The Action of 16 May 1797 was a naval battle that took place near Tripoli in Ottoman Tripolitania (present-day Libya). The Danish squadron was attacked by a Tripolitan squadron that outnumbered them in number of vessels.
Background
After the newly appointed Bey of Tripoli, Sidi Yussuf, demanded an increased tribute, which essentially constituted a bribe to stop Tripolitans preying on Danish merchant ships. He also captured two Danish vessels, whose crews he sold into slavery. As a result, Denmark-Norway sent Captain Lorenz Fisker in the 40-gun frigate Thetis to Tripoli. He had two missions: first, to escort the annual "gift ship" to Algiers, and second, to secure the freedom of the two Danish vessels and their crews. He arrived at Tripoli on 30 August 1796, but failed to free the captured sailors, or even agree on a ransom price.
Action
thumb|Painting of the action
The Danes, therefore, decided to make a second attempt. They sent Captain Steen Andersen Bille in the frigate Najaden 40 under Captain John Hoppe to Malta, where she arrived on 2 May 1797. There the Danes met up with the brig Sarpen 18, under Captain Charles Christian De Holck. They also hired a xebec of six guns, which was then sailed by a Danish crew under Lieutenant Hans Munck (or Munk), of Sarpen. This squadron then sailed from Malta for Tripoli. On 12 May, off the coast of Lampedusa, they met with Fisker and Thetis. Fisker transferred command of Danish forces in the Mediterranean to Bille and sailed for home. Bille's small squadron sailed past the forts guarding Tripoli on 15 May 1797.
Ships involved
Denmark-Norway
- Najaden 40 (flag)
- Sarpen 18
- Unnamed xebec
Tripolitania
- Meshuda 28
- 2 other xebecs of 28 guns
- 3 smaller vessels