The engagement Hostile_encounter was the third successful French attack Attack on an Indian Ocean convoy Patrolling in just over a year , the French frigates being part of a squadron operating Being_in_operation from the Île de France under Commodore Jacques Hamelin .

The attack Attack on Île Bonaparte was however part of a wider British strategy to seize Conquering and capture Conquering French raiding Attack bases , and the success of the operation severely limited Limiting future French operations as Hamelin 's squadron was required Imposing_obligation for the defence Defending of Île de France .

The French commander , Commodore Jacques Hamelin , raided Attack across the Bay of Bengal with his squadron and achieved Achieve local superiority , capturing Conquering numerous merchant ships Sending and minor warships .

On 18 November 1809 , three ships Sending of Hamelin 's squadron encountered Hostile_encounter a convoy of India-bound East Indiamen , mainly carrying Bringing recruits for the Indian Army , then administered Control by the Honourable East India Company ( HEIC ) .

A month later , Hamelin 's raiding Attack campaign skirted disaster Catastrophe when a winter hurricane on the voyage back to Île de France almost wrecked Destroying his flagship `` Vénus '' .

Searching for Rowley off Île de France , `` Ceylon '' was spotted Know by French Commodore Jacques Hamelin who gave Giving chase Self_motion in his flagship `` Vénus '' , supported Supporting by a corvette .

As dawn broke Process_end , Rowley 's flagship HMS `` Boadicea '' arrived Arriving , recaptured Conquering `` Ceylon '' , drove Self_motion off the corvette and forced Causation the battered French flagship to surrender Surrendering , capturing Conquering Hamelin .

This was the last ship-to-ship action in the region before the successful invasion Attack of Île de France in December 1810 : without Hamelin the French squadron , short on supplies Supply and low on morale , did not contest Competition British control Control of the region and failed Earnings_and_losses to even attempt Hold to disrupt Hindering the invasion Attack fleet .