Action of 24 March 1811

Map of Lower Normandy
Location of the destruction of Amazone

Date	24–25 March 1811
Location	near Phare de Gatteville, Normandy
Result	British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

French Empire

Commanders and leaders

James Macnamara

Bernard-Louis Rosseau

Strength

Ship of the line HMS Berwick, frigates HMS Amelia, HMS Niobe, brig-sloops HMS Goshawk, HMS Hawk

Frigate Amazone

Casualties and losses

Two killed, one wounded

Amazone destroyed

Coordinates: 49°41′38.12″N 1°16′39.31″W / 49.6939222°N 1.2775861°W / 49.6939222; -1.2775861

The Action of 24 March 1811 was a minor naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars, fought as part of the Royal Navy blockade of the French English Channel ports. By 1811, Royal Navy control of the French coast was so entrenched that French ships were unable to travel safely even in French territorial waters. In late 1810, French frigates Elisa and Amazone sailed from Le Havre to join with a larger squadron at Cherbourg, but were intercepted by a British frigate squadron and forced to shelter at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. There they came under sustained attack and Elisa was destroyed, Amazone successfully slipping back to Le Havre under cover of darkness. To prevent Amazone from escaping once more, the British blockade squadron was reinforced.

On the evening of 23 March 1811, Amazone left Le Havre once more, sailing west towards Cherbourg through the night. Escaping the ships watching Le Havre, Amazone was sighted at dawn on 24 March weathering Cape Barfleur by ship of the line HMS Berwick, which pursued the French frigate into a bay 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) west of the Phare de Gatteville lighthouse. There Berwick, reinforced by a squadron of smaller ships, attacked Amazone but was unable to approach through the rocks and shoals of the coast. Plans were made overnight to attack the frigate with ship's boats, but on the following day the French Captain Bernard-Louis Rosseau set his ship on fire to prevent its capture.

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Wikipedia