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{{for|the 1936 [[Spanish Civil War]] naval battle|Battle of Cape Espartel}}
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|{{Campaignbox American War of Independence: European Waters}}
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The '''Battle of Cape Spartel''' was an indecisive naval battle between a [[France|Franco]]-[[Spain|Spanish]] fleet under [[Admiral]] [[Luis de Córdova y Córdova]] and a [[Kingdom of Britain|British]] fleet under Admiral [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Richard Howe]]. The fleets met on 20 October 1782 during a successful British campaign to maintain supply routes to [[Gibraltar]], then under siege by the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] armies as part of the [[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]].
==Battle==
There was a tempest on 10 October, and some of the ships of the Franco-Spanish fleet blockading Gibraltar, then anchored off [[Algeciras]], were damaged, although none were sunk. Howe's fleet, escorting a [[Gibraltar]]-bound merchant convoy, appeared the next day and, owing to the storm, were pushed into the Mediterranean. That day, taking advantage of a WNW wind, De Córdoba's fleet started to pursue the convoy, while the Spanish Admiral sent his smaller vessels to shadow the British. After several days of fighting westerly winds and currents the convoy, having evaded the Spanish, managed to enter Gibraltar on the 17th.
Meanwhile, around sunrise of the 20th, both battle fleets sighted each other some 18 miles off Cape Spartel. De Córdova signalled general chase disregarding division places. The British line of battle was to starboard of the Franco-Spanish. At around 1 pm, and after Cordova's flagship. the 120-gun ''[[Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad (1769)|Santísima Trinidad]]'' reached the centre of the combined line, both fleets were about two miles apart. The British reduced sail in order to tighten their line of battle. At 5.45 the van of the Franco-Spanish fleet opened fire. The British returned fire, while Howe signalled retreat all sail, making at least 14 Franco-Spanish ships redundant, among them two three-deckers. No British ships were really engaged despite the efforts of de Córdoba's ships, which chased the fleeing British fleet. On the 21st both fleets were some 12 miles apart. De Córdova made repairs and was ready to resume battle. However, no battle took place as the next day as Howe had sailed back to Britain in line with his orders.
==Aftermath==
Gibraltar had been under long-standing siege by the Franco-Spanish ships and needed supplies badly. Howe succeeded in his main aim, ensuring that the convoy arrived safely, and returned to England. The successes in resupplying the hard pressed garrison at Gibraltar ensured its survival at a time British forces were suffering a demoralising succession of losses at Minorca, Florida and the Bahamas.
The sailing qualities of their ships enabled the British to decline an action and from then on the Spanish Navy struggled to build faster ships to avoid these situations than such as that of the [[Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)|Battle of Cape St. Vincent]] – the Moonlight Battle - two years before, when Rodney's "[[Copper sheathing|coppered]]" 18-ship fleet chased down and engaged de Lángara's 11-ship fleet. The Spanish navy had been slow to begin coppering its own vessels. It was also limited by the slow speed of some its heavier vessels, like the ''Santisima Trinidad''.
