title: Action of 23 March 1654
text: # Action of 23 March 1654
  
  The action of 23 March 23 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.
  
  ## 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.
  
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