The dispersed French expedition continued to suffer losses on its return from Ireland. On 13 January 1797, two British frigates met a French ship of the line off Brittany and won the encounter. One British frigate and the French ship were wrecked. The action illustrates how storm-driven dispersal exposed individual ships to further fighting after the attempted landing had already failed.
Notable Point · 58:25-1:01:04
Two British frigates meet a French ship of the line after Bantry Bay
The failed Irish expedition left scattered ships vulnerable to later encounters, including a costly frigate action off Brittany.