Suffren entered the neutral Portuguese harbor for water and found British warships hemmed in by transports and merchantmen. He accepted both the diplomatic risk of violating Portuguese neutrality and the danger of attacking a materially stronger force. Although only two French ships engaged effectively, the attack damaged British coordination and delayed Johnston's expedition. Suffren continued to the Cape, landed troops to reinforce the Dutch colony, refitted, and moved on to Île de France. Johnston arrived too late to seize the Cape and returned home after taking prizes at Saldanha Bay, turning an inconclusive harbor fight into an operational French success.
Chapter · 11:37-16:37
Porto Praya: attacking a vulnerable anchorage
At neutral Porto Praya, Suffren exploits Commodore Johnston's disordered anchorage and disrupts a stronger British expedition bound for the Cape.