Knowledge (XXG)

Battle of Saldanha Bay (1781)

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Bearing off Saldanha Bay Johnstone sighted the Dutch fleet, and entered the bay flying French colors. He then raised the British ensign and opened fire, totally surprising the Dutch. The Dutch could not escape and decided to destroy their ships rather than let them fall into British hands. The Dutch
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surprised and captured a hooker (a type of coastal craft), laden with the sails of the captured ships and hidden away behind Schapin (Schaapen) Island. The Dutch had put the sails on board and hidden the hooker to make seizing the Indiamen more difficult.
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By the end of the day the British had captured another two hookers, which Johnstone could not easily remove. In order not to leave any marks of "barbarity towards a settlement where our wants had so often been relieved", he gave them back to the Dutch.
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cut their cables, loosed their top sails, and drove the vessels on shore. Once this was done they attempted to torch the ships, and the British, now in their boats, attempted to extinguish the fires. The British were successful, taking as prizes
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and wait for French escort but where they would be concealed from the British fleet. They were under orders to ground and burn their ships if the British were to appear; however they were not vigilant in their watches.
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The British sent their prizes back to England. Only two reached their destination, and that with difficulty and after some fighting in the English Channel. A French frigate attacked
1256:"Of naval courts martial and prize claims: Some legal consequences of commodore Johnstone's secret mission to the Cape of Good Hope and the "battle" of Saldanha Bay, 1781 (Part 1)" 1360: 218: 211: 361: 582:
Lost on passage to England; built for the Rotterdam Chamber in 1772; cargo value: ƒ 427,490 (Rotterdam), 353,265 (Delft), and 130 (Amsterdam)
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for repairs. As a result, Johnstone found the Dutch settlement well defended when he arrived there in July and decided against an attack.
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Note: inconsistency in the spelling of the Dutch vessels' or their masters' names below reflects inconsistency among the sources.
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ships; her own crew destroyed a sixth. Casualties on the Dutch side were minimal if any, and there were no British casualties.
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were lost in transit to Britain the captors still benefited from the insurance money. The total prize money for
457:, however, burnt furiously and was left alone. She blew up after very nearly colliding with two of the prizes. 345: 179: 134: 808: 384: 264: 942: 333: 296: 235: 32: 1330: 373: 369: 276: 839: 790: 414: 1326:
History and Ethnography of Africa South of the Zambesi, from the Settlement ... By George McCall Theal
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In addition to the warships, the following armed transports also shared in the prize money for the
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were lost in January 1782 as the result of a gale at the mouth of the Channel. The prize crew on
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had, as a precaution, directed the westbound merchant fleet, laden with goods, to anchor in
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Lost on passage to England; built for the Zeeland Chamber in 1770; cargo value: ƒ657,355
492:, and the princes of the respective families". The Dutch had long held these captives on 504: 148: 1339: 493: 481: 826: 564: 435: 388: 365: 316: 70: 66: 1040: 846: 913:, and probably the rest of the squadron as well, shared in the prize money for 530:
The information below on the Dutch vessels captured at Saldhana Bay comes from
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Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War involving the Dutch Republic
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The royal navy: a history from the earliest times to the present: Volume 4
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Potgieter, Thean, 'Maritime defence of the Cape of Good Hope, 1779-1803',
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on 16 April 1781, Suffren sailed for the Cape while Johnstone remained at
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Briefwisseling oor Kaapse sake 1778-1792 (1982)–Hendrik Swellengrebel jr.
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Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War involving Great Britain
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one of the rich Dutch East India Prizes - taken on 30th of January 1782
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Burnt; built for the Zeeland Chamber in 1775; cargo value: ƒ 643,543
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Johnstone had been directed to capture the Dutch settlement at the
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had arrived safely at a British port and had been condemned there.
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1781 naval action between Royal Navy and Dutch East India Company
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Built for the Amsterdam Chamber in 1778; cargo value: ƒ658,673
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disappeared and was believed to have foundered with all hands.
