Sir Hector Munro had taken Negapatam in 1781, making the major port a priority for Mysore and a British possession the East India Company was unwilling to surrender. Damage to Ajax delayed Suffren and allowed Hughes to anchor securely before the battle. Ajax then refused to join the action, while a wind shift collapsed both lines into confusion. Suffren repeatedly used his flagship Héros to rescue heavily engaged ships, making his own vessel the squadron's most dependable reserve. As the lines tried to reform, his frustration centered on ships that had withdrawn or contributed little.
Chapter · 33:50-40:50
Negapatam: a handful of French ships carry the fight
The struggle for the major port of Negapatam becomes a confused fleet action in which a small group of French ships batters Hughes but cannot secure the objective.