List of single-ship actions

A single-ship action is a naval engagement fought between two warships of opposing sides, excluding submarine engagements; it is called so because there is a single ship on each side. The following is a list of notable single-ship actions.

Battle between the English frigate Shannon and the American frigate Chesapeake, painted in 1836 by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg and depicting the capture of USS Chesapeake.

Single-ship actions

Anglo-Spanish War

• 1579, March 1 – Golden Hind captures the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.

Third Anglo-Dutch War

• 1674, February 13 – HMS Tyger captures Schaeckerloo (part of the Dutch fleet that conducted the Dutch Raid on North America) outside Cadiz.^[1]

Golden Age of Piracy

• 1720, October 20 – British sloop Snow-Tyger under Jonathan Barnet captures the pirate sloop William and its owner Calico Jack.

War of the Austrian Succession

• 1743, June 20 – HMS Centurion captures the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de la Covadonga
• 1746, 21 January – HMS Granado captures the French privateer Marianne

Seven Years War

• 1761, 1 January – HMS Trent captures the French merchant frigate Bien Aimé.

American Revolutionary War

• 1776, July 27 – USS Reprisal and HMS Shark have an inconclusive engagement
• 1777, 12 July – British merchantman Pole repulses the privateer American Tartar
• 1778, April 24 – USS Ranger captures HMS Drake (details)
• 1778, December – the Bristol privateer Tartar has an inconclusive engagement with a French frigate
• 1779, March – the Bristol privateer Tartar has an inconclusive engagement with an American privateer
• 1779, May 7 – USS Providence captures HMS Diligent
• 1779, September 7 – Molly repels an American privateer
• 1779, September 10 – USS Morris defeats HMS West Florida in the Battle of Lake Pontchartrain.
• 1779, September 14 – HMS Pearl defeats the Spanish frigate Santa Mónica. (details)
• 1779, October 29 – the West Indiaman Mentor exchanges fire with a French frigate; the frigate withdraws
• 1779, November 11 – HMS Tartar captures the Spanish frigate Santa Margarita. (details)
• 1780, June 1 – USS Trumbull engages the British privateer Watt; both ships withdraw
• 1780, August 10 – HMS Flora defeats the French ship Nymphe in the first engagement thought to involve the carronade.(details)
• 1780, September 9 – HMS Keppel has an inconclusive, three-hour engagement with USS Saratoga
• 1781, January 9 – The sloop USS Saratoga captures the letter-of-marque Tonyn
• 1781, March 7 – Liverpool privateer Woolton captures French merchantman Sartine
• 1781, March 23 – British privateer Tarleton, of 14 guns, captures American letter of marque Tom Lee, of 12 guns.
• 1781, May 1 – HMS Canada captures the Spanish frigate Santa Leocadia. (details)
• 1781, September 6 – American privateer Congress captures the British sloop HMS Savage. (details)
• 1781, October 10 – the British privateer Goodrich has an inconclusive engagement with the American letter of marque St James
• 1781, late December – French privateer Terror of England captures and releases the letter of marque Molly
• 1782, February 28 – French frigate Bellone captures HMS Chaser
• 1782, April 6 – American privateer Tartar captures HMS Jane
• 1782, April 8 – Pennsylvania privateer Hyder Ally captures HMS General Monk. (details)
• 1782, 9 August – HMS Duc de Chartres captures the French brig Aigle
• 1782, August 12 – Frigate HMS Coventry inconclusively engages the French frigate Bellone
• 1782, October 7 – The American privateer Buccaneer captures the British merchant ship Chambers
• 1782, December 6 – HMS Ruby defeats the French ship Solitaire. (details)
• 1783, January 20 – HMS Resolution captures the Dutch privateer Flushinger
• 1783, January 22 – HMS Hussar captures the French frigate Sybille. (details)

