Action of 23 March 1654

The Action of March 23, 1654 is the name given to a naval battle which took place near Colombo, Ceylon, when a force of 5 Portuguese galleons which were escorting 5 merchant galliots to Colombo, fought its way through a Dutch blockading squadron of 3 ships. 2 of the Dutch ships were captured, but the Portuguese in the confusion of having their 2 top officers killed, these ships were recaptured. They ran aground but were refloated.

Action of 23 March 1654
Part of Dutch-Portuguese War
Date23 March 1654
Location
Near Colombo, Ceylon
Result Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire  Dutch Republic
 Kingdom of Kandy
Strength
5 galleons 3 ships

Ships involved

Portugal

  • Nazaré 42 (flag, António Pereira)
  • São João 38 (second flag, Álvaro de Novais)
  • Santo António de Mazagão 36 (António Sottomaior)
  • São José 34 (Francisco Machado Deca)
  • São Filipe e Santiago 24 (António de Abreu)

Netherlands

  • Windhond (flag?)
  • Renoçer (Rhinoceros) (second flag?)
  • Drommedaris (yacht)

Renoçer and probably Windhond were the captured ships.

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