At Camperdown, a British fleet of sixteen ships of the line captured ten from a Dutch force of eighteen. Duncan broke the opposing fleet despite beginning with fewer ships of the line. Two prizes sank while being towed to England, and several others never entered Royal Navy service. The result separates the tactical victory from the logistical work of keeping shattered prizes afloat, bringing them home, and turning captures into lasting fleet strength.
Notable Point · 7:16-7:49
Camperdown's captures and the limits of prize value
Duncan captured ten of eighteen Dutch ships of the line, but towing losses and damaged prizes show why a battlefield tally did not translate directly into usable fleet strength.