French Revolutionary Wars

• 1793, May 13 – HMS Iris and Citoyenne Française conduct an inconclusive but sanguinary engagement
• 1793, June 18 – HMS Nymphe captures the Cléopâtre (details)
• 1793, September 3 – French frigate Citoyen captures and ransoms the Guineaman Courier.
• 1793, December 1 – The British packet ship Antelope captures the French privateer Atlante.
• 1794, May 29 – HMS Carysfort recaptures HMS Castor (details)
• 1794, July 28 – French privateer Guillotine captures merchant vessel Sandown
• 1794, September 5 – Merchantmen Esther repulses Républicaine
• 1794, September 25 – Merchantman Bolton repulses a French privateer
• 1794, September – Enslaving ship Duke of Buccleugh repels attack by French privateer Pervie
• 1795 – The enslaving ship Æolus repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1795, January 4 – HMS Blanche captures Pique
• 1795, March 13 – HMS Lively captures the French frigate Tourterelle
• 1795, October 30 – The enslaving ship Lord Stanley repels an attack by a French 12-gun schooner privateer
• 1796, January – A French privateer captures the enslaving ship Ranger
• 1796, September – The enslaving ship Bud repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1796, November 20 – Merchantman Wilding engages a French privateer that blows up during the engagement
• 1796, May 25 – HMS Suffisante captures the privateer Revanche
• 1796, June 6 – HMS Unicorn captures French frigate Tribune
• 1796, October 8 & 9 – Merchant ship Backhouse repels attack by French privateer
• 1796, November 28 – The enslaving ship Tarleton repels two different French privateers on the same day, each engagement representing a single-ship action
• 1797, 29 January – French privateer Jeune Emilie captures the British merchant vessel Battalion
• 1797, March 13 – HMS Viper captures Nuestra Señora de la Piedad.
• 1797, June 1 – The French privateer Oiseau captures the British slave ship Britannia
• 1797, August 15 – HMS Alexander captures French privateer Coq
• 1797, August 29 – A French privateer captures the merchantman Ranger
• 1797, October – HMS Alexander captures French privateer Epicharis
• 1797, October – Merchant ship Backhouse repels attack by French privateer
• 1797, December 19 – Slave ship Eliza blows up while engaging a French privateer
• 1797, December 22 – HMS Phoebe captures the French frigate Néréide
• 1797, December 27 – HMS Caroline captures the Spanish ship St Raphael
• 1798, January – 11 HMS Racoon captures the French privateer Policrate
• 1798, April 2 – HMS Mars captures the French ship Hercule
• 1798, April 17 – HMS Recovery captures the French privateer Revanche
• 1798, July 4 – French brig Lodi in an inconclusive engagement with the English privateer brig Acquila (probably Eagle)
• 1798, June 21 – His Majesty's packet ship Princess Royal repels the French privateer Avanture.(details)
• 1798, August 7 – HMS Espoir captures the Genoese pirate Liguria
• 1798, September 18 – A French privateer captures the West Indiaman Agreeable
• 1798, September 27 – The French privateer President Parker captures the Guineaman Bud
• 1798, October 20 – HMS Racoon captures the French privateer Vigilante
• 1798, December 12 – HMS Perdrix captures the French privateer L'Armée d' Italie
• 1798, February 24 – French frigate Forte captures the East Indiaman Osterley, but then allows her to proceed.
• 1798, March 1 – HMS Sybille captures French frigate Forte.
• 1799, February 25 – French privateer Democrat captures merchantman Cicero
• 1799, March 18 – HM hired brig Telegraph captures French privateer Hirondelle
• 1799, April 13 – HMS Amaranthe captures the French letter of marque Vengeur.
• 1799, November 23 – Hired cutter Courier captures French privateer Guerrier
• 1799, November 26 – Merchant ship Barton repels attack by a French privateer
• 1799, December 2 – HMS Racoon captures French privateer Intrepide
• 1799, December 2 – the British merchantman Achilles captures the French privateer corvette Entreprenante
• 1799, December 26 – HMS Viper captures the French privateer Furet
• 1800, March 5 – HMS Phoebe captures the privateer Heureux
• 1800, March 31 – French privateer Minerve captures the United States letter of marque Minerva
• 1800, August 20 – HMS Seine captures the French ship Vengeance
• 1800, October 7 – French privateer Confiance captures British East Indiaman Kent
• 1800, October 8 – HMS Gipsy captures the French privateer Quidproquo
• 1800, October – American merchant ship Rebecca repels French privateer Malartic
• 1800, November 11 – East Indiaman Phoenix captures French privateer Malartic.
• 1800, November 13 – HMS Milbrook defeats and drives off the French privateer Bellone
• 1800, November 13 – HMS Albatross captures the privateer brig Adèle
• 1800, November 22 - HCS Intrepid repels a French privateer off Muscat
• 1801, January 17 – The French privateer Mon Oncle Thomas captures the Guineaman Leander
• 1801, February 19 – HMS Phoebe captures the French frigate Africaine (details)
• 1801, March 5 – French privateer Gironde captures the merchantman Bolton
• 1801, March 23 – HMS Albatross captures the French privateer Gloire
• 1801, April – British merchantman Union Island repels a Spanish privateer
• 1801, May – French privateer captures the British merchantman Union Island
• 1801, May 6 – HMS Speedy captures Spanish xebec frigate El Gamo (Details)*
• 1801, June 14 – Liverpool privateer General Keppel repels French privateer Mouche
• 1801, August 18 – HMS Guachapin captures Spanish letter of marque Theresa
• 1801, September 25 – HMS Pickle has an inconclusive engagement with a privateer flying the Spanish colors off Hispaniola.
• 1801, November 20 – A Spanish frigate of 44 guns captures the Liverpool privateer General Keppel

