naval battle took place southern coast portugal january anglo spanish war british fleet admiral sir defeated spanish squadron battle referred battle unusual naval battles age sail place night major naval victory british european enemies war proved value copper hulls warships admiral escorting fleet supply ships relieve spanish siege gibraltar fleet ships line encountered squadron south saw size british fleet attempted safety copper british ships chased fleet running battle lasted mid afternoon midnight british captured spanish ships including flagship ships captured final disposition unclear spanish sources indicate spanish crews report indicates ships grounded destroyed battle successfully continuing west_indies station released parole promoted lieutenant general background spain principal goals entry american war independence recovery gibraltar lost england spanish planned retake gibraltar blockading garrison included troops britain siege formally began june spanish establishing land blockade matching naval blockade comparatively weak british discovered small fast ships evade slower larger supply ships generally late supplies gibraltar seriously depleted commander general appealed london relief supply convoy organized late december large fleet sailed england command admiral sir ultimate orders command west_indies fleet secret instructions resupply january fleet divided ships headed west_indies sailing westward left command ships line accompany supply ships gibraltar january ships fleet spotted group sails giving chase faster copper clad ships british determined spanish supply convoy protected single ship line frigates entire convoy captured lone ship line striking colours exchange fire staffed small prize crew renamed hms honour son king serving fleet detached frigate hms pearl escort captured ships england prince william added fleet supply ships carried items likely use gibraltar garrison january lost january suffered additional damage raised distress flag assisted lisbon january spanish learnt british relief effort blockading squadron fleet comprising ships line admiral dispatched intercept convoy atlantic fleet admiral alerted try catch learnt strength fleet returned giving chase january fleets spotted south southwestern point portugal weather heavy swells occasional battle ill spent entire action flag captain urged orders engage spanish fleet spotted gave orders form line abreast started establish line battle realised size fleet gave orders sail felt certain ships seen vanguard larger fleet issued commands general chase instructions fleet chase best speed engage spanish ships rear came instructed sail lee interfere spanish attempts gain safety harbour tactic prevented spanish ships opening lowest gun ports copper hulls reduced marine drag ships royal_navy faster soon gained spanish chase lasted hours battle finally began santo domingo trailing spanish fleet received hms blowing loss crew passed engage spanish ships eventually engaged hour long battle striking colours getting dark discussion aboard flagship continue pursuit captain young credited accounts pushing fleet physician reported decision council chase continued dark night leading later known battle uncommon time naval battles continue sunset hms defence came flagship engaging battle lasting hour passing wounded battle finally surrendered arrived late battle shot away mainmast takeover complicated outbreak smallpox aboard captain sending possibly infected prize crew situation crew parole engaged struck shot away surrendered having masts shot away difficult seas impossible board prize crew morning duel passed prince george engaged compelled surrender ship surrender nearly escaped shooting away engaged running battle frigate apollo managed unequal engagement time flagship sandwich came scene sandwich fired broadside unaware hauled flag british took ships spanish ships line fleet frigates escaped sources unclear spanish ships present fleet time battle report states line battle listed spanish records fleet report states escaped damaged battle escaped damage according account ships unspecified investigate unidentified sails action aftermath arrival daylight clear british fleet prize ships dangerously close lee shore onshore breeze prizes recorded badly damaged save driven ashore fate prize unclear sources report grounded report crew managed reach spanish history claims prize crews ships appealed spanish captives help escaping lee shore spanish captains retook control ships imprisoned british crews sailed british reported casualties battle killed wounded supply convoy sailed gibraltar january driving smaller blockading fleet retreat safety arrived days later stopping wounded spanish prisoners included admiral british garrison arrival supplies presence sailed west_indies february fleet service channel fleet intercepted french fleet destined capturing warship supply ships gibraltar twice siege lifted end war admiral spanish officers eventually released parole admiral receiving promotion lieutenant general continued distinguished career spanish marine minister french revolutionary wars admiral lauded victory major victory war royal_navy european opponents distinguished remainder war notably winning battle captured french admiral criticised captain young portrayed weak battle admiralty leaving ship line gibraltar express orders observations benefits copper victory influential decisions deploy technology widely order battle listed sources accurate accounting ships fleet time action lists composition fleet departure england notes ships separated west_indies detached return prizes captured january england list ships dublin identified despatches reprinted separated fleet january furthermore misunderstood prize escort england present gibraltar action fails list number frigates including played key role capture english spanish sources listing spanish fleet principally number guns vessels claimed mount table lists spanish records describing fleet lists spanish ships line guns lists guns frigate listed guns identify second spanish frigate different listings records santa guns captain listing describes captain frigates identity escaped battle
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)