Action of 30 September 1639

Action of 30 September 1639
Part of Dutch-Portuguese War
A Dutch Surprise Attack on Thee Portuguese Galleons in the Bay of Goa, 30 September 1639. Oil on canvas by Hendrick van Anthonissen, 1653.
Date 30 September 1639 Location Near Mormugão, south of Goa, India Result Dutch victory
Belligerents
Dutch Republic	Portuguese Empire
Strength
9 ships	3 galleons 10 or 12 unarmed "frigates"
Casualties and losses
Unknown	3 galleons captured and destroyed

The Action of 30 September 1639 was a naval battle near Mormugão, just south of Goa, India, when a squadron of 9 Dutch ships captured and destroyed 3 Portuguese galleons.

The Portuguese galleons Bom Jesus 74 and São Sebastião 50 were being careened and had their guns removed and were captured without fighting. Bom Jesus was set alight and allowed to drift toward the new galleon São Boaventura, which was refusing to surrender, causing São Boaventura to catch fire and blow up. Some of the unarmed "frigates" approached toward the end but were frightened off by the Dutch boats. The Dutch had a total of 261 guns, 810 sailors and 170 soldiers on their ships.

Ships involved

Netherlands (Cornelis Symonsz Van der Veer)

• Haarlem (flag)
• Middelburch (second flag)
• Franicker - Damaged
• Bredamme (Jan Semeijn)
• Zierickzee
• Valckenburch (yacht)
• Cleen Rotterdam (yacht)
• Cleen David (yacht)
• Arnemuijden (yacht)

Portugal

• São Boaventura (Álvaro de Sousa) - Caught fire and blew up
• Bom Jesus - Uncrewed; captured and burnt
• São Sebastião - Captured
• 10 or 12 "frigates"

References