The naval Battle of Cape St Vincent, or Battle of Cape Santa Maria, took place on 16 January 1780, during the American Revolutionary War and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara. It is also known as the Moonlight Battle, because it was unusual for naval battles in the age of sail to take place at night. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Dutch Republic, Spain, American Indians Kingdom of Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the... The moonlight Battle off Cape St Vincent, 16 January 1780 by Francis Holman, painted 1780 The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, 1719-1792 by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, painted 1791 George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney Bt (February 1718 – May 24, 1792) – British naval officer. ... January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. ... Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, 1719-1792 by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, painted 1791 George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney Bt (February 1718 – May 24, 1792) – British naval officer. ... Juan Francisco de Lángara y Huarte, La Coruña, c. ... The Battle of Ushant (or First Battle of Ushant) took place on 27 July 1778 during the American War of Independence, fought between French and British fleets 100 miles west of Ushant, a French island at the mouth of the English Channel off the north-westernmost point of France. ... The naval Battle of the Dogger Bank took place on 5 August 1781 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, part of the American War of Independence, in the North Sea. ... The Second Battle of Ushant was a naval battle fought between French and British squadrons near Ushant on 12 December 1781 during the American War of Independence. ... Combatants Britain Spain France Commanders Richard Howe José de Cordóba Strength 35 ships of the line 46 ships of the line Casualties about 600 dead or wounded about 600 dead or wounded The Battle of Cape Spartel was an indecisive naval battle between a Franco-Spanish fleet under Admiral... January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Dutch Republic, Spain, American Indians Kingdom of Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the... Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, 1719–1792 by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, painted 1791, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney (February 1718 – May 24, 1792), was a British naval officer. ... The age of sail is the period in which international trade and naval warfare were both dominated by sailing ships. ...

Origins

Rodney's fleet, on its way to relieve Gibraltar which was under siege by the Spanish, caught de Langara's smaller squadron of nine ships of the line. De Langara's squadron had comprised eleven ships until San Genaro 74 and San Justo 74 were separated from it two days earlier owing to a raging gale, off Cape St Vincent in southwestern Portugal. Combatants Great Britain Spain, France Commanders George Eliott The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the War of American Independence. ... Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... The Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St. ...

Battle

Rodney formed his fleet of 18 ships of the line into line of battle abreast and bore down on the Spanish ships. de Langara initially ordered his ships to form line of battle ahead but, realizing that the British fleet outnumbered his own, ordered his ships to crowd on all sail to escape for their home port of Cádiz, 100 miles (160 km) to the south. At two o’clock, Rodney ordered a general chase, allowing his ships to chase at their best speed and engage as they came up to the Spanish ships. Thanks to their copper sheathed hulls (which reduced marine growths), the ships of the Royal Navy were faster and soon gained on the Spanish. Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... Nickname: Tacita de plata (little silver cup) Location within Spain Province Cádiz Mayor Teófila Martínez (PP) Area    - City 12. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ...

At around 4 p.m., after two hours of chasing, the British Defence, Bedford, Resolution and Edgar began the action. At 4:40 p.m., the Spanish Santo Domingo 70, blew up just as Bienfaisant came up to engage her; all hands were lost. Darkness fell soon afterwards. The chase continued through the dark and squally night until 2 a.m. the following morning, when all firing ceased after the headmost of the Spanish squadron surrendered. Four Spanish ships of the line and the two frigates escaped but six were taken including De Lángara's flagship Fénix, 80. By morning, Rodney's own fleet was in shoal water. The necessity of getting the ships off shore prevented Rodney from continuing the chase. HMS Defence was a 3rd rate ship of the line of 74 guns, built in 1763 for the Royal Navy. ... Juan Francisco de Lángara y Huarte, La Coruña, c. ...

Aftermath

Two of the prizes—San Julián and San Eugenio—were lost because of the ignorance on the shore line of the British officers who commanded them since they had to ask the Spanish captains to help them out and sail the taken ships through the gale; the captain of San Julian, who had remained on board, refused to be useful unless the ship was again under his command, to which the British officers agreed. Both Spanish sails were retaken by their crews. The fleet then sailed for Gibraltar. British casualties were 32 killed and 102 wounded.

Ships involved

Sources

Navy Lists from the Age of Sail, 1776-1783 - Sapherson, C.A. and Lenton, J.R. (Leeds 1986)
Rodney - Spinney, David (London 1969)