West Indies Anti-Piracy Operations of the United States

West Indies anti-piracy operations
Part of Piracy in the Caribbean
USS Grampus defeated the pirate ships Palyrma and the El Mosquito during the operation.
Date 1817-1825 Location West Indies, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	Caribbean pirates
Commanders and leaders
James Biddle David Porter	Jean Lafitte Jean La Farges Luis Aury Roberto Cofresi
Strength
2 frigates 2 corvettes 2 sloops of war 2 brigs 4 schooners 2 gunboats 1,346 sailors and marine infantry	Unknown

The West Indies Anti-Piracy Operations refer to the United States Navy presence in the Antilles, and surrounding waters, which fought against pirates. Between 1817 and 1825, the American West Indies Squadron constantly pursued pirates on sea and land, primarily around Cuba and Puerto Rico. After the capture of Roberto Cofresi in 1825, acts of piracy became rare and the operation was considered a success although limited occurrences went on until slightly after the start of the 20th-century.

United States Navy and U.S. Revenue Service ships had operated against piracy and the slave trade in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico for several years prior to 1822 when a permanent squadron was formed. After a September 1821 attack by pirates, in which three American merchant ships were captured, Congress authorized Commodore James Biddle to deploy a fleet to the Caribbean. This force consisted of two frigates, USS Macedonian, and USS Congress, two corvettes, USS Cyane and USS John Adams, two sloops-of-war, USS Hornet and USS Peacock, two brigs, USS Spark and USS Enterprise, the schooners USS Grampus, USS Alligator, USS Shark and USS Porpoise. Two gunboats, No. 158 and No. 168 also participated with a total of over 1,500 personnel. Before the fleet was sent, only single ship operations had been undertaken. Over the course of a few decades the American West Indies Squadron continually engaged Spanish, Venezuelan, Cuban and Puerto Rican pirates. Many of the actions ended with the sinking or capturing of pirate vessels though often the outlaws escaped to shore.

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