Battle off Cape Gata
| Battle off Cape Gata | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Second Barbary War | |||||||
The Algerian Meshuda surrounded by an American fleet off Cape Gata | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| United States | Regency of Algiers | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Stephen Decatur, Jr. | Raïs Hamidou † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
3 frigates 2 sloops 2 brigantines 2 schooners | 1 frigate | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
10 killed 30 wounded |
30 killed Many wounded 406 captured 1 frigate captured | ||||||
The Battle off Cape Gata, which took place June 17, 1815, off the south-east coast of Spain, was the first battle of the Second Barbary War. A squadron of U.S. vessels, under the command of Stephen Decatur, Jr., met and engaged the flagship of the Algerine Navy, the frigate Meshuda under Admiral Hamidou. After a sharp action, Decatur's squadron captured the Algerine frigate and won a decisive victory over the Algerines.