In response, Ardent offered sporadic and inaccurate return fire before striking her colours to the vastly superior enemy force. At his subsequent court martial Captain Boteler blamed his failure to return fire on an inadequate supply of gunpowder for Ardent′s cannons, a statement strongly denied by the ship's gunner Archibald Macintyre who presented evidence there was enough powder for fifty minutes of vigorous engagement.
In response, Ardent offered sporadic and inaccurate return fire before surrendering to the superior enemy force. Captain Boteler blamed his failure to return fire on a shortage of gunpowder for Ardent's cannons, a claim refuted by the ship's gunner Archibald Macintyre who presented evidence there was enough powder for fifty minutes of sustained combat.