The period in which it operated was fraught with political and practical difficulties (see First League of Armed Neutrality and its successors) which led to two battles at Copenhagen (1801 and 1807) and other, less significant, actions.

[7] Commanded by Captain Althon Günther von Ellbrecht, Triton arrived at Malaga (which was used as the main Danish base in the Mediterranean) on 20 June 1797 to join Steen Andersen Bille's squadron,[8] too late for the action of 16 May 1797.

[9] From 1800 to 1802 under Captain-Lieutenant Johan Hartvig Ernst von Berger[10] Triton was active in the Mediterranean squadron,[5] but from 15 February 1801 was detained in Mahón by the British.

Back on duty, the ship was caught by a severe storm whilst in Livorno harbour in November 1801 and lost four anchors but was saved by grounding on a mudbank.

[11] In the spring of 1802 one of Triton's officers, senior Lieutenant Hans Emanuel Wulff, developed eye problems similar to a cataract and was landed at Pisa for treatment.