List of single-ship actions

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

Contents 1 Single-ship actions 1.1 Anglo Spanish War 1.2 Golden Age of Piracy 1.3 War of the Austrian Succession 1.4 American Revolutionary War 1.5 Russo-Swedish War 1.6 French Revolutionary Wars 1.7 Quasi-War 1.8 Napoleonic Wars 1.9 First Barbary War 1.10 War of 1812 1.11 Suppression of the slave trade 1.12 Texas 1.13 First Schleswig War 1.14 Crimean War 1.15 American Civil War 1.16 Chincha Islands War 1.17 War of the Pacific 1.18 Franco-Prussian War 1.19 Spanish-American War 1.20 Mexican Revolution 1.21 World War I 1.22 World War II 1.23 Korean War 1.24 Vietnam War 1.25 Anti-Piracy in Somalia 2 See also 3 Notes

Single-ship actions

Anglo Spanish War

• 1579 March 1 - Golden Hind captures the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

Golden Age of Piracy

• 1720 October 20 - British sloop 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
• 1747 October 18 - Spanish ship Glorioso destroys HMS Dartmouth.

American Revolutionary War

• 1778 April 24 - USS Ranger captures HMS Drake. (details)
• 1779 May 7 USS Providence captures HMS Diligent
• 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 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 11 - HMS Flora defeats the French ship Nymphe in the first engagment thought to involve the carronade.
• 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)
• 1782 December 6 - HMS Ruby defeats the French ship Solitaire. (details)
• 1783 January 22 - HMS Hussar captures the French frigate Sybille. (details)

Russo-Swedish War

• 1789 May 21 - Cutter Mercury under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Roman Crown captures Swedish 40-gun frigate Venus which, according to tradition, joins Russian navy under the same name

French Revolutionary Wars

• 1793 December 1 - His Majesty's packet ship Antelope captures the French privateer Atlante.
• 1794 May 29 - HMS Carysfort recaptures HMS Castor (details)
• 1795 January 4 - HMS Blanche captures Pique
• 1795 March 13 - HMS Lively captures the French frigate Tourterelle
• 1796 June 6 - HMS Unicorn captures French frigate Tribune
• 1797 December 22 - HMS Phoebe captures the French frigate Néréide
• 1798 April 2 - HMS Mars captures the French ship Hercule
• 1798 July 4 - French corvette 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.
• 1798 August 7 - HMS Espoir captures the Genoese pirate Liguria
• 1799 November 23 - Hired cutter Courier captures French privateer Guerrier
• 1800 March 5 - HMS Phoebe captures the privateer Heureux
• 1800 August 20 - HMS Seine captures the French ship Vengeance
• 1800 October 8 - HMS Gipsy captures the French privateer Quidproquo
• 1800 October 9 - French privateer Confiance captures British East Indiaman Kent
• 1801 February 19 - HMS Phoebe captures the French frigate Africaine (details)
• 1801 May 6 - HMS Speedy captures Spanish xebec frigate El Gamo
• 1801 August 18 - HMS Guachapin captures Spanish letter of marque Theresa
• 1801 September 25 - HMS Pickle has an inconclusive engagement with a Spanish or French privateer.

Quasi-War

• 1799 February 9 - USS Constellation captures the French frigate L'Insurgente (details)
• 1800 February 1 - USS Constellation defeats the French frigate La Vengeance (details)
• 1800 October 12 - USS Boston captures the French corvette Berceau (details)
• 1800 October 25 - USS Enterprise captures French privateer Flambeau (details)

Napoleonic Wars

• 1803 July 16 - HMS Racoon captures French corvette Lodi.
• 1803 August 13 - French privateer Bellone captures the East Indiaman Lord Nelson
• 1803 August 27 - HMS Seagull recaptures Lord Nelson
• 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 25 or 28 - HMS Hippomenes captures French privateer Egyptienne
• 1804 June 21 - HMS Hippomenes unsuccessfully engages the Guadeloupe privateer Buonaparte.
• 1804 July 31 - HMS Tartar captures French privateer Hirondelle
• 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
• 1805 July 19 - French frigate Topaze captures HMS Blanche
• 1805 August 10 - HMS Phoenix captures Didon
• 1805 August 16 - HMS Raisonable vs French frigate Topaze
• 1805 November - HMS Wolverine vs HMS Amethyst
• 1806 May 11 - French ship Abeille captures HMS Alacrity
• 1806 May 14 - HMS Pallas vs French Minerve
• 1806 July 19 - HMS Blanche captures French Guerrière
• 1806 October 26 - HMS Pitt captures the French privateeer Superbe
• 1806 December 29 - HMS Spitfire captures French privateer Deux Frères
• 1807 January 3 - HMS Pickle captures the French privateer Favorite.
• 1807 August 19 - HMS Comus captures the Danish frigate Frederickscvaern.
• 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 vs 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 May 11 and 12 - HMS Wizard vs French 16-gun Requin
• 1808 June 24 - HMS Salsette captures the Russian cutter Opyt
• 1808 July 5 and 6 - HMS Seahorse captures Turkish frigate Badere Zafer
• 1808 August 11 - HMS Comet captures French corvette Sylph
• 1808 September 6 - HMS Recruit vs French corvette Diligente
• 1808 September 29 - French navy corvette Départment-des-Landes captures HMS Maria^[1]
• 1808 October 3 - French brig Palinure captures HMS Carnation
• 1810 January 11 - HMS Scorpion captures French brig Oreste
• 1810 August 10 - His Majesty's Hired armed cutter Queen Charlotte drives off a substantially larger and more heavily armed French vessel.

