Formidable breaks the French line at the Saintes

A further French collision on 12 April left one damaged ship under tow as British pursuers closed. Rodney recalled his closest ships so they would not become isolated liabilities and reformed the fleet for a concentrated attack. Drake's division engaged parallel to the French while Rodney's centre came up in disciplined order. A wind shift opened gaps in the opposing line, and Formidable passed through, followed by other British ships. The breakthrough divided and scattered de Grasse's fleet. Four French ships of the line and de Grasse himself were captured, another ship was destroyed, and the threat to Jamaica collapsed. The reported losses were about 3,000 French killed or wounded and 5,000 captured. Rodney later claimed that across roughly two years he had taken two Spanish, one French, and one Dutch admiral prisoner.