Английская Википедия:Battle of Surat (1704)

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The Battle of Surat was fought on 2 February 1704, off Surat, India, by a Portuguese squadron of one ship of the line and seven frigates, commanded by Jorge de Sousa de Meneses, and an Omani squadron of nine ships of the line and frigates.

Background

Файл:Caetano de Melo e Castro.png

A portrait of Caetano de Melo e Castro

Файл:Fragata "Nossa Senhora da Graça", a "Fenix" (1787-1819).jpg

A sketch of a late 18th century Portuguese frigate

In September 1703, the Omani sacked and pillaged Daman during seven days. When the news of the sack reached Goa, the Viceroy of India, Caetano de Melo e Castro, quickly organized a squadron of four frigates, commanded by captain of sea and war Jorge de Sousa de Meneses. However, shortly after the departure of the Portuguese squadron, news reached Goa that the Omani had received reinforcements and their squadron was now composed by nine ships of the line and frigates, accompanied by a certain number of terradas, whose garrison was composed by 3,000 soldiers. Fearing that the four frigates of Sousa de Meneses wouldn't be sufficient to face a so powerful enemy, the Viceroy decided to reinforce the squadron with two frigates, that sailed to the north commanded by D. António de Meneses. Not happy, yet, the Viceroy still reinforced, on 30 December, the squadron with the 60-gun ship of the line Nossa Senhora da Glória and another frigate.Шаблон:Sfn

Thanks to the diligence of the Viceroy, now the Portuguese squadron was composed by one ship of the line and seven frigates, assisted by twelve rowing ships that constituted the Northern Squadron, in charge of escorting merchant cafilas.Шаблон:Sfn

After the sack of Daman, the Omani had sailed to Surat, having stayed with the high board anchored at the poço and having sent the terradas to near the city. Sousa de Meneses stayed outside the poço, limiting himself to watch the enemy while waiting the arrival of the reinforcements whose he knew it was being prepared in Goa. As soon as they arrived, they decided to attack.Шаблон:Sfn

Battle

On 2 February, at 2:00 p.m., enjoying the high tide, the Portuguese squadron crossed the shoal that separated the exterior anchorage from the poço, having anchoring in the interior of it and having stayed with the ships next to and in a short distance with one of the Omani ships. Then a violent artillery duel started, and it lasted until the sunset.Шаблон:Sfn

At 4:00 p.m., by accident or by the action of the enemy, the frigate Nossa Senhora da Batalha started to catch fire. The frigate Nossa Senhora do Vale helped she, extinguishing the fire.Шаблон:Sfn

By result of the sure shot of the Portuguese artillery and musketry, the Omani suffered a lot of damage and casualties. The 80-gun flagship of the Omani squadron and a 50-gun, both ships of the line, in the attempt of move away from the Portuguese ships, ran aground, shortly after two frigates ran aground too.Шаблон:Sfn

At 6:00 p.m. the Omani squadron was completely destroyed and their captains thought of nothing else but move away from the Portuguese ships. By the night the fighting ended.Шаблон:Sfn

On 3 February, at 1:00 a.m., with high tide, the two Omani ships of the line that had run aground managed to leave and silently abandoned the poço, and sailed towards Muscat, like all the Omani squadron, except the two frigates that couldn't leave.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

By the sunrise of 3 February, both frigates were captured by the Portuguese, one could leave and was incorporated in the Portuguese Navy, christened as São Caetano, and the other was burned.Шаблон:Sfn

Aftermath

Together with the two frigates lost, the Omani suffered heavy casualties, 700 dead and a lot of wounded.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The Portuguese suffered 90 dead, the most were victims of the fire of the frigate Batalha, and 30 and 150 wounded.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

When notifying the battle to Lisbon, the Viceroy said that "... it was one of the fiercest shocks seen in India for many years" and that "...it was fought in full view of the English, the Dutch, and the same Mughals who valued the Arabs for the most valiant soldiers in Asia and feared them and respected.".Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

It is to be assumed that as a result of the victory achieved, the Portuguese prestige in India has risen considerably, canceling out in some measure the bad impression caused by the loss of Mombasa.Шаблон:Sfn

After the battle the Portuguese squadron stayed anchored in the poço of Surat until April, in order to prevent that the Omani terradas anchored in Surat sailed to Oman. At the approaching of the monsoon, the squadron left.Шаблон:Sfn

Ten years later, on 19 February 1714, another battle between Portugal and Oman was fought in Surat, this time it ended with an indecisive strategic victory, but with a Portuguese tactical victory.Шаблон:Sfn

References

Bibliography

• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite book

External links

• Surrate (2 de Fevereiro de 1704)