The Battle of Porto Praya was a naval battle that took place during the American War of Independence on April 16, 1781 between a British squadron under Commodore Johnstone and a French squadron under the Bailli de Suffren. The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen of her North American colonies. ... The Battle of Sadras was the first of five indecisive naval battles fought between a British fleet under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes and French fleet under the Bailli de Suffren off the coast of India during the American War of Independence. ... The Battle of Providien was the second in the series of battles fought between a British fleet under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes and a French fleet under the Bailli de Suffren off the coast of India during the American War of Independence. ... The Battle of Negapatam was the third in the series of battles fought between a British fleet under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes and a French fleet under the Bailli de Suffren off the coast of India during the American War of Independence. ... The Battle of Trincomalee was the fourth in the series of battles fought between a British fleet under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes and a French fleet under the Bailli de Suffren off the coast of India during the American War of Independence. ... The Battle of Cuddalore was an indecisive battle between a British fleet under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes and a slightly smaller French fleet under the Bailli de Suffren off the coast of India near Cuddalore during the American War of Independence. ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen of her North American colonies. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez (July 17, 1729 - December 8, 1788), French admiral, was the third son of the marquis de Saint Tropez, head of a family of nobles of Provence which claimed to have emigrated from Lucca in the 14th century. ...

Both squadrons were en route to the Cape of Good Hope, the British to take it from the Dutch, the French aiming to help defend it and French posessions in the Indian Ocean. The British convoy and its escorting squadron had anchored at Porto Praya in the Cape Verde Islands to pick up water when the French squadron arrived and attacked them at anchor. Unfortunately, some of the French ships weren't ready for action, so Suffren had to withdraw. Jump to: navigation, search 1888 Map of the Cape of Good Hope The Cape of Good Hope is a headland in South Africa, near Cape Town, traditionally— and incorrectly — regarded as marking the turning point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean (Technically, the division between the two oceans...

Nevertheless it was still a French victory as Suffren now beat Johnstone to the Cape and warned the Dutch, before continuing to the Ile de France (now Mauritius).