Almost as soon as the great conflict with revolutionary France began in Europe in the spring of 1793, strategists on both sides were also turning their attention westwards, across the Atlantic. Britain and France each held numerous possessions in the West Indies and, as happened so often throughout the eighteenth century, the focus of war soon shifted to these immensely rich sugar islands. In January 1794, Vice-Admiral Sir John Jervis arrived to assume command of the West Indian Station and immediately gathered a large expeditionary force with which to mount his first offensive against Martinique. Arriving off the island on 5 February, troops were landed at several points and, by 16 March, all Martinique was in British hands excepting the capital Fort Royal. Lying in the harbour there was the frigate Bienvenue, 32, and her guns, together with those of Fort Louis (the city's main fortification), meant that any attack would be a hazardous business. After careful planning the operation was scheduled for 20 March and, supported by the 64-gun H.M.S. Asia, a force of ship's boats approached form the sea inorder to land their marines for the final assault on the town. Meanwhile, Commander Robert Faulkner ran his 20-gun sloop Zebra right under the walls of Fort Louis and jumped ashore with his ship's company to storm the citadel. Fort Louis capitulated after a brief fight, the city fell shortly afterwards and the French governor formally surrendered the island two days later.