Quasi-War

• 1799, February 9 – USS Constellation captures the French frigate L'Insurgente (details)
• 1799, October 24 – Merchantman Washington drives off the French privateer frigate Bellone
• 1800, February 1 – USS Constellation defeats the French frigate La Vengeance (details)
• 1800, July 4 - USS Enterprise captures French privateer L'Aigle
• 1800, October 12 – USS Boston captures the French corvette Berceau (details)
• 1800, October 25 – USS Enterprise captures French privateer Flambeau (details)

First Barbary War

• 1801, August 1 – United States Navy warship USS Enterprise captures Tripolitanian corsair Tripoli near Malta. (details)

Napoleonic Wars

• 1803, May 18 – HMS Doris captures the French lugger Affronteur on the first day of the war.
• 1803, July 7 – French privateer Blonde captures the British privateer Young Nicholas
• 1803, July 16 – HMS Racoon captures French brig-corvette Lodi.
• 1803, August 13 – French privateer Bellone captures the East Indiaman Lord Nelson
• 1803, August 17 – HMS Racoon destroys French naval brig Mutine.
• 1803, August 27 – HMS Seagull recaptures the East Indiaman Lord Nelson
• 1803, October 15 – The British slave ship Tamer captures the French slave ship Braave
• 1803 – Guineaman Bedford repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1804, January 24 – Queen Charlotte repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1804, February 5 – HMS Eclair engages the 22-gun French privateer Grande Decide.
• 1804, March 21 – French privateer Blonde captures and sinks HMS Wolverine.
• 1804, March 9 – French privateer Grande Decide captures British merchantman Caldicot Castle
• 1804, March 25 or 28 – HMS Hippomenes captures French privateer Egyptienne
• 1804, April – A French privateer captures the slave ship Sarah and takes her and her cargo of slaves into Guadeloupe
• 1804, May 12 – A French privateer captures the slave ship Angola
• 1804, June 21 – HMS Hippomenes unsuccessfully engages the Guadeloupe privateer Buonaparte.
• 1804, July 15 – French privateer Dame Ambert captures HMS Lilly
• 1804, July 31 – HMS Tartar captures French privateer Hirondelle
• 1804, August 4 – French privateer General Augereau captures the West Indiaman William Heathcote
• 1804, August 14 – French frigate Poursuivante captures English merchantman Juno
• 1804, August 5 – Merchantman Britannia repels attack by French privateer General Ernouf
• 1804, January 26 – Merchantman Scarborough repels attack by a French privateer
• 1804, September 12 – Policy captures Dutch merchantman Swift
• 1804, December 27 – Slave ship Lord Nelson repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1804, late – Slave ship Thetis repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1805, February – the whaler Iris unsuccessfully attacks a Batavian vessel
• 1805, February 2 – Slave ship Elizabeth repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1805, February 8 – HMS Curieux captures French privateer Dame Ernouf
• 1805, February 13 – HMS San Fiorenzo captures French frigate Psyche
• 1805, March 10 – Private ship of war Kitty captures the Spanish private ship of war Felicity/Felicidad
• 1805, March 20 – French privateer Général Ernouf explodes during an engagement with HMS Renard
• 1805, May 16 – The French privateer Hirondelle captures Queen Charlotte
• 1805, July 19 – French frigate Topaze captures HMS Blanche
• 1805, August 10 – HMS Phoenix captures Didon
• 1805, August 16 – HMS Raisonable vs the French frigate Topaze
• 1805, October 13 – Spanish merchantman Nuestra Senora de Isiar (alias Joaquina), captures British privateer Antelope
• 1805, October 20 – British privateer Harmony fails to capture a Spanish privateer brig
• 1805, November – HMS Wolverine vs HMS Amethyst
• 1805, November 4 – French privateer Creole captures slaver and merchantman Esther
• 1805, November 28 – Inconclusive engagement between the French privateer Bellone and the East Indiaman Admiral Gardner
• 1805, November 30 – a French privateer captures the slave ship Lancaster
• 1806, January 23 – French privateer captures and sinks HMS Unique
• 1806, February 15 – HMS Grenada captures the French letter of marque Princess Murat
• 1806, February – French privateer Hebe captures British merchantman Shipley
