The convoy was intended to reinforce French forces in the West Indies before the Battle of the Saintes. Nineteen additional ships of the line and 110 transports could have changed the balance facing the Royal Navy there. Preventing that reinforcement gave the interception strategic weight even without a fleet battle. Kempenfelt's maneuver therefore carried consequences beyond its immediate captures.
Notable Point · 21:49-22:29
Why this convoy mattered at the Battle of the Saintes
The French ships and transports were bound for the West Indies, where their arrival could have changed the balance before the Battle of the Saintes.