Speed and surprise are valuable but risky tools. Once the initial attack failed, Saumarez pulled his squadron back instead of compounding the loss in the shoals. He gathered ships that had missed the first battle, repaired at Gibraltar, and observed the French and Spanish recovery effort across the bay. That information supported a renewed night attack once the allied squadron tried to depart. The comparison with Grenada turns on recovery as much as initiative: both admirals chose speed, but Saumarez restored his force and acted effectively after the setback.
Notable Point · 46:31-49:40
Recovering after a failed attack
Saumarez responds to failure by withdrawing, repairing at Gibraltar, gathering intelligence, and preparing a renewed night attack.