• 1806, March 3–4 – French brig Observateur vs. an unknown British post ship
• 1806, May 11 – French ship Abeille captures HMS Alacrity
• 1806, May 14 – HMS Pallas vs French Minerve
• 1806, May 25 – Merchant ship Barton repels attack by French privateer Fairey
• 1806, June 21 – French frigate Piémontaise captures the East Indiaman Warren Hastings at 26°13′S 56°45′W / 26.217°S 56.750°W / -26.217; -56.750
• 1806, July 19 – HMS Blanche captures French Guerrière
• 1806, August 2 – The fireship HMS Phosphorus repels an attack by the French privateer lugger Elize
• 1806, October 25 – Spanish privateer mistico Generalísimo captures HM gunboat Hannah
• 1806, October 26 – HMS Pitt captures the French privateer Superbe
• 1806, December 29 – HMS Spitfire captures French privateer Deux Frères
• 1807, January 3 – Pickle captures the French privateer Favorite
• 1807, March 14 – French privateer Alerte captures merchantman Highlander
• 1807, April 25 – French privateer Dame Villaret captures Wanstead
• 1807, August 19 – HMS Comus captures the Danish frigate Fredericksvaern.
• 1807, September 9 – A French privateer captures the British slave ship Lucy
• 1807, October 1 – British packet ship Windsor Castle captures the French privateer Jeune Richard. (details)
• 1807, October 17 – HMS Superieure captures the French privateer schooner Tape a L’Oeil.
• 1807, December 3 – HMS Curieux has an inconclusive engagement with French privateer Revanche.
• 1808, March 2 – HMS Sappho captures Danish privateer Admiral Yawl
• 1808, March 6–8 – HMS San Fiorenzo captures French frigate Piémontaise
• 1808, March 7 – A French privateer captures the slave ship Robert
• 1808, March 14 – HDMS Lougen engages in an inconclusive action with HMS Childers
• 1808, May 11 and 12 – HMS Wizard vs French 16-gun brig of war Requin, later captured by HMS Volage
• 1808, June 24 – HMS Salsette captures the Russian cutter Opyt
• 1808, July 5 and 6 – HMS Seahorse captures Turkish frigate Badere Zaffer^[2]
• 1808, July 16&17 – Active repelled a Spanish and a French privateer in two separate single-ship actions.
• 1808, August 11 – HMS Comet captures French corvette Sylphe
• 1808, September 6 – HMS Recruit vs French corvette Diligente
• 1808, September 29 – French navy corvette Départment-des-Landes captures HMS Maria
• 1808, October 3 – French brig Palinure captures HMS Carnation
• 1809, August 7 – The Liverpool merchantman Lascelles repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1809, late – The Liverpool merchantman Agreeable repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1810, January 11 – HMS Scorpion captures French brig Oreste
• 1810, 10 February – HMS Thistle captures the Dutch naval vessel Havik
• 1810, August 10 – His Majesty's Hired armed cutter Queen Charlotte drives off a substantially larger and more heavily armed French vessel.
• 1810, August 22 – the British letter of marque merchantman William Ashton repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1810, October 14 – HMS Briseis captures the French privateer schooner Sans Souci
• 1810, November 1 – The French privateer Spéculateur captures the merchant ship Leander
• 1811, early – HMS Gleaner captures an Ottoman polacca off Samos
• 1811, September 11 – HMS Diana captures the Dutch brig Zephyr off Manado
• 1811, October 29 – The French privateer Epervier captured the packet Chesterfield off Guernsey
• 1812, February 22 – HMS Victorious captures French ship Rivoli in Battle of Pirano
• 1812, July 21 – HMS Sealark captures the French privateer Ville de Caen
• 1812, December 1 – French privateer Sans Souci captures the South Seas whaler Frederick
• 1812, December 18 – HMS Spy repels an attack by a French privateer
• 1812, December 29 – HMS Royalist captures the French privateer lugger Rusé
• 1813, February 7 – HMS Amelia and the French frigate Aréthuse engage in an inconclusive but sanguinary four-hour night battle
• 1813, September 10 – French privateer cutter Renard destroys the schooner HMS Alphea
• 1813, October 9 – HMS Thunder captures the French privateer Neptune
• 1814, January 6 – the West Indiaman Cambridge repels an attack by a Carthaginian privateer just outside Havana
• 1814, March 27 – HMS Hebrus captures French frigate Étoile
• 1815, May 30 – HMS Rivoli captures the French frigate Melpomène off Naples.

