| Conflict: | Battle of Barbados |
| Partof: | the Second Anglo-Dutch War |
| Date: | 29 April 1665 |
| Place: | Barbados, Caribbean Sea |
| Result: | English victory |
| Combatant2: | England |
| Commander1: | Michiel de Ruyter |
| Commander2: | Francis Willoughby |
| Strength1: | 13 ships 2,500 sailors & soldiers |
| Strength2: | Various shore defenses |
| Casualties1: | 400 casualties, many ships damaged[1] |
| Casualties2: | 12 merchant ships destroyed 3 killed & 10 wounded |
The Battle of Barbados also known as the Action of Carlisle Bay was a military action that took place off the Caribbean island of Barbados on 29 April 1665 just before the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. It was fought between an English force defending against an attacking Dutch force led by Michiel de Ruyter. Although De Ruyter destroyed much of an English convoy at Carlisle Bay his fleet was severely damaged and was unable to launch an invasion of the island.
Barbados had however been pre warned about the impending attack and were well prepared, led by Governor Francis Willoughby. Most of the merchant ships were empty as the goods were loaded ashore. As de Ruyter entered the bay the forts and guns along with the guns from some armed merchant vessels opened fire. After an hour and a half de Ruyter had destroyed much of the English convoy, but heavy fire from the defences had caused heavy damage to De Ruyter's fleet in particular his flagship Speigel with nine men killed and 22 wounded. Unable to dent any of the defences he decided to give up the attack and withdrew from the bay with much difficulty.
A year later Willoughby on notification of the French having joined the Dutch side sent an expedition from Barbados against the small French garrison at Saint Lucia and captured the place establishing a short-lived English colony there.