On 4 April 1777, Martelly-Chautard was promoted to Capitaine de Vaisseau. He was given command of the 50-gun "Experiment" and on 1 May 1780, he departed Marseille, escorting 33 merchantmen to Saint-Pierre de la Martinique. He arrived on 16 June and joined a squadron under Bouillé. He then took part in the Invasion of Tobago in June 1781. He then sailed North to joined with a division stationed of James River and York River to secured communications channels between Grasse's squadron and Saint-Simon's expeditionary corps, along with "Glorieux", "Triton" and "Vaillant", and the frigates "Andromaque" and "Diligente".