Battle off Cape Gata

17 June 1815, Off Cape Gata, Spain

American victory; the Algerian flagship captured

Decatur's squadron sighted the Algerian frigate Mashouda off the Spanish coast near Cape Gata. She tried to run for Algiers, but Constellation, Ontario and then Decatur's flagship Guerriere came up with her; two broadsides from Guerriere killed Rais Hamidou and many of his men, and after a running fight against the brig Epervier as well, she surrendered with over 400 prisoners. In Guerriere one of the guns burst, killing and wounding several of her crew.

United States Navy

10 ships, none lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
USS Guerriere Commodore Stephen Decatur	Frigate Fifth rate, 44 guns	Survived
USS Constellation	Frigate Fifth rate, 38 guns	Survived
USS Ontario	Sloop 18 guns	Survived
USS Epervier Took the surrender	Sloop 18 guns	Survived
USS Macedonian	Frigate Fifth rate, 38 guns	Survived

Flotillas and other craft	Number	Lost
Brigs and schooners Firefly, Spark, Flambeau, Torch and Spitfire.	5	0

Flotillas and other craft

Number

Lost

Brigs and schooners

Firefly, Spark, Flambeau, Torch and Spitfire.

Navy of Algiers

1 ship, 1 lost

Ship	Type	Outcome
Mashouda Rais Hamidou, killed	Frigate Fifth rate, 46 guns	Captured

Ship

Type

Outcome

Mashouda

Rais Hamidou, killed

Frigate

Fifth rate, 46 guns

Captured

Fleet Ledger

Battle off Cape Gata

United States Navy

Navy of Algiers

Map