Hood later claimed that as many as twenty French ships might have been captured if Rodney had continued the pursuit. Hood's van was still repairing damage from the earlier action, and further British ships were damaged on 12 April. The estimate of how many ships remained in good condition varies, but the concern applies to Rodney's fleet as a whole. A chase risked exposing weakened ships to a storm and losing the strength needed to maintain Caribbean sea control. Graves's later loss of prizes in an Atlantic storm illustrates that danger. Preserving enough force for continued operations could matter more than extending a victory, requiring a balance between combat risk and losses to the sea.
Notable Point · 1:49:29-1:52:52
Why Rodney stopped the pursuit after the Saintes
Pursuing more French ships risked exposing Rodney's damaged fleet to losses that could undermine British control of the Caribbean.