Shortly after 18 November 1816 HMS Challenger and the British East India Company's cruisers HCS Ariel, Mercury, and Vestal sailed from Bushire on a punitive expedition against Ras-al-Khaimah.

The naval force consisted of the Royal Navy vessels Liverpool, Eden, Curlew, and a number of gun and mortar boats.

Collier placed Captain Walpole of Curlew in charge of the gun boats and an armed pinnace to protect the landing, which was, however, unopposed.

[7] The bombardment of the town commenced on 6 December, from landed batteries of 12 pound guns and mortars as well as from sea.

The cause was Buhar bin Jurban of the Al bu-Aynayn tribe having breached an 1819 treaty between the British and a number of Gulf sheiks who agreed not to harbour pirates.

On 4 June 1824 Vestal, under the command of Lieutenant James W. Guy, was off Shahporee Island at the mouth of the Naaf River, together with two gunboats, each armed with one 12-pounder carronade.

[9] Not long after the action at Shahporee Island Vestal was declared unserviceable and sold for breaking up.