action august action august minor naval engagement french revolutionary wars squadron british_royal_navy frigates frigates cutter navy engagement fought norwegian coastal island opposing forces engaged protecting respective countries trade routes baltic_sea war britain began spring admiralty ordered british warships intercept shipping following conquest january british squadron frigates command captain patrolling entrance august sails spotted norwegian coast north closing investigate ships discovered squadron frigates small cutter face larger british squadron force turned away sailing southeast norwegian coast british approaching south effort cut neutral danish shore leading british ship hms caught engaged ship remainder british squadron continued pursuit squadron hour held powerful eventually compelled surrender remainder squadron escaped fierce rearguard action frigate reaching safety danish harbour background winter armies overran reforming country client state named formed war coalition start french revolutionary wars closest ally great_britain britain admiralty alarmed developments netherlands particularly seizure french cavalry units fleet frozen winter harbour gave orders royal_navy dutch merchant naval ships result great_britain began war spring response threat fleet posed admiralty established new british fleet oppose admiralty named force command admiral fleet based consisted mainly older weaker second line vessels duncan provided number frigates essential securing safe movement baltic trade britain vital naval stores obtained scandinavia trade routes baltic_sea north_sea vital maintenance royal_navy navy squadron sailed downs august instructions cruise mouth consisted ships gun captain gun hms captain gun hms isis captain gun captain scandinavian trade routes equally important protect merchant shipping attack british frigates authorities sent frigate squadron region consisting gun frigates gun cutter afternoon august force sailing southeast coast norway port land british squadron spotted approaching south battle ships heavily outnumbered approaching british squadron sail coastline intention neutral danish harbour referred british sources sighting ships north ordered squadron chase soon fastest british ship use favourable wind pull ahead succeeded cutting vessel companions guns stronger ship gun main battery pounder cannon compared pounder guns coupled presence nearby rest british squadron meant words naval historian chance success despite odds captain engaged laying ship alongside frigates exchanging hour captain situation hopeless ship outnumbered battered surrendered fought duel action continued remaining ships making progress eastwards norwegian coastline british squadron attempting cut channel norwegian mainland ships shelter protected danish neutrality rapidly pursuit slower came heavy distant fire reunion isis kind subsequently found hit thirty times pounder shot sails rigging torn away requiring extensive repairs eventually persistence paid successfully escaped neutral harbour intercept aftermath sent captured britain command lieutenant gave despatches admiralty lieutenant reunion deliver remained sea squadron completing assigned patrol british casualties included killed wounded killed wounded reunion wounded isis escaped damage casualties casualties engagement known failure record losses report admiralty omission james known lost men killed wounded chase surviving ships remained anchor channel spring successfully returned netherlands subsequently taken purchased royal_navy frigate prize money distributed crews british ships shared equally sailors isis shared equivalent ensuing months years duncan fleet largely successful protecting north_sea trade routes raiders ports inflicted crushing defeat fleet battle
Action of 22 August 1795