HMS Montagu among Hawke's captains at Quiberon Bay

Montagu's exact armament remains uncertain, and Rowley appears to have taken particular care in strengthening a ship he commanded for years. During that long commission he also used Montagu to capture privateers, giving the crew repeated operational experience and prize incentives. At Quiberon Bay, Hawke drove after the French through extreme weather and dangerous coastal waters, with British ships riding waves over rock formations. Two British ships and six French ships were lost on the shores, showing how much the pursuit demanded from every captain. Many of the officers later reached senior rank, so Hawke's daring rested on captains capable of carrying it out. Rowley's familiarity with his ship and crew made Montagu exactly the kind of reliable unit Hawke needed for such a hazardous pursuit.