Battle of Málaga (1704)

This article is about the 1704 battle. For the 1937 battle, see Battle of Málaga (1937).
Battle of Málaga
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession

The Battle of Malaga by Isaac Sailmaker. Oil on canvas, 1704.
Date24 August 1704
Locationnear Málaga, Spain
36°42′15″N 4°22′10″W / 36.704293°N 4.369526°W / 36.704293; -4.369526Coordinates: 36°42′15″N 4°22′10″W / 36.704293°N 4.369526°W / 36.704293; -4.369526
Result Tactically indecisive; Grand Alliance strategic victory[1]
Belligerents
 Kingdom of France
Spain Bourbon Spain		  Kingdom of England
 United Provinces
Commanders and leaders

Comte de Toulouse

Victor-Marie d'Estrées		 George Rooke
Strength
50 warships
6 frigates
(3,577 guns)
24,275 men		 53 ships of the line
6 frigates
7 fireships
28 galleys
(3,614 guns)
22,543 men
Casualties and losses
1,600 dead or wounded 2,700 dead or wounded

The Battle of Málaga (or Vélez-Málaga) was the largest naval battle in the War of the Spanish Succession. It took place on 24 August 1704, south of Málaga, Spain.

The battle

Less than a week after the Capture of Gibraltar, Admiral George Rooke received intelligence that a French fleet under the command of Toulouse and d'Estrées was approaching Gibraltar. Leaving half his marines to defend the newly won prize, Rooke immediately set off with his combined Anglo-Dutch fleet to engage the French.

The outcome of the action that followed, the Battle of Vélez-Málaga, was indecisive. Not a single vessel was sunk or captured on either side but the mutual battering left many ships barely seaworthy and casualties on both sides were high. As the French and the British approached each other two days later, on 26 August, they finally decided not to engage each other. Considering the British had a significantly higher number of casualties and highly damaged ships, particularly their masts, the French mistakenly interpreted the British fleet's prudence as an overall victory. Byng's squadron, having expended so much ammunition in the previous bombardment of Gibraltar, was obliged to quit the line.

The French had returned to Toulon claiming victory. The reality was, however, that by retreating to Toulon the French turned what had been a tactical stalemate into an Anglo-Dutch strategic victory, because after the Battle of Vélez-Málaga the French Navy never again emerged from Toulon in full strength.

Ships involved

England/Netherlands (George Rooke)

(90-gunners and above were 3-deckers)

Vanguard

Centre

Rear

The rear division comprised the Dutch element of the Anglo-Dutch fleet.

Others

Total

3614 guns, 22543 men

France (Toulouse and d'Estrées)

Vanguard

Centre

Rear

Others

Total

3577 guns, 24275 men

References

  1. ↑ Richard Harding, Seapower and Naval Warfare, 1650-1830, (Taylor & Francis, 1999), 119.

External links

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