===British (Howe)===
34 ships of the line (according to Schomberg)
{| class="wikitable" width=100%
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Admiral Richard Howe's fleet
|- valign="top"
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Van - First division
|- valign="top"
! width=15%; align= center rowspan=2 | Ship
! width=10%; align= center rowspan=2 | [[Rating system of the Royal Navy|Rate]]
! width=5%; align= center rowspan=2 | Guns
! width=25%; align= center rowspan=2 | Commander
! width=9%; align= center colspan=3 | Casualties
! width=36%; align= center rowspan=2 | Notes
|-valign="top"
! width=3%; align= center | Killed
! width=3%; align= center | Wounded
! width=3%; align= center | Total
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Goliath (1781)|HMS ''Goliath'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Hyde Parker (admiral)|Hyde Parker]]
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|16}}
| align= right | {{center|20}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Ganges (1782)|HMS ''Ganges'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Charles Fielding]]
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|23}}
| align= right | {{center|29}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Prince (1670)|HMS ''Royal William'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 84
| align= left | Captain John Carter Allen
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|13}}
| align= right | {{center|15}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Britannia (1762)|HMS ''Britannia'']]
| align= center | [[First rate]]
| align= center | 100
| align= left | Vice-Admiral [[Samuel Barrington]]
Captain C. Hills
| align= right | {{center|8}}
| align= right | {{center|13}}
| align= right | {{center|21}}
| align= left |Flagship of the van
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Atlas (1782)|HMS ''Atlas'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Captain [[George Vandeput]]
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Ruby (1776)|HMS ''Ruby'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain John Collins
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Van - Second division
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Panther (1758)|HMS ''Panther'']]
| align= center | [[Fourth rate]]
| align= center | 60
| align= left | Captain Henry Hervey
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|15}}
| align= right | {{center|18}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Foudroyant (1758)|HMS ''Foudroyant'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 80
| align= left | Captain [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent|John Jervis]]
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|8}}
| align= right | {{center|12}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Edgar (1779)|HMS ''Edgar'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left |
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Polyphemus (1782)|HMS ''Polyphemus'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain W. C. Finch
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Suffolk (1765)|HMS ''Suffolk'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain Sir George Home
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Vigilant (1774)|HMS ''Vigilant'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left |
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Centre - First division
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Courageux (1761)|HMS ''Courageux'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Constantine Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave|Lord Mulgrave]]
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Crown (1782)|HMS ''Crown'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain Samuel Reeve
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Alexander (1778)|HMS ''Alexander'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Edward Pakenham, 2nd Baron Longford|Lord Longford]]
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Sampson (1781)|HMS ''Sampson'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[John Harvey (Royal Navy officer)|John Harvey]]
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Princess Royal (1773)|HMS ''Princess Royal'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Captain [[Jonathan Faulknor the elder|Jonathan Faulknor]]
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Victory|HMS ''Victory'']]
| align= center | [[First rate]]
| align= center | 100
| align= left | Admiral [[Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe|Viscount Howe]]
Captain [[John_Leveson-Gower (1740-1792)| John Leveson-Gower]]
Captain H. Duncan
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |Fleet flagship
|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Centre - Second division
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Blenheim (1761)|HMS ''Blenheim'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 90
| align= left | Captain [[Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan|Adam Duncan]]
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|3}}
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Asia (1764)|HMS ''Asia'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[Richard Bligh]]
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Egmont (1768)|HMS ''Egmont'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left |
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Queen (1769)|HMS ''Queen'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Rear-Admiral [[Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport|Alexander Hood]]
