Action of 18 October 1806

The action of 18 October 1806 was a naval engagement of the Java campaign of 1806–1807 fought between the Royal Navy frigate Caroline and a Dutch squadron near the entrance to the city harbour of Batavia in the Dutch East Indies. During the battle, the Dutch frigate Maria Riggersbergen was left unsupported by the remainder of the squadron and, isolated, was forced to strike her colours. Captain Peter Rainier, the British commander, was subsequently free to remove his prize from within sight of the Dutch port when the remainder of the Dutch squadron refused to engage Caroline and their crews deliberately grounded the ships to avoid capture. He also returned many prisoners taken previously in a captured brig.

Along with the earlier action of 26 July 1806, the battle demonstrated the weakness of the Dutch squadron in the East Indies and convinced British Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew to lead an operation against Batavia to eliminate the remainder of the squadron in November 1806. This second raid was only partially successful, and was followed a year later by a raid on Griessie, in which the last Dutch warships in the East Indies were eliminated.