Complex sentence: The British ships heavily outnumbered Linois and, under the command of the Company commodore Nathaniel Dance they manoeuvred as though would fight to defend themselves by forming a line of battle and the three leading ships flew naval ensigns.
Split into simpler sentences: The British ships heavily outnumbered Linois and, under the command of the Company commodore Nathaniel Dance, they manoeuvred as though they would fight to defend themselves. They formed a line of battle and the three leading ships flew naval ensigns.