Pulo Aura turns merchantmen into a deception force

The Battle of Pulo Aura in February 1804 grew out of an escort shortage facing the homeward-bound China Fleet. Nathaniel Dance had only the brig Ganges as its formal escort, with about twenty guns. East Indiamen commonly carried roughly twenty-eight guns and could carry thirty-six, but their merchant appearance could suggest a much stronger naval force. Charles Linois approached with a 74-gun third rate, two frigates, a corvette, and a brig. Dance's answer was to make selected merchant ships look and behave like warships. The plan depended on keeping Linois uncertain about the convoy's real fighting power.