The action of 16 March 1782 was a naval engagement between a British Royal Naval frigate HMS ''Success'' and a Spanish frigate ''Santa Catalina'' in the

Strait of Gibraltar The Strait of Gibraltar ( ar, مضيق جبل طارق, Maḍīq Jabal Ṭāriq; es, Estrecho de Gibraltar, Archaic: Pillars of Hercules), also known as the Straits of Gibraltar, is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Medi ...

during the

American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. On 16 March 1782 the 32-gun frigate ''Success'' under the command of Captain Charles Pole, and the Hired armed store-ship (mounting 22 long six-pounders) commanded by John Falconer were off

Cape Spartel Cape Spartel ( ar, رأس سبارطيل; french: Cap Spartel; ary, أشبرتال) is a promontory in Morocco about above sea level at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, 12 km West of Tangier. Below the cape are the Caves of Hercules. ...

, Morocco, on their voyage to

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

. They sighted the Spanish 12-pounder 34-gun frigate ''Santa Catalina'' commanded by Don Miguel Tacón. This ship was part of a squadron keeping lookout for any relief convoys heading into Gibraltar, which was then under siege. When the Spanish frigate approached within random shot, the ''Success'' suddenly hauled up and poured a destructive

broadside Broadside or broadsides may refer to: Naval * Broadside (naval), terminology for the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship, or their near simultaneous fire on naval warfare Printing and literature * Broadside (comic ...

. The ''Success'' then wore round and took up her position, which was also mimicked by the ''Vernon''. The ''Santa Catalina'', having lost her mizzenmast at around 8:00 pm, hauled down her colours, and then was taken possession of by the ''Success''. Out of 300 men, the ''Santa Catalina'' had 25 killed and eight wounded, and the ''Success'' one killed and four wounded. The ''Santa Catalina'' was, however, severely damaged and had been holed below the waterline. The next day, six Spanish sail were sighted. Pole, fearing the Spaniards had formed a plan to take possession of the ''Success'' and the ''Santa Catalina'', decided that once all the valuables and prisoners had been removed, it was necessary to destroy her. The ''Santa Catalina'' was accordingly set on fire and blown up. Pole then headed back to Gibraltar, which he made successfully a few days later.

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Action of 16 March 1782 Conflicts in 1782 Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War involving Spain