battle minor naval engagement french revolutionary wars fought december mouth near french indian_ocean island later known mauritius originally powerful squadron frigates sent indian_ocean command squadron dispersed summer significant french warship remaining region battle culmination month raiding cruise gun french_navy frigate commanded captain ordered raid british commerce cruise inconclusive encounter squadron small british warships bay september engagement gun hms heavy weather october returning december steered intercepted british blockade squadron comprising gun ship line gun unable reach safety evaded pursuit long drive beach mouth brief exchange fire wrecked frigate surrendered british boarding parties ship boats rowed removed survivors burnt remains watching shore command burned beach subsequently retired military service background british_royal_navy dominance french revolutionary wars challenged arrival squadron french_navy frigates commanded ships new gun frigate commanded captain sailed france instead passing independently atlantic uniting squadron port louis france deployed squadron dutch_east_indies suffered frustration incident january subsequently returned base port louis squadron began fracture succession ships sent france detached independent missions separated march carrying messages support military volunteers sultan enemy british sought form alliance france instructions emphasised subtlety operation april attacked british port seized east merchant ships alerted british mission reinforcements landed safely april diplomatic relations british collapsed leading fourth anglo war following year killed kingdom absorbed british india sailed rejoin corvette dutch_east_indies planned junction allied spanish squadron manila combined force attacked convoy gathering january ensuing incident driven royal_navy escort squadron returned westwards narrowly avoiding unequal battle large british squadron blockading port arrival discovered ships remaining original command having returned france lost battle battle bay september dispersed remaining ships sent france september carrying condemned political prisoners corvette eventually wrecked heavy loss life ordered operate british trade coast sailing august focused efforts approaches british cape colony september encountered squadron anchored comprising gun naval gun hms schooner surprise ships lying masts rigging removed force supporting expeditionary army general fighting war laden military supplies ship prepared battle sailors trapped shore surf approached anchored ships flying false danish colours anchored nearby ship boat approached new arrival rapidly realising hostile frigate returning ship lieutenant senior officer convoy fired warning shots close frigate ignored british ships prepared action began approach opened fire immediately joined returned fire focusing broadside midnight taken shot hull causing widespread flooding crew ceased firing man pumps apparently believed abandoned fight switched fire engagement continuing point slipped anchor pulled range remaining bay standing sea british losses killed wounded badly damaged later reported french sources believed schooner surprise armed naval brig prompting withdrawal loss action killed wounded frigate reported badly damaged messages effect hastily sent commander cape captain sent gun hms pursuit october spending night convoy discovered gave chase sea turbulent strong gale northwest chase continued evening captain able fire ranging shot french ship responded rapidly gained damaged state sea impossible safely open lower deck long range duel continued high speed night following days october finally close bring action found pounder guns restricted upper deck pounder guns match main battery result rigging rapidly shot away british ship fell urgent repairs able opportunity escape returned table bay october chase little subsequent success returned early december entrance port blockaded gun ship line captain gun captain ships sent specifically intercept arriving port louis december successfully merchant french vessels benjamin spanish del days later sighted approaching frigate chased northeast adamant pressing close escape forced drive frigate shore mouth range large shore battery ordered masts cut away frigate battery opened fire adamant carefully sailing coastal effort engage beached french ship hours ship worked way positioned open fire broadside wrecked clear resistance futile struck colours surrendered likely damaged repair discussed situation determined destroy wreck deny french end gathered boarding party lieutenant sent attack party came fire batteries able successfully access battered french frigate finding officers handful sailors remained having given opportunity escape shore boats prisoners war captives permitted bring personal baggage brought british squadron prisoner grey set wrecked ship returning adamant having executed orders losing single man aftermath gone ashore near come observe engagement witnessed destruction squadron commander command subsequently took ship france retired commission later returning family settling action temporarily left french naval forces raiding cruises posed considerable threat british indian_ocean trade routes subsequent reinforcement arrive region war frigate intercepted captured battle shortly arrival substantial reinforcements reach outbreak napoleonic wars subsequently came criticism historians failure inflict greater damage light force described somewhat action heavily criticised performance action october considered explanation failure given james wrote action undoubtedly cause triumph captain calculated away disgrace incurred bay
Battle of Port Louis