The Battle of Cape St. Vincent took place on the 14th February 1797 off the coast of Portugal.
The Royal Navy, under the command of Admiral Sir John Jervis with 15 ships of the line defeated a Spanish fleet of 27 ships under the command of Vice-Admiral Don José de Córdoba Y Ramos.
Summary:
The Spanish fleet was formed in two loose columns, one of about 18 ships to windward and the other, of about 9 ships, somewhat closer to the British. The single British steered to pass between the two Spanish columns.
The British line, led by Culloden, tacked in succession to reverse course and overhaul the larger Spanish column. The smaller Spanish division engaged the British line at the point they were tacking and some British ships were damaged and fell out of the line. As the last ship in the British line passed the end of the main Spanish line, the British line was in a U shape with Culloden in the lead and on the reverse course but chasing the rear of the Spanish. The Spanish lee division bore up in an effort to join their compatriots. Nelson, in Captain, towards the rear of the British line, disobeying previous ordered Captain Miller to take Captain out of line and engaged tthe smaller group. Other British ships from both ends of the line Culloden, Excellent, Blenheim and Prince George, supported this and prevented the two Spanish groups combining. The Captain was now under fire from up to as six Spanish ships, three of 112 guns and including Cordóba's flagship Santísima Trinidad (130).
San Nicolás ran foul of San José, and they were boarded and taken by Captain, whilst 2 other Spanish ships struck to the supporting ships.
Novels based around this battle.
Ships Present
British Fleet
Culloden (74) Thomas Troubridge
Blenheim (90) Thomas Lenox Frederick
Prince George (98) Flag - Rear Admiral William Parker, Cptn. - John Irwin
Orion (74) James Saumarez
Colossus (74) George Murray
Irresistible (74) George Martin
Victory (100) Flag - Admiral Sir John Jervis, Cptn. of the Fleet - Robert Calder, Cptn. - George Grey
Egmont (74) John Sutton
Goliath (74)Charles H. Knowles
Barfleur (98) Flag - Vice-Admiral William Waldegrave, Cptn. - James Richard Dacres
Brittania (100) Flag - Vice-Admiral Charles Thompson, Cptn. - Thomas Foley
Namur (90) James Hawkins Whitshed
Captain (74) Flag - Commodore Horatio Nelson (Wounded), Cptn. - Ralph Willett Miller
Diadem (64) George Henry Towry
Excellent (74) Cuthbert Collingwood
Spanish Fleet
Santísima Trinidad (130) Flag - Vice-Admiral Don José de Córdoba Y Ramos, Cptn. - ? Badly damaged
Conde de Regla (112) ?
Mexicano (112) Flag - Admiral P. De Cárdenas, Cptn. - F de Herrera
Principe de Asturias (112) Flag - Admiral J. Moreno, Cptn. - A. De Escaño
Purísima Concepcion (112) Flag - Admiral Morales de los Ríos, Cptn. - ?
Salvador del Mundo (112) D. A. Yepes Captured
San José (112) Flag - Admiral Francisco Javier Winthuysen, Cptn. - ? Captured
Neptuno (80) ?
San Nicolas (80) T. Geraldino Captured
Atlante (74) G. Vallejo
Bahama (74) ?
Conquistador (74) J. Butler
Firme (74) B. Ayala
Glorioso (74) ?
Infante Pelayo (74) C. Valdés
Oriente (74) J. Suárez
San Antonia (74) S. Medina
San Domingo (74) M. De Torres
San Fermin (74) J. De Torres
San Francisco de Paula (74) J. De Guimbarda
San Genaro (74) A. de Villavicencio
San Ildefenso (74) R. Maestre
San Juan Nepomuceno (74) A. Boneo
San Pablo (74) B. de Cisneros
San Isidoro (74) T. Argumosa Captured
Soberano (74) J. V. Yáñez
Terrible (74) ?
British Fleet - Also Present
Minerve (38) George Cockburn
Lively (32) Lord Garlies
Niger (32) Edward James Foote
Southampton (32) James Macnamara
La Bonne Citoyenne (20) Charles Lindsay
Raven (18) Commander William Prowse
Fox (10) Lieutenant John Gibson
Spanish Fleet - Also Present
Atocha (34)
Ceres (34)
Diana (34)
Matilda (34)
Mercedes (34)
Perla (34)
Santa Brigida (34)
Plan of the Battle
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