Jamaica raises the stakes before the Saintes

The Comte de Grasse followed his Chesapeake success by taking St Kitts in February 1782 and preparing to threaten Jamaica, then Britain's most valuable colony. Jamaica's sugar economy is presented as producing more income for Britain than all its North American colonies, including Canada, which explains why the island drew priority defence. Rodney returned to the Caribbean in March with refitted ships and experienced subordinates, including Samuel Hood and Francis Samuel Drake. The British brought thirty-six ships of the line against de Grasse's thirty. Raw gun totals mattered less than training, manoeuvre, and the concentration of fire at decisive points. Hood's van included captains selected for aggression and ability, and trained crews strengthened their performance. Rodney's patronage network had therefore corrected some of the personnel weaknesses exposed off Martinique.