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The New Annual Register, Or General Repository of History ...,
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The New Annual Register, Or General Repository of History ...
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where she was escorted. Also, two French privateers attacked
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The illustrated at the fireside: true South African stories
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The London Magazine, Or, Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer
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Gerrit Harmeir, (or Harmeyer), Commodore for the squadron
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Johnstone learned of the whereabouts of the Dutch fleet.
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Built 1771 for the Delft Chamber; cargo value: ƒ516,911
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frustrated the mission. Suffren was en route to the
523:were able to escape and reached Lisbon in safety. 975: 973: 25: 1080:Nieuwe Nederlandsche jaarboeken, p. 1987-1991 708:The British had insured their prizes so when 219: 8: 1361:Naval battles of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War 1199: 1197: 1128: 1067: 1028: 496:, but then had moved them to Saldanha Bay. 1195: 1193: 1191: 1189: 1187: 1185: 1183: 1181: 1179: 1177: 732:Warships (per prize money announcements): 539: 226: 212: 204: 22: 1089: 1087: 328:was a naval action that occurred off the 340:warships under the command of commodore 969: 898: 1321:Battles of South Africa by Tim Couzens 1316:http://www.sawestcoast.com/battle.html 1112: 1110: 1012: 1010: 1008: 1001:. 22 February 1785. pp. 104–105. 953:had sunk a year before. Furthermore, 7: 1250:London: S. Low, Marston and company. 690:Justus van Gennep, (or Van Gennip)) 941:(14-gun cutter), under Lieutenant 503:, but she succeeded in getting to 14: 372:), between the two fleets in the 1272:10.17159/2411-7870/2015/v21n2a11 945:, was part of the squadron, not 175:12 warships + 7 armed transports 141: 127: 39: 680:Captured prior to the "battle" 570:Hendrik Steetsel (or Steedsel) 511:, which succeeded in escaping. 1044:, - accessed 17 December 2013. 1: 1150:. 6 November 1784. p. 1. 1019:(October 1781), Vol. 2, p.90. 395:One of Johnstone's frigates, 1233:. 18 June 1785. p. 303. 1170:. 23 July 1796. p. 705. 1103:. 18 June 1796. p. 583. 1213:. 7 June 1785. p. 280. 332:on 21 July 1781 during the 1382: 536: 934:Some sources state that 245: 185: 169: 154: 119: 49: 38: 30: 1254:van Niekerk, JP (2015). 727: 597:Dirk Cornelisz. Plokker 346:Dutch East India Company 180:Dutch East India Company 45:Present day Saldanha Bay 1119:, (1781), Vol. 2, p.89. 921:was paid suggests that 917:. That prize money for 385:Joachim van Plettenberg 982:, Volume 50, pp.503-4. 