War of 1812

 

HMS Leopard (right) fires upon USS Chesapeake during the Chesapeake–Leopard affair.

• 1807, June 22 Chesapeake–Leopard affair – HMS Leopard boards USS Chesapeake
• 1811, May 16 Little Belt affair – USS President fires on HMS Little Belt
• 1812, June 18 – USS Essex captures HMS Alert
• 1812, July – the American privateer Matilda captures the British merchantman Ranger
• 1812, August 1 – the American privateer Yankee captures and burns the British merchantman Royal Bounty
• 1812, August 19 – USS Constitution defeats HMS Guerriere
• 1812, August 22 – HMS Barbados defeats US Revenue Cutter James Madison
• 1812, September 8 – French privateer brig Diligent (or Diligente or Diligence) captures the schooner HMS Laura
• 1812, September 16 – American privateer Rossie captures the packet Princess Amelia
• 1812, October 18 – USS Wasp defeats HMS Frolic
• 1812, October 18 – HMS Poictiers defeats USS Wasp
• 1812, October 25 – USS United States captures HMS Macedonian
• 1812, November 2 – British letter-of-marque Caledonia repels US privateer Retaliation
• 1812, November 21 – Merchantman John Tobin repels attack by American privateer brig Alfred
• 1812, November 22 – HMS Southampton captures USS Vixen
• 1812, December 11 – American privateer Saratoga captures the British letter of marque Rachel in the Battle of La Guaira
• 1812, December 29 – USS Constitution destroys HMS Java
• 1812, December – British merchantman Ramoncita repels attack by privateer Alexander, of Salem
• 1813, January 17 – HMS Narcissus captures USS Viper
• 1813, January 1 – The Falmouth packet Duke of Montrose repels an attack by an American privateer
• 1813, January 25 – The American privateer Dolphin captures the merchantman Hebe
• 1813, February 24 – USS Hornet defeats HMS Peacock
• 1813, March 11 – HMS Coquette and the American privateer General Armstrong have an inconclusive engagement
• 1813, March 22 – The British letter of marque Lion captures the American privateer Matilda
• 1813, April – The American letter of marque Ned captures the British armed merchantman Malvina
• 1813, April 14 – The American privateer Anaconda captures, plunders, and releases the Falmouth Post Office Packet Service's Express Packet
• 1813, April 13 – The American privateer Yorktown captures the Falmouth packet Ann
• 1813, May 23 – HMS Highflyer vs. Virginia privateer schooner Roger
• 1813, May 23 – The American privateer Young Teazer captures the Falmouth packet Ann
• 1813, May 28 – USS Georgiana captures the whaler Hector
• 1813, May 30 – The United States privateer Yankee captures the British merchant vessel Thames
• 1813, June 1 – HMS Shannon captures USS Chesapeake in the Battle of Boston Harbor
• 1813, June 9 – The Falmouth Post Office Packet Service's Duke of Montrose repels an attack by an American privateer
• 1813, June 24 – American privateer Yorktown captures Manchester
• 1813, August 5 – Privateer Decatur captures HMS Dominica
• 1813, August 14 – HMS Pelican captures USS Argus
• 1813, September 5 – USS Enterprise captures HMS Boxer
• 1813, September 23 – USS President captures HMS Highflyer
• 1813, October 22 – US Revenue Cutter Vigilant defeats Canadian privateer Dart
• 1813, December 14 – Sir William Bensley repels an attack by a 20-gun American privateer schooner
• 1813, December 25 – HMS Belvidera captures USS Vixen II
• 1814, January 11 – British merchantman Hibernia drives off the American privateer Comet
• 1814, February – HMS Epervier captures American privateer-brig Alfred
• 1814, February 14 – USS Constitution destroys HMS Pictou
• 1814, March 14 – Hannah repels an attack by the American privateer Jacob Johns
• 1814, March 28 – HMS Phoebe captures USS Essex in the Battle of Valparaiso
• 1814, April 19 – The American privateer General Armstrong captures the British letter-of-marque Fanny
• 1814, April 20 – HMS Shelburne, with HMS Orpheus approaching, captures USS Frolic
• 1814, April 29 – USS Peacock captures HMS Epervier
• 1814, May 1 – Falmouth packet Hinchinbrooke repels attack by American privateer Grand Turk
• 1814, June 22 – HMS Leander captures USS Rattlesnake
• 1814, June 28 – USS Wasp captures HMS Reindeer
• 1814, July 12 – American privateer Syren captures HMS Landrail
• 1814, July 12 – HMS Medway captures USS Syren
• 1814, August 17 – The transport Atlas repels an attack by the U.S. privateer York
• 1814, September 1 – USS Wasp sinks HMS Avon
• 1814, October – The packet ship Grace repelled an attach by a U.S. privateer
• 1814, October 11 – HMS Dispatch defeats the US Revenue Cutter Eagle
• 1814, October 11 – American privateer Prince de Neufchatel resists HMS Endymion
• 1814, December 20 – HMS Cockchafer captures the American letter of marque Java
• 1815, January 15 – HMS Endymion defeats USS President
• 1815, January 28 – American privateer Surprise captures the British merchantman Star
• 1815, February 9 – American privateer Kemp captures the Post Office Packet Service's packet Lady Mary Pelham
• 1815, February 11 – Post-office packet ship Walsingham repels an American privateer
• 1815, March 8 – HMS Barbadoes captures the American privateer Avon
• 1815, March 15 – American privateer Roger captures the British packet ship Windsor Castle
• 1815, March 23 – USS Hornet captures HMS Penguin
• 1815, April 27 – USS Hornet escapes after mistakenly engaging HMS Cornwallis.
• 1815, June 15 – USS Peacock captures Nautilus, a brig of the Bombay Marine of the East India Company

