Howe won the fleet action and captured French ships, while the grain convoy reached France. Another British squadron approaching to reinforce Howe helped divert the convoy into Atlantic ports. Poor inland transport and spoilage then limited how much grain reached the areas that needed it. France could claim that the convoy's arrival justified its operation, while Britain had inflicted heavy naval losses without intercepting the grain. British damage and uncaptured French prizes also qualified the scale of Howe's victory.
Chapter · 3:31-6:06
A tactical victory with an unsettled strategic result
British success in the fleet action and the French convoy's arrival produced competing victory claims, qualified by ship damage and the grain's difficult inland journey.