Battle of the Saintes The Battle of the Saintes ( known to the French as the Bataille de la Dominique , or Battle of Dominica ) took place over 4 days , 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782 , during the American War of Independence , and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned invasion of Jamaica . The battle is named after the Saintes ( or Saints ) , a group of islands between Guadeloupe and Dominica in the West Indies . The French fleet defeated here by the Royal Navy was the same French fleet that had blockaded the British Army during the Siege of Yorktown . The British are sometimes credited with pioneering the tactic of " breaking the line " in the battle , though this is disputed . Origins . On 7 April 1782 , the Comte de Grasse set out from Martinique with 35 ships of the line , including two 50 - gun ships and a large convoy of more than 100 cargo ships , to meet with a Spanish fleet consisting of 12 ships of the line and 15 , 000 troops for the purpose of capturing the British island of Jamaica . He was pursued by Rodney with 36 ships of the line . On 9 April 1782 , De Grasse sent his convoy into Guadeloupe , escorted by two fifty - gun ships ( " Fier " and " Experiment " ) . There was an initial inconclusive clash during which the French got the better of the van division of the British fleet that had become separated from the centre and rear divisions . Two French ships of the line were damaged . Battle . On 12 April , De Grasse bore up with his fleet to protect a dismasted ship ( " Zélé ' ' , 74 - gun s ) that was being chased by four British ships as he made for Guadeloupe . Rodney recalled his chasing ships and made the signal for line of battle . As the French line passed down the British line , a sudden shift of wind let Rodney ' s flagship " Formidable " and several other ships , including the " Duke " and the " Bedford " , break through the French line , raking the ships as they did so . The resultant confusion in the French line and the severe damage to several of the French ships including De Grasse ' s flagship " Ville de Paris " , of 104 guns , led eventually to De Grasse ’ s surrender and the retreat of many of his ships in disorder . This action split the French battle line into two . A general chase ensued . In all , four French ships were captured and one , " César " , blew up after she was taken . The British lost 243 killed and 816 wounded , and two captains out of 36 were killed . The French loss in killed and wounded has never been stated , but of captains alone , six were killed out of 30 . It is estimated that the French loss may have been as much as 2 , 000 . More than 5 , 000 French soldiers and sailors were captured . The large number shows what a considerable force the French were willing to put ashore with the invasion of Jamaica . Of the " Ville de Paris " crew , over 400 were killed and more than 700 were wounded . The magazine aboard the " César " exploded , killing over 400 French and 50 British sailors . Aftermath . The battle frustrated French and Spanish hopes of capturing Jamaica from the British . Rodney was created a peer with £2 , 000 a year settled on the title in perpetuity for this victory . Hood was elevated to the peerage as well . The battle has caused controversy ever since , for three reasons : " Had a chief worthy Britain commanded our fleet , Twenty - five good French ships had been laid at our feet . "