2 ships The action of 13 August 1780 was a minor naval battle fought off the Old Head of Kinsale (County Cork, Ireland) in which the 64-gun French "private man of war" (privateer) Comte d'Artois fought two British Royal Navy ships, Bienfaisant and Charon, during the American Revolutionary War.

[1] Reports arrived in early August 1780 of a large French privateer, the 64-gun Comte d'Artois, which had sailed from Brest to cruise off the Irish south coast, and was at once to be dealt with.

[2] After several days in search of the vessel, a mysterious sail was finally sighted early on 13 August, chasing after some of the ships of a British convoy departing from Cork.

She proved to be the Comte D'Artois, a private ship of war, mounting 64 guns, and with a crew of 644 men Closnard's command.

[3] Two British frigates, Licorne and Hussar, also came up towards the end of the action and so shared in the prize money with Bienfaisant and Charon.