action june action june minor naval engagement british french frigates mediterranean_sea engagement formed wider campaign major french convoy sailed toulon alexandria start napoleonic campaign egypt french frigate sensible detached convoy capture malta orders carry wounded soldiers looted treasure france main body continued egypt british frigate number vessels detached main sent augment fleet sir actively hunting french convoy spotted sensible june captain immediately gave chase french frigate fleeing southwards hours pursuit continued able catch defeat opponent inflicting heavy casualties weaker french frigate prisoners captured general wounded malta treasure ornate seventeenth century cannon owned captured sensible initially fitted active warship arrival britain ship downgraded transport action provided british conclusive evidence french intention invade egypt despite extensive search nelson fleet unable relay location french admiral august background french fleet departed toulon secret destination force consisted warships transports joined additional forces genoa passed south fleet target egypt territory nominally controlled ottoman_empire french general considered ideal operations passing southwards interference royal_navy absent mediterranean year following outbreak war britain spain convoy passed sicily june days later anchor harbour malta island nation malta command religious order depended france wealth recruits believed capturing malta essential controlling grand master refused fleet entry harbour responded large scale invasion knights resistance fighting native troops lasted hours central city fell defeat knights withdrew fortress persuaded surrender following day promises estates france malta secure seized army navy adding forces garrisoned wealth appropriated island entire property roman_catholic_church island auctioned treasures transported france dispatches carried wounded general soldiers wounded invasion june divided forces leaving men hold island remainder convoy embarked second leg journey egypt ship detailed return france wounded despatches treasure purpose gun frigate sensible captain selected regular crew removed replaced freed slaves expected british interference operations egypt royal_navy responded reports french south coast small squadron rear admiral sir arriving nelson squadron struck severe storm forced hasty repairs storm dispersed squadron frigates leaving nelson ships line reinforced ships line fourth rate june lacked scouts severely hampered ability search information french operations detached frigates scattered unable locate british french fleets reinforcements sent vice admiral suffered problem frigates spreading widely search failing discover main british french forces rapidly sailing alexandria battle british reinforcements cruising june frigate commanded captain officially rated gun ship reality carried guns including pounder heavy short range cannon join nelson squadron hunt french carried board number reinforcements nelson ships commanded captain june passing southern coast search information whereabouts british fleet sighted ship advancing rapidly recognised stranger french frigate prepared battle frigate sensible northeasterly course malta toulon sighted knowing ship carried guns pounders turned away sailed south hoping opponent night hours sensible fled southwards pursuit relentless found distance frigate gradually disappearing july island miles northwest able pull alongside opponent open heavy fire close range shots slaves deserted positions fled decks leaving french ship dangerously exposed minutes sensible battered submission desperate attempt board easily avoided french frigate received cannon shot hull significant damage masts casualty estimates vary men killed wounded total approximately contrast suffered light damage losing men dead including wounded removed treasure prisoners sensible vessel prize crew goods seized frigate copies french naval code books information destination invasion fleet sailing immediately alexandria joined soon hms captain searching nelson reached alexandria july discovering french harbour nelson seen observing french disguised ships french frigate prize french colours british indicate ship captured displaying secret french recognition codes appears convinced french strangers enemy ships free observe french anchorage striking african coast search nelson british admiral time ships sailed july passed eastwards learned french invasion egypt turkish governor striking directly southwards nelson arrived bay august encountering learning intelligence eventually returned alexandria august discover nelson fought won battle nearly weeks earlier aftermath suffering extreme shortage frigates arrival sensible immediately ordered frigate commissioned hms sensible stripping men ships man turning frigate active warship hours year sensible remained sent britain november arrival ship downgraded service spend years commissioned military transport wrecked ceylon march treasures removed ship decorated brass cannon captured ottomans seventeenth century presented king france model silver sold cargo ships fittings november prize money shares subsequently awarded crew general prisoners taken britain officers soon return france court initially condemned minister marine believed ship easily surrendered publicly released strongly letter criticising talents courage level criticism british naval historian considers excessive eventually toned spirited defence officers acquitted praised success successfully carried frigate promoted later commanded naples embroiled controversy surrounded execution leaders
Action of 27 June 1798