Sadras: shielding the troop convoy

Edward Hughes was a competent but cautious station commander who kept his fleet well ordered at Madras, denying Suffren the surprise he wanted. Suffren redirected his transports south so their troops could land and recover French and Dutch positions along the coast. With eleven ships against Hughes's nine, the French screen could protect the convoy, while Hughes lacked the numbers to draw Suffren away from it. This first phase shows operational agility: Suffren abandoned a failed approach without abandoning the strategic objective. Opening the video here explains why the troop landing mattered before the fleets exchanged fire.