[3] He landed his troops to reinforce the Dutch Cape Colony against a possible British attack, and on 2 May 1782 he sailed to Isle de France (Mauritius), where Saint-Michel and Illustre arrived on 31, the transports following a few days later.

[5] On 21 August 1782, Ilustre and Saint-Michel arrived at Batacalo, making their junction with the squadron under Suffren.

[6] In the night of 12 January 1783, chasing the frigate Fine which she had mistaken for a privateer, HMS Coventry sailed into Ganjam Roads, where Suffren's Héros, Illustre, Ajax and Brillant were at anchor.

At this moment, the French division noticed Coventry, and Illustre, Ajax and Brillant opened fire.

Interrogating his prisoners, Wolseley learnt that the ships firing on him were part of Suffren's squadron, at which point his men rushed below.