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Capture of USS Retaliation

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Capture of USS Retaliation
Part of the Quasi War
DateNovember 20, 1798
Location
Unknown
Result French victory
Belligerents
United States United States French First Republic France
Commanders and leaders
William Bainbridge French First Republic Michel-Pierre Barreaut
Strength
1 schooner:
USS Retaliation–14 guns, 76 to 87 enlisted and officers[1]
2 frigates:
L'insurgente–40 guns, 278+ enlisted and officers
Volontaire–40 guns, unknown crew
Casualties and losses
1 warship captured Unknown

On November 20, 1798, a pair of French Navy frigates, the L'insurgente and Volontaire, with some 80 guns in combined strength, captured an American 14-gun schooner, USS Retaliation. The ship was later recaptured on June 28, 1799, and the L'insurgente was captured the following month as well. The Retaliation was the only American warship captured during the war.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Winfield and Roberts (2015), p.247.
  2. ^ American History Central–Quasi War, 1798-1800, retrieved November 20, 2020