Perrée's squadron stripped for siege support

Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Perrée's three frigates and two brigs carried cargo between the Nile and Jaffa and supplied guns for the Siege of Acre. Junon landed four 18-pounders, while the squadron surrendered so much ammunition to the army that only about fifteen rounds remained per gun. Continued fire support would deplete that allowance further. Tying cruising ships to predictable army-support routes made them easier for British forces to find, without giving them enough firepower to withstand interception. When Sidney Smith appeared with two ships of the line and a frigate, Perrée could neither defeat him nor safely remain on station. His orders allowed a return to Europe only if unavoidable, but depleted food, water, and ammunition persuaded him and his officers that they had to leave. They chose Toulon as their destination, with a planned stop at Lampedusa to replenish water.