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.

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.