When Hood returned to the West Indies in late 1781 after the Battle of the Chesapeake, he was for a time in independent command owing to Admiral George Rodney's absence in England.

Hoping to salvage the situation, Hood made for St Kitts by departing Antigua on 22 January with 22 ships of the line, compared to de Grasse's 36.

[4] The British fleet on 24 January consisted of 22 sail of the line, and was close off the southeast end of Nevis.

As soon as Hood effected this maneuver, he was aided by a favorable change in wind and was able to guide his fleet within the anchorage of Basseterre, which the French admiral had just quit.

After the successful French siege of Brimstone Hill fortress, St Kitts and Nevis surrendered on 12 February.