Action of 23 March 1654

The action of 23 March 1654 was 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
Date 23 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.