 The British flotilla arrived off the independent town of Ras al @-@ Khaimah on 11 November , discovering Minerva and a fleet of dhows in the harbour . The pirate fleet initially sailed out to attack the British but retreated once the size of the expeditionary force became clear . Minerva failed to make the return to port successfully and was wrecked on a sandbank , the crew setting fire to their ship to prevent her seizure by boats launched from Chiffone . Onshore , the Al Qasimi and their Bedouin allies ( whose numbers are unknown , but were significantly less than 20 @,@ 000 ) formed a series of emplaced defences around the town that were protected from offshore bombardment by sandbanks which blocked the approach of Wainwright 's heavier warships . On 12 November , Wainwright deployed his smaller ships close inshore to bombard the town and provide cover for his troop dispositions offshore . 
