De Grasse waited for 15,000 troops from Saint-Domingue before attempting a landing on Jamaica's north coast. His force already included 35 ships of the line, two 50-gun ships, and roughly one hundred cargo vessels. Twelve expected Spanish ships would have raised the allied line of battle to 47. The convoy and army made this more than a fleet action: success required moving, protecting, landing, and sustaining a large joint expedition. The passage also warns that the troops' initial health did not guarantee their survival through a Caribbean campaign.
Chapter · 22:42-25:41
De Grasse assembles an invasion force for Jamaica
The Jamaica plan depended on combining De Grasse's fleet and convoy with Spanish ships and 15,000 troops.