Now commissioned as HMS "Guerriere", she went out to the West Indies and served off the American coast for a number of years. She captured a number of privateers, and was still in American waters after the outbreak of the War of 1812. On 19 August 1812 "Guerriere", under Captain James Richard Dacres, sighted the American frigate "Constitution", under Isaac Hull. The two ships closed and after a fierce engagement the American managed to shoot away "Guerriere"s fore and main-masts, leaving her un-manoeuvrable. Dacres struck his colours to avoid further bloodshed; the Americans then transferred her crew to "Constitution" and set fire to the badly damaged "Guerriere".