USS Constellation vs La Vengeance

Overview

USS Constellation vs La Vengeance, or the action of 1 February 1800, was a single-ship action fought between frigates of the French Navy and the United States Navy during the Quasi-War. In the battle the American frigate USS Constellation tried to take the French frigate La Vengeance as a prize. Both ships were heavily damaged. Although the French frigate struck her colors (surrendered) twice, she managed to flee only after the main mast of her opponent had fallen.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The engagement between USS Constellation and La Vengeance was one of the major single-ship actions of the Quasi-War, the undeclared naval conflict between the United States and France. Commanded by Thomas Truxton, Constellation sought to take La Vengeance as a prize, and the French frigate struck her colors twice in an acknowledgment of defeat. Despite this, La Vengeance escaped after Constellation's main mast fell, leaving neither side with a clear resolution. French casualties of 110–160 reflected the intensity of the fighting and demonstrated the combat effectiveness of the early U.S. Navy, even as the outcome underscored the difficulty of converting tactical advantage into a decisive capture when material damage intervened at a critical moment.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)