Captain [[William Domett]]
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Bellona (1760)|HMS ''Bellona'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Sir Richard Onslow, 1st Baronet|Richard Onslow]]
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Rear - Second division
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Raisonnable (1768)|HMS ''Raisonnable'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain [[John Hervey, Lord Hervey|Lord Hervey]]
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Fortitude (1780)|HMS ''Fortitude'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain George Keppel
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|9}}
| align= right | {{center|11}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Princess Amelia (1757)|HMS ''Princess Amelia'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 84
| align= left | Rear-Admiral [[Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet|Sir Richard Hughes]]
Captain J. Reynolds
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= right | {{center|9}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Berwick (1775)|HMS ''Berwick'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain Hon. Charles Phipps
| align= right | {{center|1}}
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= left |
|- valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Bienfaisant (1758)|HMS ''Bienfaisant'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 64
| align= left | Captain J. Howarth
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Rear - First division
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Dublin (1757)|HMS ''Dublin'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[Sir Archibald Dickson, 1st Baronet|Archibald Dickson]]
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Cambridge (1755)|HMS ''Cambridge'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 84
| align= left |
| align= right | {{center|4}}
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|10}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Ocean (1761)|HMS ''Ocean'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 98
| align= left | Admiral [[Mark Milbanke]]
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left | Flagship of the rear
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Union (1756)|HMS ''Union'']]
| align= center | [[Second rate]]
| align= center | 90
| align= left | Captain [[John Dalrymple (Royal Navy officer)|John Dalrymple]]
| align= right | {{center|5}}
| align= right | {{center|15}}
| align= right | {{center|20}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Captain (1743)|HMS ''Buffalo'']]
| align= center | [[Fourth rate]]
| align= center | 60
| align= left | Captain [[John Holloway (Royal Navy officer)|John Holloway]]
| align= right | {{center|6}}
| align= right | {{center|16}}
| align= right | {{center|22}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Vengeance (1774)|HMS ''Vengeance'']]
| align= center | [[Third rate]]
| align= center | 74
| align= left | Captain [[John Moutray]]
| align= right | {{center|2}}
| align= right | {{center|14}}
| align= right | {{center|16}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
!colspan="8" bgcolor="white"|Attached frigates
|-valign="top"|-valign="top"
| align= left | [[HMS Latona (1781)|HMS ''Latona'']]
| align= center | [[Fifth rate]]
| align= center | 38
| align= left | Captain [[Lord Hugh Seymour|Hon. Hugh Seymour-Conway]]
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= right | {{center|0}}
| align= left |
|-valign="top"
!colspan="9" bgcolor="white"|63 killed, 198 wounded
|- valign="top"
|colspan="9" align="left"|Source: Schomberg, ''Naval Chronology'', pp. 390–3.
|-
|}
===Franco-Spanish (De Cordova y Cordova)===
46 ships of the line
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Spanish'''
* ''Santísima Trinidad'' (120), Flagship, Lieutenant-General Luis de Cordova
* ''Rayo'' (80) Commodore Posada
* ''Terrible'' (74)
* ''Arrogante'' (70)
* ''Brillante'' (70), Lieutenant General Viscount De Rochecouart
* ''Firme'' (70)
* ''Galicia'' (70)
* ''Guerrero'' (70)
* ''San Isidoro'' (70)
* ''San Isidro'' (70)
* ''San Joaquín'' (70)
* ''San Juan Bautista'' (70)
* ''San Justo'' (70)
* ''San Lorenzo'' (70)
* ''San Rafael'' (70)
* ''San Vicente'' (70), Commodore Ponce de León
* ''Santa Isabel'' (70)
* ''Serio'' (70)
* ''Triunfante'' (70)
* ''Vencedor'' (70)
* ''Castilla'' (64)
* ''España'' (64)
* ''Septentrión'' (64)
{{col-2}}
'''French'''
* ''Bretagne'' (110)
* ''Invincible'' (110), Lieutenant General Lamotte-Picquet
* ''Majesteux'' (110)
* ''Royal Louis'' (110), Commodore de Bausset
* ''Actif'' (74)
* ''Dictateur'' (74)
* ''Guerriere'' (74)
* ''Robuste'' (74)
* ''Suffisant'' (74)
* ''Zodiaque'' (74)
* ''Indien'' (64)
{{col-end}}
The following ships took no part in the action:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Spanish'''
* ''Purísima Concepción'' (112)
* ''San Fernando'' (80)
* ''Africa'' (70)
* ''Oriente'' (70)
* ''San Eugenio'' (70), Lieutenant General Count de Guichen
* ''Astuto'' (60)
* ''San Julián'' (60)
* ''Miño'' (54)
{{col-2}}
'''French'''
* ''Terrible'' (110), Lieutenant General Bonet
* ''Bienanime'' (74)
* ''Atlas'' (70)
* ''Lion'' (64), Lieutenant General Miguel Gastón
{{col-end}}
==External links==
*[http://www.nps.gov/revwar/revolution_day_by_day/1782_bottom.html Revolutionary War chronology]
*[http://www.todoababor.es/articulos/espartel.htm#prof Combate de Espartel. 20 de octubre de 1782] {{es}}
{{coord missing|Morocco}}
{{Tangier}}