Action of 17 February 1783

The Action of 17 February 1783 was a minor naval engagement fought in between Jamaica & Cuba in the Caribbean sea between a Royal Navy frigate HMS Fox and a Spanish Navy frigate Santa Catalina.

By the end of 1782 the Spanish and French had been on the defensive since the Battle of the Saintes, which signaled British domination of the seas in the Caribbean. Soon after the Royal navy were conducting a blockade off Cap Francois and Fort Royal as well as keeping a watch off Havana. At the same time British frigates were intercepting both Spanish and French privateers.

Captain George Stoney in HMS Fox, a thirty gun frigate was sent to Jamaica in charge of a captured Spanish privateer, one of two simultaneously taken near Santo Domingo.

On 17 February whilst sailing off the coast of Jamaica, a sail was spotted and Fox sailed to investigate. As she approached the vessel hauled up Spanish colours and thus cleared for action. Fox went in for the attack and soon realized she was fighting a frigate of nearly equal match in terms of size, guns and men. In the subsequent action which lasted for nearly four hours, the Spanish frigate was eventually dismasted by Fox's devastating carronades. The Spanish captain realized he could not put up a jury rig to escape and soon after struck.

Santa Catalina, a Spanish frigate of twenty two guns and one hundred and sixty three men that had been sent from the Havana for the express purpose of herself making prize of the British ship.

Fox had four men killed and one wounded in the action, whilst Santa Catalina was totally dismasted with the loss of nearly 35 casualties with the rest of her crew of sailors and marines taken prisoner. Santa Catalina was broken up in Port Royal as it was too damaged and was advised against any repair.