 Admiral Rodney was lauded for his victory , the first major victory of the war by the Royal Navy over its European opponents . He distinguished himself for the remainder of the war , notably winning the 1782 Battle of the Saintes in which he captured the French Admiral Comte de Grasse . He was , however , criticised by Captain Young , who portrayed him as weak and indecisive in the battle with Lángara . ( He was also rebuked by the admiralty for leaving a ship of the line at Gibraltar , against his express orders . ) Rodney 's observations on the benefits of copper sheathing in the victory were influential in British Admiralty decisions to deploy the technology more widely . 
