How many ships did Britain send to reassert control over the islands?

The answer is based on historical events related to a specific military operation where Britain aimed to reclaim control over a territory. During this operation, Britain dispatched only one ship to assert its authority over the islands. This choice reflects the strategic military decisions made at that time, as the deployment of a single ship could be sufficient for the intended mission, depending on various factors such as the political climate, the geographical location, and the nature of the defense strategies in place.

The context of this event is crucial for understanding why a single ship was deemed adequate at that moment. Other options suggest a larger number of ships, which would typically indicate a more extensive military action or a significant commitment of resources. However, in this specific instance, the decision to use one ship aligns with a focused approach to reestablish control without escalating the situation unnecessarily. This illustrates the broader strategic principles of military operations, where the objective often dictates the scale of the force deployed.