It was fought on 16 May 1808 in Vatlestraumen, outside Bergen in Norway, between the British frigate HMS Tartar and a Dano-Norwegian force consisting of four kanonjolles and one kanonsjalupp (collectively known as gunboats).

The Royal Navy was then blockading the coast of Norway, causing major difficulties since the country was then dependent on Danish imports of grain and other foodstuffs.

On the evening on 15 May, a message was received at Bergenhus Fortress stating that a British frigate had been sighted, and was probably heading towards Bergen.

The battle lasted about one hour, during which the British lost 2 men, including George Edmund Byron Bettesworth, the commander of the frigate.

The Norwegian population depended on the import of grain from other countries, particularly Denmark, but supplies dried up as enemy warships captured the merchant vessels carrying them.

With the loss of the high seas fleet, and the blockade of the Norwegian coast, the two countries were left to design and build a coastal defence system.

In May 1808, a Dutch frigate named Gelderland entered Bergen harbour seeking a sheltered spot to conduct repairs.

Some sources claim that Tartar was flying Dutch colours upon entering Norwegian waters on 15 May, and was therefore unsuspected, since the Netherlands were then an ally of Denmark-Norway against Britain.

Opposite (the fort of) Kvarven there was a small boat under oars retreating quickly, at which the Norwegians fired a couple of shots.

A breath of southerly wind forced the gunboats to retire as they continued to engage the frigate leaving Gjelte fjord.

[1] It appeared to some observers that Tartar was about to strike her colours, but at that moment a favourable breeze blew up, allowing the frigate to make good her escape.

HMS Tartar was the last major British warship to enter the inner waters of Bergen, where large ships could become targets for the highly manoeuvrable smaller gunboats.