On April 25 1607 during the Eighty Years War, a Dutch fleet surprised and engaged a Spanish fleet anchored at the Bay of Gibraltar. During the 4-hour action, the entire Spanish fleet was destroyed.

Forces

The Dutch fleet of 26 smaller warships and 4 cargo ships was led by Jacob van Heemskerk .
The Dutch flagship was Æolus. Other Dutch ships were The Tiger, The Sea Dog, The Griffin, De Roode Leeuw (the Red Lion), The Golden Lion, The Black Bear, The White Bear and The Morning Star.

The Spanish fleet of 21 ships, including 10 galleons of the largest size, was led by Don Juan d'Alvares d'Avila. The Spanish flagship San Augustin (St. Augustine) was commanded by Don Juan's son. Other ships are Nuestra Senora de la Vega (Our Lady of Vega) and Madre de Dios (Mother of God).

Battle

Van Heemskerk left some of his ships at the bay entrance to prevent the escape of any Spanish ship. The attacking ships were ordered to focus on the Spanish flagship and the Dutch fleet stood into the bay.

Van Heemskerk was killed during the first approach on the Spanish flagship as a cannon ball severed his leg. A few galleons caught fire and one Spanish ship exploded due to a shot into the powder magazine. The Dutch captured the Spanish flagship, but let it go adrift.

Following the destruction of the Spanish ships, the Dutch deployed boats and killed hundreds of swimming Spanish sailors.

The Dutch lost 100 men including admiral Van Heemskerk. Sixty Dutch were wounded. The Spanish lost the entire fleet, meaning 21 ships and 4,000 men, including Alvares.

External link

• An account from MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS