Medina Sidonia tries to re-form his fleet…
August 1588 CE
Medina Sidonia tries to re-form his fleet at the small port of Gravelines, part of Flanders in the Spanish Netherlands, close to the border with France and the closest Spanish territory to England.
He is reluctant to sail further east knowing the danger from the shoals off Flanders, from which his Dutch enemies have removed the sea marks.
The English, having learned more of the Armada's strengths and weaknesses during the skirmishes in the English Channel, have concluded it is necessary to close within one hundred yards to penetrate the oak hulls of the Spanish ships.
They had spent most of their gunpowder in the first engagements and had after the Isle of Wight been forced to conserve their heavy shot and powder for a final attack near Gravelines.
During all the engagements, the Spanish heavy guns could not easily be run in for reloading because of their close spacing and the quantities of supplies stowed between decks, as Francis Drake had discovered on capturing the damaged Rosario in the Channel.
Instead, the cannoneers fire once and then jump to the rigging to attend to their main task as marines ready to board enemy ships.
Evidence from Armada wrecks in Ireland shows that much of the fleet's ammunition was in fact never spent.
Their determination to thrash out a victory in hand-to-hand fighting proves a weakness for the Spanish; it had been effective on occasions such as the Battle of Lepanto and the Battle of Ponta Delgada in 1582, but the English, aware of this strength, seek to avoid it by keeping their distance.
The English fleet, with its superior maneuverability, provokes Spanish fire while staying out of range.
The English then close, firing repeated and damaging broadsides into the enemy ships.
This also enables them to maintain a position to windward so that the heeling Armada hulls are exposed to damage below the water line.
Five Spanish ships are lost.
The galleass San Lorenzo runs aground at Calais and is taken by Howard after murderous fighting between the crew, the galley slaves, the English and the French who ultimately take possession of the wreck.
The galleons San Mateo and San Felipe drift away in a sinking condition, ...
Images
The Spanish Armada and English ships in August 1588, by unknown painter (English School, 16th century).
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