What was the primary responsibility of the West Africa Squadron?

The primary responsibility of the West Africa Squadron was to police the slave trade. Established in the early 19th century, the Squadron was a part of the British Royal Navy's efforts to enforce the abolition of the slave trade following the passage of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807. The Squadron operated off the coast of West Africa, where they intercepted slave ships, freed enslaved individuals, and aimed to suppress the transatlantic slave trade, which was a significant humanitarian issue of the time.

This mission was crucial in demonstrating the commitment of Britain to abolishing slavery and addressing the suffering associated with the slave trade. The Squadron's success in enforcing anti-slavery laws contributed to the broader movement toward the eventual end of slavery in many parts of the world. While engaging with pirates and other maritime threats may have been incidental to their operations, the focused objective remained the enforcement of anti-slavery laws in the region.