The French rear remains largely inactive while the British roll up the engaged line. Anchor springs, boats, and available crews could have helped those ships shift position or rake the attackers, but their commanders never coordinate such a response. Occasional French fire may have damaged Timoléon's rudder badly enough to contribute to the ship's later scuttling. Farther forward, Peuple Souverain cuts its anchor cable to escape concentrated British fire and drifts south through the darkness. Without recognition lights, French gunners mistake the moving hull for a British ship and fire on it. A burning ship's boat also drifts past HMS Orion. Guerrier is suggested as its source, but the severe losses leave its origin uncertain.
Notable Point · 1:30:17-1:36:16
French recognition failures turn fire inward
Inactive rear ships and absent night-recognition measures leave French fire more dangerous to their own damaged vessels than to the British attack.