Comte Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez (1729–1788) Comte Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez (1729–1788), the commander of the French fleet at the Battle of Trincomalee, c. 18th century. © Fine Art Images/Heritage Images—Hulton Fine Art Collection/Getty Images. (more) Battle of Trincomalee Anglo-French War [1782] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Trincomalee Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Tony Bunting Tony Bunting is a historian who has recently completed a research project at the University of Central Lancashire on the evolution of nineteenth-century British imperialism. He was a contributor to 1001... Tony Bunting Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 25, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts Date: September 3, 1782 (Show more) Location: Sri Lanka Trincomalee (Show more) Participants: France United Kingdom (Show more) Key People: Pierre André de Suffren de Saint-Tropez (Show more) See all related content Battle of Trincomalee, savage naval battle that occurred on September 3, 1782, during the Anglo-French War (1778–83). It was fought off the coast of Trincomalee, northeastern Sri Lanka, famous throughout history as one of the finest ports in the world.

　　In 1778, France took the side of the Americans in the Revolutionary War, and the Dutch Republic refused to suspend trade with the rebellious colonies. Britain declared war on France and subsequently sent a portion of its vaunted fleet to attack French and Dutch holdings in South Asia. The Battle of Trincomalee was one of several French efforts to counter British expansion in India and the last in a series of fiercely fought engagements between France’s skillful naval commander Admiral Pierre André de Suffren de Saint-Tropez and British Admiral Sir Edward Hughes. The French captured Trincomalee from the British on September 1 when Suffren seized the anchorage and forced the garrison to surrender. Two days later, Hughes approached the port, and Suffren ordered his ships to raise anchor and engage the British fleet, against the advice of several of his captains.

　　Britannica Quiz A History of War The battle was brutal. At the start, the French line was ill-formed, undoing the numerical advantage Suffren held. Suffren, aboard his flagship Heros, moved into the center of the British squadron, supported by only two ships, and engaged Hughes’s flagship, the 74-gun Superb. Hughes had the support of three other ships of the line but took heavy damage from the French. Suffren was forced to withdraw when his mainmast broke and his ammunition ran out. However, at either end of the British formation, French ships were causing havoc, disabling the 64-gun Exeter and killing her captain. The battle continued for several hours, and the French, assisted by a favorable wind, were able to inflict serious damage on the British ships. In the end, darkness forced the two fleets to withdraw. The British limped back to Madras, while the French returned to Trincomalee to effect repairs. Although the Royal Navy lost no ships, the damage was so severe that Madras effectively had no naval cover and troops were brought in just in case the French decided to launch an invasion.

　　Losses: British, 320 casualties, severe damage to all 12 ships; French, 350 casualties, severe damage to most of the 14 ships.