Bombardment of Algiers (1816): Difference between revisions

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	==Background==		==Background==
	Following the end of the ] in 1815, the ] no longer needed the Barbary states as a source of supplies for ] and their fleet in the ]. There was considerable political pressure exerted to end the practice of enslaving ]s by the Barbary states.		Following the end of the ] in 1815, the ] no longer needed the Barbary states as a source of supplies for ] and their fleet in the ]. There was considerable political pressure exerted to end the practice of enslaving ]s by the Barbary states.

	In early 1816, Exmouth undertook a diplomatic mission, backed by a small squadron of ] to ], ], and Algiers to convince the Deys to stop the practice and free the Christian slaves. The Deys of Tunis and Tripoli agreed without any resistance, but the Dey of Algiers was more recalcitrant and the negotiations were stormy. Exmouth believed that he had managed to negotiate a treaty to stop the slavery of Christians and returned to ]. However, due to confused orders, Algerian troops massacred 200 ]n, ] and ]n fishermen who were under British protection just after the treaty was signed. This caused outrage in Britain and ] and Exmouth's negotiations were seen as a failure.		In early 1816, Exmouth undertook a diplomatic mission, backed by a small squadron of ] to ], ], and Algiers to convince the Deys to stop the practice and free the Christian slaves. The Deys of Tunis and Tripoli agreed without any resistance, but the Dey of Algiers was more recalcitrant and the negotiations were stormy. Exmouth believed that he had managed to negotiate a treaty to stop the slavery of Christians and returned to ]. However, due to confused orders, Algerian troops massacred 200 ]n, ] and ]n fishermen who were under British protection just after the treaty was signed. This caused outrage in Britain and ] and Exmouth's negotiations were seen as a failure.

	As a result, Exmouth was ordered to sea again to complete the job and punish the Algerians. He gathered a squadron of five ], one 50 gun ship and four ]s. ], 100 guns, was his flagship and Admiral ] was his second in command aboard ], 98 guns. This squadron was considered by many to be an insufficient force, but Exmouth had already surveyed the defences of Algiers unobtrusively, he was very familiar with the town and was aware of a weakness in the field of fire of the defensive batteries. More large ships would merely have interfered with each other without being able to bring much more fire to bear. In addition to the main fleet, there were some transports to carry the rescued slaves and some sloops for general duties.		As a result, Exmouth was ordered to sea again to complete the job and punish the Algerians. He gathered a squadron of five ], one 50-gun ship and four ]s. ], 100 guns, was his flagship and Admiral ] was his second in command aboard ], 98 guns. This squadron was considered by many to be an insufficient force, but Exmouth had already surveyed the defences of Algiers unobtrusively, he was very familiar with the town and was aware of a weakness in the field of fire of the defensive batteries. More large ships would merely have interfered with each other without being able to bring much more fire to bear. In addition to the main fleet, there were some transports to carry the rescued slaves and some sloops for general duties.

	On arrival in Gibraltar, ~~Exmouth was joined by~~ a squadron of five ] frigates and a ], ~~which~~ he ~~planned~~ to use as a diversionary force.		On arrival in Gibraltar, a squadron of five ] frigates and a ] offered to join the expedition. Exmouth didn't think he needed them but decided to use them as a diversionary force.

	==Plan of attack==		==Plan of attack==
	]		]

	The plan of attack was for the larger ships to approach in a column. They were to sail into the zone where the majority of guns could not be brought to bear. Then, they were to come to anchor and bombard the batteries and fortifications on the ] to destroy the defences. Simultaneously, ], 50 guns, was to anchor off the mouth of the harbour and bombard the shipping inside the mole. To protect ''Leander'' from the shore battery, two frigates, ] and ] were to sail inshore and bombard the battery. Casualties on the Allied side were very heavy.		The plan of attack was for the larger ships to approach in a column. They were to sail into the zone where the majority of guns could not be brought to bear. Then, they were to come to anchor and bombard the batteries and fortifications on the ] to destroy the defences. Simultaneously, ], 50 guns, was to anchor off the mouth of the harbour and bombard the shipping inside the mole. To protect ''Leander'' from the shore battery, two frigates, ] and ] were to sail inshore and bombard the battery. Casualties on the Allied side were very heavy.

	'''Ships involved:'''<br>		'''Ships involved:'''<br>
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	==Allies==		==Allies==
	===British===		===British===

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	! rowspan=2 \| Ship		! rowspan=2 \| Ship

Revision as of 12:48, 14 December 2006

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Bombardment of Algiers (August 27 1816) - An attempt by Britain to end the terrible slavery practices of the Dey of Algiers. An Anglo-Dutch fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Exmouth bombarded ships and the harbour defences of Algiers.

Although there was a continuing campaign by various European and the American navies to suppress the piracy against Europeans by the North African Barbary states, the specific aim of this expedition was to free Christian slaves and to stop the practice of enslaving Europeans. To this end, it was partially successful as the Dey of Algiers freed around 3,000 slaves following the bombardment and signed a treaty against slavery of Europeans. However, the cessation of slavery did not last long.

