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USS Constellation vs La Vengeance
The 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. The battle resulted in the American frigate USS ''Constellation'' severely damaging the French frigate ''La Vengeance'' and forcing her to flee.
In 1798, an undeclared war had begun between the United States and France due to French seizures of American merchantmen. As part of an American effort to deter French attacks, Commodore Thomas Truxton led an American naval squadron that was dispatched to the Lesser Antilles. Learning that regular French naval forces were in the region, Truxton set out in his flagship ''Constellation'' and sailed to Guadeloupe to engage them. On 1 February 1800, while nearing the French colony, ''Constellation'' met François Marie Pitot's frigate ''La Vengeance'' of the French Navy. Despite Pitot's attempts to flee, his frigate was drawn into a heavy engagement with ''Constellation''. Although the French frigate struck her colors (surrendered) twice, ''Constellation'' was unable to take ''La Vengeance'' as a prize. Eventually Pitot was able to escape with his frigate to Curaçao, though only after sustaining severe casualties and damage to his vessel. Truxton's ship sustained light damage and sailed to Jamaica for repairs before returning home to a hero's welcome.
==Background==
In 1800, the Quasi-War between the United States and France was in full force. In order to prevent French attacks against American merchantmen in the Caribbean, the United States Navy maintained four squadrons of vessels in the region. One such squadron was commanded by Commodore Thomas Truxton, and tasked with patrolling the Lesser Antilles. Taking command on 19 January 1800 after arriving at Saint Kitts in his flagship USS ''Constellation'', Truxton's squadron consisted of four frigates, three schooners, and a ship-rigged man of war. Besides the numerous privateers operating in the area, the only French naval forces in Truxton's area of operations were the frigate ''La Vengeance'' under François Marie Pitot and the corvette ''La Berceau'' under Louis Senes. Both vessels had arrived at Guadeloupe on 10 December 1799 escorting the new administrators of the French colony. Once at Saint Kitts Truxton dispersed his squadron, giving each ship orders to cruise independently. He then set sail for Guadeloupe on 30 January 1800 with his flagship ''Constellation'', intending to challenge the French frigate and corvette there. The same day, Pitot in ''La Vengeance'' left Guadaloupe's capital of Basse-Terre for France.
By this point in the Quasi-War, the 1,265-ton ''Constellation'' carried 38 cannon despite officially being classified by the United States Navy as a 36-gun frigate. Previously her armament had consisted of 24-pounder guns, but these had proven inefficient during Truxton's action with ''L'Insurgente'' and as a result were removed and replaced with twenty-eight 18-pounder cannon and ten 24-pounder carronades. Truxton and his crew were hardened veterans and were well prepared for a fight. Their French counterparts were not as ready for an engagement. Pitot's frigate was carrying a large quantity of specie as well as 36 American prisoners of war and 80 passengers, two of whom were generals. Under such circumstances Pitot intended to avoid an engagement if possible, even though ''La Vengeance'' was a more heavily armed vessel carrying eight 42-pounder carronades, twenty-eight 18-pounders, and sixteen 12-pounder cannon. The French also had a distinct advantage in the event of a boarding action, as ''Constellation'' had only 310 men to ''La Vengeance's'' complement of 380 crew.
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』
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