A vertical plate of finite length and depth is attacked by gravity waves in water of finite depth. The forces and moments acting on the plate are computed by using the theory of linearized waves. The forces depend on three dimensionless parameters combining the draft, length, water depth and wave length and on the angle of attack. The problem is reduced to the solution of two infinite linear systems of equations. Numerical solutions are presented for different particular combinations of the parameter values. In most of the cases the standing wave approximation yields sufficiently accurate results.