Background

Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, the Royal Navy no longer needed the Barbary states as a source of supplies for Gibraltar and their fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. There was considerable political pressure exerted to end the practice of enslaving Christians by the Barbary states.

In early 1816, Exmouth undertook a diplomatic mission, backed by a small squadron of ships of the line to Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers to convince the Deys to stop the practice and free the Christian slaves. The Deys of Tunis and Tripoli agreed without any resistance, but the Dey of Algiers was more recalcitrant and the negotiations were stormy. Exmouth believed that he had managed to negotiate a treaty to stop the slavery of Christians and returned to England. However, due to confused orders, Algerian troops massacred 200 Corsican, Sicilian and Sardinian fishermen who were under British protection just after the treaty was signed. This caused outrage in Britain and Europe and Exmouth's negotiations were seen as a failure.

As a result, Exmouth was ordered to sea again to complete the job and punish the Algerians. He gathered a squadron of five ships of the line, one 50-gun ship and four frigates. HMS Queen Charlotte, 100 guns, was his flagship and Admiral David Milne was his second in command aboard HMS Impregnable, 98 guns. This squadron was considered by many to be an insufficient force, but Exmouth had already surveyed the defences of Algiers unobtrusively, he was very familiar with the town and was aware of a weakness in the field of fire of the defensive batteries. More large ships would merely have interfered with each other without being able to bring much more fire to bear. In addition to the main fleet, there were some transports to carry the rescued slaves and some sloops for general duties.

On arrival in Gibraltar, a squadron of five Dutch frigates and a corvette offered to join the expedition. Exmouth didn't think he needed them but decided to use them as a diversionary force.

Plan of attack

The plan of attack was for the larger ships to approach in a column. They were to sail into the zone where the majority of guns could not be brought to bear. Then, they were to come to anchor and bombard the batteries and fortifications on the mole to destroy the defences. Simultaneously, HMS Leander, 50 guns, was to anchor off the mouth of the harbour and bombard the shipping inside the mole. To protect Leander from the shore battery, two frigates, HMS Severn and HMS Glasgow were to sail inshore and bombard the battery. Casualties on the Allied side were very heavy.

Ships involved:
(needs checking)

Allies

British

Ship	Guns	Commander	Casualties		Notes
Ship	Guns	Commander	Killed	Wounded	Notes
Queen Charlotte	100	Flagship of Adm. Sir Edward Pellew Capt. James Brisbane	8	131	First-rate Ship of the line
Impregnable	98	Rear-Adm. David Milne Capt. Edward Brace	50	160	Second-rate Ship of the line
Albion	74	Capt. John Coode	3	15	Third-rate Ship of the line
Minden	74	Capt. Joseph Prior	7	37	Third-rate Ship of the line
Superb	74	Capt. Charles Ekins	8	84	Third-rate Ship of the line
Leander	50	Capt. Edward Chetham	17	118	Fourth-rate Ship of the line
Glasgow	40	Capt. Hon. Anthony Maitland	10	37	Frigate
Severn	40	?	3	34	Frigate
Granicus	36	Capt. William Furlong Wise	16	42	Frigate
Hebrus	36	Capt. Edmund Palmer	4	15	Frigate
Heron	18	?	-	-	Brig-sloop
Mutine	18	Cdr. James Mould			Brig-sloop
Promethus	18	Cdr. William B. Dashwood	-	-	Brig-sloop
Satellite	18	?	-	-	Brig-sloop
Saracen	18	Cdr. Alexander Dixie (?)	-	-	Brig-sloop
Britomart	10	Cdr. Robert Riddle	-	-	Brig-sloop
Cordelia	10	Cdr. William Sargent	-	-	Brig-sloop
Jasper	10	Cdr. Thomas Carew	-	-	Brig-sloop. Only as far as Gibraltar, then returning home with dispatches.
Beelzebub	-	Cdr. William Kempthorn	1	3	Bomb
Fury	-	Cdr. Constantine Richard Moorsom	-	-	Bomb
Infernal	6	Cdr. Hon. G. J. Perceval	2	17	Bomb
Hecla	-	Cdr. William Popham	-	-	Bomb

Netherlands

Ship	Guns	Commander	Casualties		Notes
Ship	Guns	Commander	Killed	Wounded	Notes
Amstel	40		4	6	Frigate
Diana	40		6	22	Frigate
Frederica	40		-	5	Frigate
Melampus	40		3	15	Frigate
Dageraad	30		-	4	Frigate
Eendragt	18		-	-	Corvette

Algiers

Ship	Guns	Notes
Ciotat	40	French
4 Frigates	44	1 scuttled, the rest burnt?
5 Corvettes	24-30	Burnt?
30-40 Gunboats and Mortar vessels		Burnt?
55 Others?

References

The Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth, by William Osler, 1841
Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth, by C. Northcote Parkinson, 1934
Mariner's Mirror (1941)

External links

View of Algiers

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