Battle of Porto Praya

Battle of Porto Praya
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Combat de la baie de la Praia dans l'île de Santiago au Cap Vert, le 16 avril 1781, by Pierre-Julien Gilbert (1783–1860)
Date 16 April 1781 Location Praia, Portuguese Colony of Cape Verde 14°54′26.27″N 23°30′17.66″W / 14.9072972°N 23.5049056°W / 14.9072972; -23.5049056 Result See aftermath
Belligerents
Great Britain	France
Commanders and leaders
George Johnstone	Bailli de Suffren
Strength
5 ships of the line	5 ships of the line
Casualties and losses
36 killed 147 wounded	93 killed 217 wounded[1]

The Battle of Porto Praya was a naval battle that took place during the American Revolutionary War on 16 April 1781 between a British squadron under Commodore George Johnstone and a French squadron under the Bailli de Suffren.

Both squadrons were en route to the Cape of Good Hope, the British to take it from the Dutch, the French aiming to help defend it and French possessions in the Indian Ocean. The British convoy and its escorting squadron had anchored at Porto Praya (now Praia) in the Portuguese Cape Verde Islands to take on water, when the French squadron arrived and attacked them at anchor.

Due to the unexpected nature of the encounter, neither fleet was prepared to do battle, and in the inconclusive battle the French fleet sustained more damage than the British, though no ships were lost. Johnstone tried to pursue the French, but was forced to call it off in order to repair the damage his ships had taken.

The French gained a strategic victory, because Suffren beat Johnstone to the Cape and reinforced the Dutch garrison before continuing on his journey to the Île de France (now Mauritius).