First Barbary War

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

War of 1812

• 1807 June 22 Chesapeake-Leopard Affair - HMS Leopard boards the USS Chesapeake
• 1811 May 16 Little Belt Affair - USS President fires on HMS Little Belt
• 1812 June 18 - USS Essex captures HMS Alert
• 1812 August 19 - USS Constitution defeats HMS Guerriere
• 1812 September 8 - French privateer brig Diligent (or Diligente or Diligence) captures the schooner HMS Laura
• 1812 October 18 - USS Wasp defeats HMS Frolic
• 1812 October 25 - USS United States captures HMS Macedonian
• 1812 November 22 - HMS Southampton captures USS Vixen
• 1812 December 29 - USS Constitution destroys HMS Java
• 1813 January 17 - HMS Narcissus captures USS Viper
• 1813 February 24 - USS Hornet defeats HMS Peacock
• 1813 May 23 - HMS Highflyer vs. Virginia privateer schooner Roger
• 1813 June 1 - HMS Shannon captures USS Chesapeake in the Battle of Boston Harbor
• 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 December 25 - HMS Belvidera captures USS Vixen II
• 1814 February - HMS Epervier captures American privateer-brig Alfred
• 1814 February 14 - USS Constitution destroys HMS Pictou
• 1814 March 28 - HMS Phoebe captures USS Essex
• 1814 April 20 - HMS Shelburne, with HMS Orpheus approaching, captures USS Frolic
• 1814 April 29 - USS Peacock captures HMS Epervier
• 1814 June 22 - HMS Leander captures USS Rattlesnake
• 1814 June 28 - USS Wasp captures HMS Reindeer
• 1814 July 12 - Privateer Syren captures HMS Landrail
• 1814 July 12 - HMS Medway captures USS Syren
• 1814 September 1 - USS Wasp sinks HMS Avon
• 1815 January 15 - HMS Endymion defeats USS President
• 1815 March 23 - USS Hornet captures HMS Penguin

Suppression of the slave trade

• 1828 April 2 - HMS Black Joke captures Providentia
• 1828 May 1 - HMS Black Joke captures Presidenté
• 1829 February 1 - HMS Black Joke captures Almirante
• 1830 September 7 - HMS Primrose captures Veloz Passagera

Texas

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

First Schleswig War

• 1849 June 27 - Prussian paddle steamer 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 (first battle between steamships)

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 - Battle of Papudo - Chilean corvette Esmeralda captures Spanish gunboat Virgen de Covadonga
• 1866 August 22 - Spanish frigate Gerona captures Chilean cruiser Pampero. (details)

War of the Pacific

• 1879 May 21 Battle of Iquique - Peruvian monitor Huáscar sinks Chilean corvette Esmeralda
• 1879 May 21 Battle of Punta Gruesa - Chilean schooner Covadonga defeats Peruvian ironclad Independencia

Franco-Prussian War

• 1870 November 7 - French aviso Bouvet fights German gunboat Meteor off Havana

Spanish-American War

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

Mexican Revolution

• 1914 March 31 - Huerista gunboat Guerrero sinks Constitutionalist gunboat Tampico at the Third Battle of Topolobampo

• 1914 June 16 - Huerista gunboat Guerrero sinks Constitutionalist gunboat Tampico at the Fourth Battle of Topolobampo

World War I

• 1914 August 26 - British cruiser Highflyer defeats German auxiliary cruiser SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse in the Battle of Rio de Oro
• 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 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 - HMAS Sydney defeats SMS Emden in the Battle of Cocos.
• 1917 March 10 - German auxiliary cruiser SMS Möwe sinks New Zealand freighter Otaki and is seriously damaged

World War II

• 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 sistership, Vichy French aviso Bougainville, off Libreville
• 1941 February 27 - HMNZS Leander sinks Italian auxiliary cruiser Ramb I in a brief engagement off the Maldives
• 1941 April 4 - German auxiliary cruiser Thor sinks British armed merchant cruiser HMS Voltaire in an engagement 1200 km off the Cape Verde islands. (details)
• 1941 May 8 - the British heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall sinks German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin. in an engagement of the Sychelles
• 1941 November 19 - the battle between HMAS Sydney and the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran near Western Australia results in the loss of both ships.
• 1942 June 6 - German auxiliary cruiser Stier sinks the tanker SS Stanvac Calcutta in the South Atlantic.
• 1942 September 27 - German auxiliary cruiser Stier and American Liberty Ship SS Stephen Hopkins sink each other in the South Atlantic.

Korean War

• 1950 June 25 - ROKS Baekdusan sinks a North Korean troop transport
• 1950 September 10 - ROKS PC-703 sinks North Korean minelayer

Vietnam War

• 1968 March 1 - USCGC Winona sinks North Vietnamese naval trawler T-A

Anti-Piracy in Somalia

• 2008 November 18 - INS Taber sinks the trawler Ekawat Nava 5 which had been captured by Somali pirates.
• 2011 January 28 - INS Cankarso sinks Somali pirate trawler Prantalay 14 off Minicoy Island. (details)
• 2011 May 12 - USS Stephen W. Groves sinks Somali pirate longliner Jih Chun Tsai 68 in the Indian Ocean off Somalia.
• 2011 May 12 - HDMS Esbern Snare sinks Somali pirate dhow NN Iran

See also

• List of naval battles
• List of submarine actions

Notes