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Honour - Santa Cruz 1657


Date - 20-April
Type - Fleet or Squadron Actions
Conflict - War with Spain

 
Description Santa Cruz is in the Canary Islands. An English squadron under General-at-Sea Robert Blake had been blockading the port of Cadiz when word was received that a Spanish treasure fleet from the West Indies had arrived at Santa Cruz.

Blake took his ships to the Canaries and arrived off Santa Cruz on 20-April where 16 Spanish treasure galleons lay in the well fortified harbour.

Entry to the harbour was forced and the Spanish fleet destroyed. The English ships then withdrew, having captured five Spanish ships and with 11 more burned or blown up.

The English lost 60 killed and HMS Speaker was so badly damaged she had to be towed home.

 

 
 
HM Ships
Bridgewater  Bristol  Centurion  Colchester  Convert 
Fairfax  Foresight  George  Hampshire  Jersey 
Langport  Lyme  Maidstone  Nantwich  Newbury 
Newcastle  Plymouth  Ruby  Speaker  Swiftsure 
Unicorn  Winsby  Worcester     
         
 
This page last edited - 31 January, 2013.

Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated.