediately set pursuit attempting flee west nearly disappeared horizon rest day pursuit continued unable escape faster british ship steadily gained afternoon range dutch frigate king fire heavy resisted responding cannon continuing attempts escape half hour engagement continued distance ships varying attempted manoeuvre king range british crew better gunners dutch french soldiers aboard little effect range ships great muskets effective result damage casualties mounted aboard barely touched shot striking man wounded approximately surrendered having lost dead wounded ship badly damaged king transferred prisoners placed prize crew returning base prizes aftermath capture dutch ships end final attempt continental nation land troops ireland french revolutionary wars napoleonic wars followed purchased royal_navy returned pre war corvette number guns aboard reduced frame deemed strong carry remained subsequently commanded ship line hms participating battle
Action of 24 October 1798