Argentine War of Independence

• 1825, January 25 – Buenos Aires privateer Tupac Amaru (ex-US Regent) captures the Spanish merchantman Triton

Suppression of the slave trade

• 1826, March 20 – Nettuno, a Brazilian slave ship and prize to HMS Esk, repels the pirate brig Caroline
• 1828, April 2 – HMS Black Joke captures Providentia
• 1828, May 1 – HMS Black Joke captures Presidenté
• 1829, February 1 – HMS Black Joke captures Almirante
• 1829, June 5 – HMS Pickle captures Voladora
• 1829, June 26 – HMS Monkey captures Midas
• 1830, September 7 – HMS Primrose captures Veloz Passagera (details)
• 1832, June 3 – HMS Speedwell captures the slaver Aquila off Cuba

Texas Revolution

• 1835, June 15 – USRC Ingham engages the Mexican schooner Montezuma.
• 1836, March 6 – Texas schooner Liberty captures the Mexican schooner Pelicano
• 1836, April 3 – Texas schooner Invincible sinks the Mexican schooner Montezuma.

War of the Confederation

• 1837, February 5 – Chilean brig Aquiles, which kept the port of Callao blocked, attacked the Confederate schooner Yanacocha and forced her to return to her anchorage.
• 1838, January 18 – Chilean corvette Libertad captured the Confederate corvette Confederación on the coast of Callao.

First Schleswig War

• 1849, June 27 – Prussian paddle steamer SMS Preussischer Adler duels inconclusively with Danish brig St. Croix off Brusterort

Crimean War

• 1853, November 17 – Russian steam frigate Vladimir captures Turkish/Egyptian steam frigate Pervaz Bahri in the Black Sea

American Civil War

• 1861, July 18 – USS St. Lawrence sinks privateer Petrel off Charleston, South Carolina
• 1863, January 11 – CSS Alabama sinks USS Hatteras off Galveston Island, Texas
• 1864, June 19 – USS Kearsarge sinks CSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France
• 1864, October 7 – USS Wachusett captures CSS Florida in Bahia Harbour, Brazil

Chincha Islands War

• 1865, November 26 – Chilean corvette Esmeralda captured the Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga. (details)

Franco-Prussian War

 

Single-ship action between the German gunboat Meteor and the French aviso Bouvet at the Battle of Havana.

• 1870, November 7 – French aviso Bouvet fights German gunboat Meteor off Havana. (details)

Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878

• 1877, July 23 – Ottoman central battery ironclad Feth-i Bülend duels inconclusively with Russian auxiliary cruiser Vesta in the Black Sea.