334:Fourth Anglo-Dutch War 326:Battle of Saldanha Bay 321: 272:Essequibo and Demerara 237:Fourth Anglo-Dutch War 155:Commanders and leaders 33:Fourth Anglo-Dutch War 26:Battle of Saldanha Bay 1246:Clowes, Laird (1897) 397:flying French colours 370:Battle of Porto Praya 313: 186:Casualties and losses 1366:1781 in South Africa 728:Johnstone's squadron 677:Amsterdam to Ceylon 579:Bengal to Rotterdam 943:Philippe d'Auvergne 699:China to Amsterdam 655:China to Amsterdam 633:China to Amsterdam 606:China to Amsterdam 480:captured the Dutch 383:The Dutch governor 88: /  1230:The London Gazette 1210:The London Gazette 1167:The London Gazette 1147:The London Gazette 1129:van Niekerk (2015) 1100:The London Gazette 1068:van Niekerk (2015) 1029:van Niekerk (2015) 998:The London Gazette 476:After the British 374:Cape Verde Islands 322: 1346:Conflicts in 1781 1070:, pp. 406–7. 706: 705: 362:Bailli de Suffren 358:Cape of Good Hope 330:Dutch Cape Colony 305: 304: 202: 201: 178:8 vessels of the 115: 114: 92:33.017°S 17.950°E 1373: 1291: 1235: 1234: 1221: 1215: 1214: 1201: 1172: 1171: 1158: 1152: 1151: 1138: 1132: 1126: 1120: 1114: 1105: 1104: 1091: 1082: 1077: 1071: 1065: 1046: 1038: 1032: 1026: 1020: 1014: 1003: 1002: 989: 983: 977: 958: 932: 926: 903: 540: 420:on 1 July. From 342:George Johnstone 336:. A squadron of 240: 238: 228: 221: 214: 205: 198:1 ship destroyed 196:5 ships captured 161:George Johnstone 147: 145: 144: 137: 133: 131: 130: 103: 102: 100: 99: 98: 93: 89: 86: 85: 84: 81: 51: 50: 43: 23: 1381: 1380: 1376: 1375: 1374: 1372: 1371: 1370: 1336: 1335: 1312: 1301:Webster, Roger 1260:Funda Fundamina 1253: 1243: 1238: 1223: 1222: 1218: 1203: 1202: 1175: 1160: 1159: 1155: 1140: 1139: 1135: 1127: 1123: 1115: 1108: 1093: 1092: 1085: 1078: 1074: 1066: 1049: 1039: 1035: 1027: 1023: 1015: 1006: 991: 990: 986: 978: 971: 967: 962: 961: 933: 929: 923:Held woltenmade 919:Held woltenmade 915:Held woltenmade 904: 900: 895: 875:Royal Charlotte 730: 538: 474: 430: 409:to Ceylon. She 354: 308: 307: 306: 301: 241: 236: 234: 232: 197: 195: 165:Gerrit Harmeyer 142: 140: 128: 126: 125: 111:British victory 97:-33.017; 17.950 96: 94: 90: 87: 82: 79: 77: 75: 74: 73: 44: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1379: 1377: 1369: 1368: 1363: 1358: 1353: 1348: 1338: 1337: 1334: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1311: 1310:External links 1308: 1307: 1306: 1299: 1298:, Vol 48, No1. 1292: 1266:(2): 392–456. 1251: 1242: 1239: 1237: 1236: 1216: 1173: 1153: 1133: 1131:, p. 406. 1121: 1106: 1083: 1072: 1047: 1033: 1031:, p. 428. 1021: 1004: 984: 968: 966: 963: 960: 959: 927: 897: 896: 894: 891: 851: 850: 837: 824: 815: 806: 797: 788: 779: 770: 761: 752: 743: 729: 726: 704: 703: 700: 697: 694: 691: 688: 682: 681: 678: 675: 672: 669: 668:Swerus Vrolyk 666: 664:Held Woltemade 660: 659: 656: 653: 650: 647: 644: 638: 637: 634: 631: 628: 625: 622: 611: 610: 607: 604: 601: 598: 595: 584: 583: 580: 577: 574: 571: 568: 560: 559: 556: 553: 550: 547: 544: 473: 470: 429: 426: 