Action of 22 June 1803

Part of First Barbary War

Date	22 June 1803
Location	Near Tripoli (present day Libya)
Result	American tactical victory

Belligerents

United States

Eyalet of Tripolitania

Commanders and leaders

John Rodgers

Shadi Nazmi Reis

Strength

1 frigate
1 schooner
290 sailors and
marine infantry

1 polacre
9 gunboats

Casualties and losses

None

1 Polacre sunk
Unknown human casualties

The Action of 22 June 1803 was a naval battle between the United States Navy and the Tripolitan Navy during the First Barbary War. Two ships from the American squadron blockading Tripoli, USS John Adams and USS Enterprise, met and engaged a Tripolitan polacre along with nine gunboats. After fighting a sharp action for forty five minutes the gunboats veered off and the polacre was abandoned. The Tripolitians later retook the polacre and were reengaged by the Americans before the vessel was destroyed in a large explosion.

The destruction of the Tripolitan polacre was the greatest victory the American navy had yet inflicted over the Tripolitans. As such the confidence and morale of the American Mediterranean squadron ran so high that its commander saw no further need to blockade Tripoli and withdrew his vessels.

Coordinates: 32°54′8″N 13°11′9″E / 32.90222°N 13.18583°E / 32.90222; 13.18583

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Wikipedia