Action of 30 September 1639

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.

Action of 30 September 1639
Part of Dutch-Portuguese War
A Dutch Surprise Attack on Three 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

Admiral Cornelis Simonsz van Der Veer commanded a squadron of seven ships which were followed by two yachts. These nine ships departed from Batavia on 6 August, 1639. On 15 September 15, the fleet received news of the death of the Port Governor, Antonio van Diemen, on 6 June, and also of three potential unarmed galleons in the Bay of Old Goa. Van der Veer decided to attempt a surprise attack which occurred on 30 September.

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

Schavemaker, Eddy (2022). "A Dutch Squadron under the Command of Cornelis Simonsz van der Veer Carrying Out a Surprise Attack on Three Portuguese Galleons in the Bay of Goa Velha, 30 September 1639". Rijks Museum.