422:Held Woltemade 402:Held Woltemade 353: 350: 344:captured five 303: 302: 300: 299: 294: 289: 284: 279: 274: 269: 268: 267: 257: 252: 250:Sint Eustatius 246: 243: 242: 233: 231: 230: 223: 216: 208: 200: 199: 192: 188: 187: 183: 182: 176: 172: 171: 167: 166: 163: 157: 156: 152: 151: 149:Dutch Republic 138: 122: 121: 117: 116: 113: 112: 109: 105: 104: 69:, present day 65: 63: 59: 58: 55: 47: 46: 36: 35: 28: 27: 21: 20: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1378: 1367: 1364: 1362: 1359: 1357: 1354: 1352: 1349: 1347: 1344: 1343: 1341: 1332: 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1313: 1309: 1304: 1300: 1297: 1293: 1289: 1285: 1281: 1277: 1273: 1269: 1265: 1261: 1257: 1252: 1249: 1245: 1244: 1240: 1232: 1231: 1226: 1220: 1217: 1212: 1211: 1206: 1200: 1198: 1196: 1194: 1192: 1190: 1188: 1186: 1184: 1182: 1180: 1178: 1174: 1169: 1168: 1163: 1157: 1154: 1149: 1148: 1143: 1137: 1134: 1130: 1125: 1122: 1118: 1113: 1111: 1107: 1102: 1101: 1096: 1090: 1088: 1084: 1081: 1076: 1073: 1069: 1064: 1062: 1060: 1058: 1056: 1054: 1052: 1048: 1045: 1043: 1037: 1034: 1030: 1025: 1022: 1018: 1013: 1011: 1009: 1005: 1000: 999: 994: 988: 985: 981: 976: 974: 970: 964: 956: 952: 948: 944: 940: 939: 931: 928: 924: 920: 916: 912: 908: 902: 899: 892: 890: 888: 884: 880: 876: 872: 868: 864: 860: 856: 848: 844: 843: 838: 835: 831: 830: 825: 822: 821: 816: 813: 812: 807: 804: 803: 798: 795: 794: 789: 786: 785: 780: 777: 776: 771: 768: 767: 762: 759: 758: 753: 750: 749: 744: 741: 740: 735: 734: 733: 725: 723: 719: 715: 711: 701: 698: 695: 692: 689: 687: 684: 683: 679: 676: 673: 670: 667: 665: 662: 661: 657: 654: 651: 648: 645: 643: 640: 639: 635: 632: 629: 626: 623: 620: 616: 613: 612: 608: 605: 602: 599: 596: 593: 589: 586: 585: 581: 578: 575: 572: 569: 567: 566: 562: 561: 557: 554: 551: 549:Tons burthen 548: 545: 542: 541: 535: 533: 528: 526: 522: 518: 514: 510: 506: 502: 497: 495: 491: 487: 483: 482:East Indiamen 479: 471: 469: 465: 462: 458: 456: 452: 448: 447: 442: 438: 437: 427: 425: 423: 419: 418: 412: 408: 404: 403: 398: 393: 390: 386: 381: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 359: 351: 349: 347: 343: 339: 335: 331: 327: 319: 318: 312: 298: 295: 293: 290: 288: 285: 283: 280: 278: 277:Barbary Coast 275: 273: 270: 266: 263: 262: 261: 258: 256: 253: 251: 248: 247: 244: 239: 229: 224: 222: 217: 215: 210: 209: 206: 193: 190: 189: 184: 181: 177: 174: 173: 168: 164: 162: 159: 158: 153: 150: 139: 136: 135:Great Britain 124: 123: 118: 110: 107: 106: 101: 72: 68: 64: 61: 60: 56: 53: 52: 48: 42: 37: 34: 29: 24: 19: 1302: 1295: 1263: 1259: 1247: 1228: 1219: 1208: 1165: 1156: 1145: 1136: 1124: 1116: 1098: 1075: 1042:Lloyd's List 1041: 1036: 1024: 1016: 996: 987: 979: 954: 950: 946: 937: 930: 922: 918: 914: 910: 906: 901: 886: 882: 878: 874: 870: 866: 862: 858: 854: 852: 841: 828: 819: 810: 801: 792: 783: 774: 765: 756: 747: 738: 731: 721: 717: 713: 710:Dankbaerheid 709: 707: 685: 663: 