Meanwhile the French admiral, Grasse, headed 34 ship of the line at Fort Royal Bay in Martinique (some thirty miles away).

Rodney had been dispatched from Britain with 12 well-fitted ships to rescue the West Indies from a series of attacks from the French which had already resulted in the loss of several islands.

Rodney had been in communication with Grasse during March organising the exchange of prisoners, which were conveyed by HMS Alert under Captain Vashon.

The Formidable had a crew of 900 of whom only two were declared unfit for service on the day, thanks to the ship's physician, Dr Blane.

A rise in the wind at noon on 9 April allowed the Formidable and around half the fleet to join the melee.

A further rise in the wind allowed the remainder of the British fleet to approach, causing the French to retreat.

[4] Dr Gilbert Blane on the Formidable later wrote on the great beauty of the battle scene: stretching from the Soufriere region of Guadeloupe, to the island of Marie Galante and the huge volcanic summit of Diablotin on Dominica.

Her most important action was the breaking of the French line in the middle of the battle, and the final pursuit of the "Ville de Paris".

[6] After the battle she headed for Port Royal in Jamaica delivering the news of their salvation on her arrival on 29 April.