In 1803 Atalante cruised in the Indian Ocean under capitaine de frégate Gaudin, in the squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois, whose mission was to re-take the colonies of the Indian Ocean, given to English at the peace of Amiens.

Linois's squadron, without Atalante, met the British East India Company's China Fleet in the Battle of Pulo Aura.

The greater numbers and aggressive action of the British East Indiamen, some of whom flew Royal Navy flags, drove the French away.

On 18 August, near Desnoeufs Island they encountered and captured two British merchant men, Charlotte and Upton Castle.

[1] Linois next dispatched Atalante and Belle Poule to the Gulf of Bengal, where they captured a few ships before returning to Ile de France.