Action of 11 March 1727

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Action of 11 March 1727
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1727–1729)
The 'Royal Oak' at anchor RMG PW6881 1.jpg
The Royal Oak at anchor, Willem van de Velde the Younger
Date11 March 1727
Location
Result British victory
Belligerents
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain Bandera de Espana 1701-1748.svg Spain
Commanders and leaders
British-Blue-Ensign-1707.svg George Forbes Bandera de Espana 1701-1748.svg Unknown
Strength
2 ships of the line 1 frigate
Casualties and losses
Light 200 killed or wounded
1 frigate captured

The action of 11 March 1727 was a minor naval engagement of the Anglo-Spanish War.

On 11 March the brand new Spanish 46-gun fifth-rate warship Nuestra Senor Del Rosario was out on sea trials after just being fully completed. The ship was on a journey bound from Santander to Cádiz. Meanwhile, HMS Royal Oak detached on a cruise with HMS Canterbury from the main body of a Royal Naval squadron reinforcing Gibraltar from a Spanish siege.

They sighted the Spanish frigate near the port of Cádiz and gave chase. Soon Royal Oak caught up, and after a few broadsides the Spanish warship soon surrendered. Canterbury was not able to get up till just as the Spanish surrendered. The prize was carried with the rest of the squadron, which managed to slip past the besieging Spanish forces to relieve Gibraltar on the 13 March. [1]

References

  1. Clowes, William Laird. (2003). The Royal Navy: v. 3: A History - From the Earliest Times to 1900. Chatham Publishing. ISBN   978-1-8617-6012-8, p. 47