Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)
The Battle of Cape St Vincent was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara in the American War of Independence. The battle took place on 16 January 1780.
Rodney formed his fleet of 18 ships of the line into line of battle abreast and bore down on the Spanish ships. De Langara initially orders his ships to form line of battle ahead but, realizing that the British fleet outnumbers his own, orders his ships to crowd all sail to escape for their home port of Cádiz, a hundred miles to the south. At two o’clock, Rodney orders a general chase, allowing his ships to chase at their best speed and engage as they came up to the Spanish ships, resulting in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. Thanks to their copper bottoms, the ships of the Royal Navy were faster and soon gained on the Spanish.
At a few minutes past four o’clock, after two hours of chasing, the British Defence, Bedford, Resolution and Edgar began the action. At 40 minutes past four the Spanish San Domingo, 70, blows up just as the Bienfaisant comes up to engage her. All hands are lost. Darkness falls soon afterwards. The chase continues through the dark and squally night until two o’clock the following morning, when all firing ceases after the headmost of the Spanish squadron surrenders. Four Spanish ships of the line and the two frigates escape, but six are taken including De Lángara's flagship Fénix, 80. By morning Rodney’s own fleet is in shoal water. The necessity of getting the ships off shore prevents Rodney from continuing the chase. Two of the prizes are lost in the bad weather -- one is wrecked on the coast, the other retaken by its crew. The fleet then heads for Gibraltar. In total, the losses of the British fleet are 32 killed and 102 wounded.
The battle is also known as the Moonlight Battle, because it was unusual for naval battles in the age of sail to take place at night, and as the Battle of Cape Santa Maria.
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