War of the Pacific

• 1879, May 21 – Peruvian ironclad Huáscar sinks Chilean corvette Esmeralda. (details)
• 1879, May 21 – Chilean schooner Virgen de Covadonga, in the midst of the struggle, caused the Peruvian ironclad Independencia to run aground. (details)
• 1879, July 10 – Inconclusive engagement in Iquique between the Chilean corvette Magallanes and the Peruvian ironclad Huáscar.
• 1880, April 4 – Inconclusive engagement in Tocopilla between the small Chilean steamer Taltal and the armed Peruvian transport Oroya.^[3]

Spanish–American War

• 1898, April 25 – Spanish gunboat Ligera repulses an attack by American torpedo boat USS Foote (details)

Venezuelan Civil War

• 1902, February 7 – Rebel auxiliary cruiser Libertador sinks Venezuelan gunboat General Crespo.^[4]

Mexican Revolution

• 1914, March 31 – Huertistas gunboat Guerrero sinks Constitutionalist gunboat Tampico at the Third Battle of Topolobampo
• 1914, June 16 – Huertistas gunboat Guerrero sinks Constitutionalist gunboat Tampico at the Fourth Battle of Topolobampo

World War I

• 1914, August 4 - British light cruiser HMS Bristol indecisively engages German light cruiser SMS Karlsruhe
• 1914, August 26 – British cruiser Highflyer defeats German auxiliary cruiser SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse in the Battle of Río de Oro
• 1914, September 9 – British gunboat HMS Dwarf engages German armed yacht Herzogin Elisabeth in an action in the Wouri River^[5]
• 1914, September 14 – British armed merchantman HMS Carmania sinks German auxiliary cruiser SMS Cap Trafalgar in an engagement off Trindade Island in the South Atlantic
• 1914, September 16 – British gunboat HMS Dwarf sinks German customs cutter Nachtigal in an action in the Wouri River
• 1914, September 20 – In the Battle of Zanzibar, the German cruiser SMS Königsberg attacks and sinks the British cruiser HMS Pegasus while it is in harbour for repairs.
• 1914, November 9 – Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney defeats German light cruiser SMS Emden in the Battle of Cocos.
• 1915, June 2 – British gunboat HMS Odin damages Ottoman gunboat Marmaris which beaches itself off Amarah in the Tigris River.
• 1915, August 8 – German auxiliary cruiser SMS Meteor sinks British Armed Boarding Steamer Ramsey off Fair Isle
• 1917, February 26 – British gunboat HMS Mantis damages Ottoman gunboat Doğan which runs aground near Al Aziziyah.
• 1917, March 10 – German auxiliary cruiser SMS Möwe sinks New Zealand freighter Otaki but is seriously damaged

Russian Civil War

• 1920, May 3 – Soviet floating battery Krasnaya Zarya engages French sloop Le Scarpe off Ochakov, damaging her and forcing her surrender.

World War II

• 1940, July 13 – German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis sinks British liner Kemmendine after a short action in the Indian Ocean.
• 1940, July 28 – German auxiliary cruiser Thor indecisively engages the British armed merchant cruiserRMS Alcantara.
• 1940, November 5 – German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer sinks convoy escort armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay in the North Atlantic.
• 1940, November 9 – The Free French aviso Savorgnan de Brazza sinks her sister ship, Vichy French aviso Bougainville, off Libreville.
• 1940, December 5 – German auxiliary cruiser Thor damages British auxiliary cruiser HMS Carnarvon Castle.
• 1941, February 27 – HMNZS Leander sinks Italian auxiliary cruiser Ramb I in the Action of 27 February 1941, a brief engagement off the Maldives.
• 1941, April 4 – German auxiliary cruiser Thor sinks the British armed merchant cruiser HMS Voltaire in the Action of 4 April 1941 1,200 km (650 nmi; 750 mi) off the Cape Verde islands.
• 1941, May 8 – The British heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall sinks German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin in the Action of 8 May 1941 off the Seychelles.
• 1941, November 19 – The German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran and Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney sink each other near Western Australia.
• 1942, April 1 – German auxiliary cruiser Thor sinks British freighter Willesden after a brief action.
• 1942, June 6 – German auxiliary cruiser Stier sinks the tanker SS Stanvac Calcutta in the Action of 6 June 1942 in the South Atlantic.
• 1942, July 20 – German auxiliary cruiser Thor sinks British reefer Indus in a brief action.
• 1942, September 27 – German auxiliary cruiser Stier and American Liberty ship SS Stephen Hopkins sink each other in the South Atlantic.
• 1943, October 31 – November 1 – USS Borie and U-405 engage, ending when Borie rammed the U-boat; both ships sank.

Ecuadorian–Peruvian War

• 1941, July 25 – Ecuadorian gunboat Abdón Calderón duels inconclusively with Peruvian destroyer Almirante Villar off Jambeli

Korean War

• 1950, June 25 – ROKS Baekdusan sinks a North Korean troop transport in Battle of Korea Strait
• 1950, September 10 – ROKS PC-703 sinks North Korean minelayer

Vietnam War

• 1968, March 1 – USCGC Winona sinks North Vietnamese naval trawler T-A^[6]

Sri Lankan Civil War

• 2003, March 10 – SLNS Sayura sinks LTTE logistic vessel MV Koimer off Mullaitivu

Anti-piracy off Somalia

• 18 November 2008 – INS Taber sinks the trawler Ekawat Nava 5, which Somali pirates had captured.
• 29 March 2009 – German naval tanker Spessart engages and repulses a Somali pirate skiff.^[7]
• 10 April 2010 – USS Ashland sinks a Somali pirate skiff in a brief action.
• 28 January 2011 – INS Cankarso sinks Somali pirate trawler Prantalay 14 off Minicoy Island. (details)
• 22 March 2011 – HMAS Stuart destroys a Somali pirate skiff being towed by the pirated MV Sinar Kudus.^[8]
• 26 March 2011 – Indian off-shore patrol vessel INS Suvarna captures pirated trawler MV Mortaza^[9]
• 12 May 2011 – USS Stephen W. Groves sinks Somali pirate longliner Jih Chun Tsai 68 in the Indian Ocean off Somalia.
• 12 May 2011 – HDMS Esbern Snare sinks Somali pirate dhow FV NN Iran
• 22 November 2011 – Italian destroyer Andrea Doria duels inconclusively with a Somali pirate skiff.
• 12 January 2012 – Patiño captures a Somali pirate skiff

Anti-piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

• 28 August 2012 – Pirated tanker Energy Centurian fights off a Togolese navy patrol vessel and escapes.^[10]
• 19 February 2016 – Nigerian frigate NNS Okpabana captures the pirated tanker Elvis-3 in the Gulf of Guinea in a contested boarding action.^[11]

Second Libyan Civil War

• 6 April 2017 – A Libyan Coast Guard vessel captures a migrant smuggling vessel after an action off Zawiya.^[12]

Anti-piracy off Venezuela

• 30 March 2020 – Cruise-liner RCGS Resolute inadvertently sinks Venezuelan Patrol Boat Naiguatá after being attacked by Naiguatá in international waters.^[13]

See also

• List of naval battles
• List of submarine actions
• Bibliography of early U.S. naval history

References

1. Shomette, Donald G.; Haslach, Robert D. (1988). Raid on America: The Dutch Naval campaign of 1672-1674. University of South Carolina Press. pp. 277–281. ISBN 978-0788422454.
2. "No. 16194". The London Gazette. 22 October 1808. pp. 1437–1438.
3. Sapunar Peric, Pedro. "El Mini Combate Naval de Tocopilla" (PDF) (in Spanish). Valparaíso, Chile: Academia de Historia Naval y Marítima de Chile. Retrieved 5 July 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. "ESCUADRA VENEZOLANA EN TIEMPOS DE CASTRO (1902-1903)".
5. Corbett, Sir Julian S. (1920). To The Battle of the Falklands, December 1914. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents. Vol. 1. Longmans, Green and Co. p. 282.
6. "Winona, 1946" (PDF). Cutters, Craft & U.S. Coast Guard Manned Army & Navy Vessels. U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
7. "Pirates captured after firing on German naval ship | CBC News".
8. Oakes, Dan (2011-03-26). "Navy takes its first shot at pirates". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
9. "India's I-Day Gallantry Award Winners & Why (Part 2) - Livefist". 14 August 2011.
10. "Pirates hijack Greek-operated tanker off Togo coast | CNN". CNN. 28 August 2012.
11. Steffen, Dirk (7 March 2016). "West African Navies Coming of Age?". Center for International Maritime Security.
12. . Archived from the original on 2017-04-06.
13. "Cruise ship collision sinks Venezuela navy vessel". BBC News. 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2020-04-13.