The action of 6 October 1779 was a minor but famous and furious naval engagement that took part in the early stages of the war between Britain and France in the American Revolutionary War between the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Quebec and the frigate Surveillante of the French Navy.

Britain did not attempt a close blockade of French ports, rather a screen of frigates kept a vigil while the ships of the line stayed at anchor at places like Torbay and Spithead.

Quebec had run aground on a submerged rock and had to throw excess weight overboard to refloat her, sacrificing his 12-pound cannon.

Quebec seeing an opportunity was about to finish the French ship but her severely damaged and weakened masts all came down within a space of a half an hour.

When Quebec exploded the task of rescuing survivors became a priority; the French cutter Expédition broke off the engagement and helped as best she could.

The British cutter Rambler had her sails and rigging so badly damaged she was unable to pursue or even intervene; she sent out a boat instead to help.

Couëdic and the rest of the French crew treated the surviving British as castaways found at sea, not as prisoners of war, seeing them repatriated without parole or exchange.

[1] Surveillante took nearly a year for repairs to be complete and went on to fight in American waters and even brought news of the peace in Paris in company with the British frigate Medea in the summer of 1783.