Action of 22 October 1794 The Action of 22 October 1794 took place when a small French frigate squadron under Captain Jean - Marie Renaud attempted to lift the British blockade of Isle de France ( now Mauritius ) . In the ensuing action , the British ships were forced to retreat , leaving the island open to shipping for a few weeks . Background . Isle de France had traditionally been a forward base for commerce raiding by French privateers and frigate squadrons who attacked British shipping from India . The 40 - gun frigate " Cybèle " was the only remaining frigate stationed there until the 36 - gun frigate " Prudente " was sent as reinforcement at the outbreak of the War of the First Coalition . The British responded to the commerce raids with a blockade , attempting both to prevent sorties by French corsairs and frigates , and to starve the island into submission , as it depended almost entirely on shipping for its subsistence . Before a formal squadron was constituted with ships sent from Great Britain , Madras and Bombay , the blockade was assured by the 50 - gun " Centurion " , under Captain Samuel Osborne , and the 44 - gun frigate " Diomede " , under Captain Matthew Smith . The situation on Isle de France having become worrisome , the colonial council decided to organise a sortie of the available French naval forces in an attempt to break the blockade . The entire flotilla was under the command of Captain Renaud in " Prudente " . In addition to " Prudente " , under Captain Jean - Marie Renaud , " Cybèle " , under Pierre Tréhouart , and the 16 - gun brig - corvette " Coureur " , under Captain Garreau , the squadron also included the privateers " Rosalie " and " Jean - Bart " , and the aviso " Sans - Culottes " . Volunteers and 150 soldiers reinforced the crews of the French vessels . The French squadron set sail on 19 October , and patrolled for three days before locating the British cruisers . The two squadrons met on 22 October , around 15 : 30 , twenty miles off the island . " Centurion " placed herself abreast of the two frigates , with the greater part of her broadside bearing on the " Prudente " . " Diomede " took a similar position between " Cybèle " and " Jean Bart " , but focused her attention primarily on " Cybèle " . Meanwhile , the French avisos attempted to rake the British from the rear . After one hour , Renaud started to withdraw , signalling to " Cybèle " to follow , but the wind had fallen and she had sustained such damage to her rigging that she could not do so . " Cybèle " therefore found herself under sustained fire from both " Centurion " and " Diomede " , but enjoyed aggressive support from " Coureur " . At 17 : 00 , " Centurion " lost her topmasts . Around the same time , the wind came up again , enabling " Cybèle " to retreat and " Prudente " to return to the fight . " Cybèle " then lost her mainmast ; by then , she had three feet of water in her hull . " Diomede " attempted to close in , but had sustained damage and was unable to intervene . " Prudente " was able to put a tow on " Cybèle " and the two then retreated to Isle de France . " Centurion " had lost three seamen killed or mortally wounded , and 24 men wounded . " Diomede " did not sustain any loss . " Prudente " lost 15 men killed , including her First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant , and 20 wounded , including Renaud . " Cybèle " lost her first lieutenant and 21 men killed , and 62 wounded , 37 of them dangerously . " Coureur " apparently suffered no casualties . With her topmasts shot off and her foremast lost , " Centurion " had to retreat for repairs , so the British squadron abandoned the blockade . Aftermath . With the blockade in abeyance , Isle de France could again receive shipments , which averted any risk of starvation . The engagement was the baptism by fire for Robert Surcouf , who served as auxiliay ensign aboard " Cybèle " .