Battle of Saldanha Bay (1781)

Battle of Saldanha Bay
Part of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
Dankbaarheid, a Dutch ship captured during the battle, foundering on 30 January 1782
Date 21 July 1781 Location Saldanha Bay, Dutch Cape Colony 33°01′S 17°57′E / 33.017°S 17.950°E / -33.017; 17.950 Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	Dutch Republic
Commanders and leaders
George Johnstone	Gerrit Harmeyer
Strength
5 ships of the line 3 frigates 2 sloops 1 fireship 1 bomb ship 7 troopships	8 merchant ships
Casualties and losses
None	5 merchant ships captured 1 merchant ship destroyed

The Battle of Saldanha Bay was a naval action that occurred off the Dutch Cape Colony on 21 July 1781 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. A squadron of Royal Navy warships under the command of commodore George Johnstone captured five Dutch East India Company ships; her own crew destroyed a sixth. Casualties on the Dutch side were minimal if any, and there were no British casualties.