Other squadrons already at sea became Becoming embroiled in the campaign : a smaller squadron that had been raiding Attack the African coast under Commodore Jean-Marthe-Adrien L'Hermite since August 1805 provided Supply a diversion to the major campaign but failed Agree_or_refuse_to_act to draw Removing off significant British forces Military_operation , while the remnants of a French squadron under Contre-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois that had been operating Being_in_operation in the Indian Ocean since 1803 was intercepted Preventing_or_letting and defeated Conquering by Warren in March , after a chance encounter on its journey back to France .

The French force consisted of one ship of the line and one frigate , all that remained of Contre-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois ' squadron that had sailed Self_motion for the Indian Ocean in March 1803 during the Peace of Amiens .