Action of 13 March 1806

13 March 1806, Mid-Atlantic, west of the Canary Islands

British victory; Marengo and Belle Poule taken and Linois captured

After three years of raiding in the Indian Ocean, Linois was sailing home with Marengo and Belle Poule. Sir John Borlase Warren was cruising in the mid-Atlantic with seven ships of the line, hoping to catch Willaumez's squadron on its way back from the South Atlantic. In the early hours of 13 March Linois saw scattered sails and closed, sure it was another merchant convoy, though Captain Bruilhac of Belle Poule warned him they were warships. At dawn the 98-gun London loomed up just ahead of Marengo and opened fire. Belle Poule tried to escape but was run down by the frigate Amazon, and the two fought for two hours. Marengo, slow after years at sea, fought London alone until Foudroyant and Repulse came up, and struck at about 11:00 with 63 killed and 83 wounded; Linois and her captain were both badly wounded. Belle Poule struck at the same time. Napoleon would not exchange Linois and never employed him at sea again.