641: 618: 614: 591: 587: 565:Dankbaerheid 563: 532:Lloyd's List 531: 529: 524: 521:Dankbaerheid 520: 516: 513:Dankbaerheid 512: 508: 500: 498: 475: 466: 460: 459: 454: 450: 444: 440: 436:Dankbaerheid 434: 431: 421: 416: 400: 394: 389:Saldanha Bay 382: 366:Indian Ocean 355: 325: 323: 317:Dankbaarheyt 315: 314:Loss of the 282:Saldanha Bay 281: 120:Belligerents 71:South Africa 67:Saldanha Bay 57:21 July 1781 31:Part of the 18: 1225:"No. 12657" 1205:"No. 12654" 1162:"No. 13914" 1142:"No. 12593" 1095:"No. 13902" 993:"No. 12624" 949:. However, 911:Rattlesnake 887:Pondicherry 859:Hoogkarspel 847:bomb vessel 823:(16; sloop) 814:(16; sloop) 811:Rattlesnake 722:Hoogcarspel 642:Hoogcarspel 505:Mount's Bay 501:Hoogcarspel 461:Rattlesnake 451:Hoogcarspel 378:Porto Praya 297:Trincomalee 287:Dogger Bank 95: / 1340:Categories 1288:6233074617 1241:References 879:Resolution 863:San Carlos 686:Middelburg 624:Axellandt 494:Isle Robin 478:Royal Navy 455:Middelburg 352:Background 338:Royal Navy 260:Gold Coast 1280:2411-7870 965:Citations 936:HMS  840:HMS  827:HMS  818:HMS  809:HMS  800:HMS  791:HMS  782:HMS  773:HMS  764:HMS  755:HMS  746:HMS  737:HMS  472:Aftermath 415:HMS  292:Negapatam 1296:Historia 951:Tapaguer 938:Tapageur 867:Porpoise 834:fireship 829:Infernal 748:Monmouth 255:Sombrero 170:Strength 62:Location 883:Manilla 766:Jupiter 714:Honcoop 619:Hencoop 615:Honcoop 555:Voyage 546:Master 525:Honcoop 517:Honcoop 486:Ternate 446:Honcoop 407:bullion 83:17°57′E 80:33°01′S 1286:  1278:  885:, and 871:Raikes 842:Terror 793:Active 775:Romney 558:Notes 490:Tidore 449:, and 428:Battle 417:Active 411:struck 265:Elmina 146:  132:  108:Result 905:Both 893:Notes 855:Paerl 802:Diana 784:Jason 718:Paerl 693:1100 671:1100 649:1100 627:1100 600:1100 592:Paarl 588:Paerl 573:1000 552:Guns 543:Name 509:Paerl 441:Paerl 194:light 1284:OCLC 1276:ISSN 955:Lark 947:Lark 909:and 907:Lark 857:and 820:Lark 805:(28) 796:(32) 787:(36) 778:(50) 769:(50) 760:(50) 757:Isis 751:(64) 742:(74) 739:Hero 720:and 712:and 617:(or 590:(or 515:and 488:and 324:The 191:none 54:Date 1268:doi 696:24 674:14 652:20 630:20 603:20 576:24 413:to 1342:: 1282:. 1274:. 1264:21 1262:. 1258:. 1227:. 1207:. 1176:^ 1164:. 1144:. 1109:^ 1097:. 1086:^ 1050:^ 1007:^ 995:. 972:^ 889:. 881:, 877:, 873:, 869:, 865:, 861:: 621:) 594:) 453:. 443:, 439:, 1305:. 1290:. 1270:: 849:) 845:( 836:) 832:( 227:e 220:t 213:v

Index

Fourth Anglo-Dutch War

Saldanha Bay
South Africa
33°01′S 17°57′E / 33.017°S 17.950°E / -33.017; 17.950
Great Britain
Dutch Republic
George Johnstone
Dutch East India Company
v
t
e
Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
Sint Eustatius
Sombrero
Gold Coast
Elmina
Essequibo and Demerara
Barbary Coast
Saldanha Bay
Dogger Bank
Negapatam
Trincomalee

Dankbaarheyt
Dutch Cape Colony
Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
Royal Navy
George Johnstone
Dutch East India Company

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