Battle of Trincomalee

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Battle of Trincomalee Part of American Revolutionary War Date September 3, 1782 Location Bay of Bengal Result Tactically indecisive; French strategic victory Belligerents Britain France Commanders Sir Edward Hughes Bailli de Suffren Strength 12 ships of the line 14 ships of the line Casualties and losses 51 killed 283 wounded 82 killed 255 wounded

v • d • e East Indies Campaign 1778–1783 Porto Praya – Sadras – Providien – Negapatam – Trincomalee – Cuddalore

The Battle of Trincomalee was the fourth in the series of battles fought between a British fleet under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes and a French fleet under the Bailli de Suffren off the coast of India during the American Revolutionary War. The battle was fought on September 3, 1782.

Contents 1 Impact on the American Revolution 2 The rival fleets 2.1 Britain 2.2 France 3 References

[edit] Impact on the American Revolution

According to Constitution Law Professor Martin Margulies of the Quinnipiac University School of Law, Trincomalee was the most important battle in the American Revolutionary War, even though no American personnel were involved.

In 1782, General Charles Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown, but the revolution was still raging. Still for the British, the War of American Independence was eminently winnable. British generals were assuring its cabinet all this it was possible to win.

Across the world, in the Indian ocean, Trincomalee saw a fleet action between British and French forces. The ships that were engaged on each side were all that each country had in that theater of operations. The Brits and French threw everything they had. The French won. The British fleet was destroyed. The Indian Ocean was for the moment under French control. Britain had to make a decision regarding the limits of power. Britain couldn’t sustain a two front war. It decided India was more vital to its interests than 13 semi-civilized colonies on rocky outcrops in the north Atlantic. Britain committed all of its resources to India, and at the same time decided to stop sending reinforcements to North America.

The British left its general Henry Clinton in NY left to dangle in the wind, Margulies said, thus ceding the war to the US.

[edit] The rival fleets

[edit] Britain

Superb, 74, Hero, 74, Sultan, 74, Burford, 70, Monarca, 70, Eagle, 64, Exeter, 64, Magnanime, 64, Monmouth, 64, Sceptre, 64, Worcester, 64, and Isis, 50.

[edit] France

Héros, 74, Annibal, 74, Illustre, 74, Orient, 74, Artésien, 64, Ajax, 64, Brillant, 64, Bizarre, 64, Sévère, 64, Sphinx, 64, Vengeur, 64, Saint Michel, 60, Flamand, 50, Hannibal, 50, and Consolante, 36.

[edit] References

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