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{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Daman
| partof = the Omani–Portuguese conflicts
| image = Evening at the seashore.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption =
| date = 23 March 1694
| place = Off [[Daman, India|Daman]], [[Indian Ocean]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|20.42|N|72.85|E|display=inline,title}}
| result = Portuguese victory
| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Kingdom of Portugal|1667}} [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]]
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of The Imamate of Oman.svg}} [[Imamate of Oman|Oman]]
| commander1 = {{flagdeco|Kingdom of Portugal|1667}} António Machado de Brito
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of The Imamate of Oman.svg}} Unknown
| strength1 = 1 [[ship of the line]] 2 [[frigate]]s 1 [[galiot]]
| strength2 = 8 [[ship of the line|ships of the line]] 6 [[frigate]]s
| casualties1 = Light{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=31}}{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}
| casualties2 = 1 ship of the line damaged{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=31}}{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}} 3 frigates sunk{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} 600 killed{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}}
| campaignbox =
}}
The '''Battle of Daman''' took place on 23 March 1694, when a Portuguese [[Squadron (naval)|squadron]], commanded by General António Machado de Brito, pursued and attacked an Omani squadron sailing off [[Daman, India|Daman]].

== Background ==
In January 1694, an Omani squadron of eight ships of the line and six frigates attacked [[Salsette Island]], sacking some of its villages.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}}

In February, after having knowledge of the Omani presence in the coast, the [[List of governors of Portuguese India|Viceroy of India]], the [[:pt:Pedro António de Meneses Noronha de Albuquerque|Count of Vila Verde]], organized, in [[Old Goa|Goa]], a squadron of one ship of the line, two frigates and one galiot, commanded by Captain Pereira da Silva.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} The Viceroy had nominated General António Machado de Brito for the command of the squadron, who was at [[Vasai|Bassein]] at the time, which is why he only embarked during the passage through this town.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}}{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}} Supposing that the Omani squadron, after attacking and sacking Salsette Island, had sailed to [[Surat]], General António Machado de Brito departed for there.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}}

== Battle ==
In the morning of 23 March, the Portuguese squadron was sailing off Daman, when they sighted the Omani squadron, who were also sailing to the north, but next to the coast.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}}

With the [[land breeze]] still blowing, it's probably that the Portuguese squadron started sailing [[close-hauled]] to approach the Omani squadron.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} At approximately 11:00 a.m. the Portuguese squadron had reached their shooting range of the rear of the [[line of battle]] of the Omani squadron, establishing a vigorous artillery duel with the rear.{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} In response, the vanguard of the Omani squadron should be starting [[wearing ship]] to help the rear, but, it seems they did not, possibly because they did not had time before the wind fell.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} During this period it's supposed that the Portuguese squadron, with the advantage of having a galiot, had continued bombarding intensively the Omani vessels that were close to each other, causing them a lot of damage to the hull and to the rigging, and also causing them numerous killed and wounded.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}}

When the [[sea breeze]] started blowing, it's natural that both squadrons started to sail to the open sea, with the [[Bow (watercraft)|bow]] to the west-southwest and on a starboard tack, the majority of the Omani squadron having the advantage of being upwind of the Portuguese squadron.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} In this period it's probably that the artillery duel was fought exclusively between the Portuguese squadron and the rear of the Omani squadron that, apparently, wasn't able to take advantage of their overwhelming advantage.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} And, again, the Portuguese gunners, who had more experience than the Omani gunners, provoked considerable damage and casualties in the Omani squadron.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}}

In the afternoon it's possible that both squadrons started wearing ship and returned to the coast.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} In the evening, the lack of ammunition made them separate and anchor, to fix the damage suffered and take care of the wounded.{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} In the night, the Omani squadron, completely demoralized, weighed anchor, and, enjoying the land breeze, sailed to the open sea, towards [[Old Muscat|Muscat]].{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|pp=29–31}}

== Aftermath ==
The Omani squadron lost three frigates, sunk by artillery fire, and had about 600 killed.{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=29}} In the following day they lost a ship of the line, which sunk by result of the damage that it suffered during the battle.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=31}}{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}}

Having more robust vessels and better artillery than the Omani squadron, the Portuguese squadron suffered relatively light damage and casualties.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=31}}{{Sfn|Santos|2003|p=177}} In April, having left the coast clean, the Portuguese squadron returned to Goa.{{Sfn|Saturnino Monteiro|1996|p=31}}

== See also ==
* [[Siege of Mombasa (1696–1698)]]
* [[Siege of Sohar (1633–1643)]]
* [[Battle of Surat (1704)]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references />

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Saturnino Monteiro |first=Armando da Silva |url=http://labtecgc.udesc.br:8080/bitstream/handle/01/654/003113.pdf |title=Batalhas e Combates da Marinha Portuguesa (1669-1807) |publisher=Livraria Sá da Costa |year=1996 |location=Lisbon |language=pt}}
* {{cite book |last=Santos |first=Nuno Valdez dos |url=https://academia.marinha.pt/pt/edicoes/EdicoesDiversas/Apontamentos%2520para%2520a%2520Hist%25C3%25B3ria%2520da%2520Marinha%2520Portuguesa_compressed.pdf |title=Apontamentos para a História da Marinha Portuguesa (1667-1706) |publisher=[[Academia de Marinha]] |year=2003 |location=Lisbon |language=pt}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Naval battles involving Portugal]]

Battle of Daman (1694) - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article