Action of 24 March 1811

Action of 24 March 1811
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Map of Lower Normandy Location of the destruction of Amazone
Date 24–25 March 1811 Location near Phare de Gatteville, Normandy 49°41′38.12″N 1°16′39.31″W / 49.6939222°N 1.2775861°W / 49.6939222; -1.2775861 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

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-en-Cotentin, 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.