HMS Assistance became becalmed, leaving Dreadnought to fight the French Palmier without the expected support. Suckling's 60-gun ship battered the 74-gun opponent until Palmier fired into Dreadnought's rigging and withdrew. The French manoeuvre was a sensible escape from an engagement that was going badly. The action shows how damage to a sailing warship's mobility could let a losing opponent break contact even while its adversary retained the upper hand.
Notable Point · 39:24-40:04
Dreadnought forced Palmier to break away
With HMS Assistance becalmed, Suckling's 60-gun Dreadnought drove off the larger Palmier after the French ship damaged enough rigging to escape.