Action of 2 May 1654

Summary

The action of 2 May 1654 was a sea battle which took place near Colombo, Ceylon, when a force of 11 Dutch ships defeated 3 Portuguese galleons, which ran aground and were burnt near Carmona, north of Cabo de Rama. On about 4 May Zijdeworm was burnt as a fireship near Karwar, and on 6 May the Portuguese galleon Nazareth was burnt near Hanovar. This removed a significant proportion of Portuguese ships in the Indian Ocean area.

Action of 2 May 1654
Part of Dutch-Portuguese War
Date2 May 1654
Location
Near Colombo, Ceylon
Result Dutch victory
Belligerents
 Dutch Republic
 Kingdom of Kandy
Portugal Portuguese Empire
Strength
11 ships 3 galleons

Ships involved edit

Netherlands edit

  • Avenhoorn 30-40
  • Sluys 30-40
  • Cabeljauw 30-40
  • Hulst 30-40
  • Saphier 30-40
  • Konijn 30-40
  • Gecroonde Leeuw 30-40 (same as Roode Leuw?)
  • Muyden 30-40
  • Weesp 38
  • Popkensburch 30-40
  • Zijdeworm 30-40

The first 7 ships dealt with Santo António de Mazagão and the rest with São João Pérola.

Portugal edit

  • Santo António de Mazagão 36 (António Sottomaior) - Aground and burnt
  • São João Pérola 38 (António de Abreu??) - Aground and burnt
  • Nazaré 42

Guns are also given as around 28–30 each.

References edit

6°57′07″N 79°48′18″E / 6.952°N 79.805°E / 6.952; 79.805