Battle of Malaga
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. It took place on 24 August 1704, south of Málaga, Spain.
The battle
Less than a week after the Capture of Gibraltar, Admiral George RookeGeorge Rooke
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke was an English naval commander. He is known for his service in the wars against France and particularly remembered today for his victory at Vigo Bay and for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704.-Early life:Rooke was born at St Lawrence, near Canterbury...
received intelligence that a French fleet under the command of Toulouse
Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de Toulouse
Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse , duc de Penthièvre , d'Arc, de Châteauvillain and de Rambouillet , , was the son of Louis XIV and of his mistress Madame de Montespan...
and d'Estrées was approaching Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
.
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
George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington
Admiral of the Fleet George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington, KB PC was a British naval officer and statesman of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His career included service as First Lord of the Admiralty during the reign of King George II.-Naval career:Byng was born at Wrotham, Kent, England...
'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
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
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
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
never again emerged from Toulon in full strength.
Vanguard
- Prince GeorgeHMS Duke (1682)HMS Duke was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1682 at Woolwich Dockyard.She underwent a rebuild in 1701 as another 90-gun second rate, and was renamed HMS Prince George...
(96, flag of Vice-Admiral Sir John LeakeJohn LeakeSir John Leake was an English Admiral in the Royal Navy and a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1715.Leake was born at Rotherhithe, the second son of Richard Leake, Master Gunner of England....
, Captain Stephen Martin) - NewarkHMS Newark (1695)HMS Newark was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Hull on 3 June 1695.She was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Chatham Dockyard, and relaunched on 29 July 1717. During this rebuild an extra gundeck was added to make her a three-decker, instead of the...
(80, Captain Richard Clarke) - BoyneHMS Boyne (1692)HMS Boyne was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 21 May 1692.She was rebuilt to the 1706 Establishment at Blackwall Yard, mounting her guns on three instead of her original two gundecks, though she was still classified as a third rate. She was...
(80, Captain James BerkeleyJames Berkeley, 3rd Earl of BerkeleyVice-Admiral James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley KG, PC was the son of Charles Berkeley, 2nd Earl of Berkeley and the Hon. Elizabeth Noel. He was known by the courtesy title of Viscount Dursley prior to succeeding as Earl of Berkeley in 1710...
) - NorfolkHMS Norfolk (1693)HMS Norfolk was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built at Southampton and launched on 28 March 1693, and was the first ship to bear the name. She was rebuilt at Plymouth according to the 1719 Establishment, and was re-launched on 21 September 1728...
(80, Captain John Knapp) - YarmouthHMS Yarmouth (1695)HMS Yarmouth was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, built for the navy by a private contractor at Harwich under the 1690 Programme, and launched in 1695....
(70, Captain Jasper Hicks) - BerwickHMS Berwick (1679)HMS Berwick was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Phineas Pett II at Chatham Dockyard and launched in 1679.She was rebuilt at Deptford in 1700, again as a 70-gun third rate, and was hulked in 1715....
(70, Captain Robert Fairfax) - NamurHMS Namur (1697)HMS Namur was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Woolwich Dockyard in 1697.On 11 June 1723 she was ordered to be taken to pieces and rebuilt at Deptford, according to the 1719 Establishment. She was relaunched on 13 September 1729. In 1745, she was razeed to 74...
(96, Captain Christopher MyngsChristopher MyngsSir Christopher Myngs , English admiral and pirate, came of a Norfolk family and was a relative of another admiral, Sir Cloudesley Shovell. Pepys' story of his humble birth, in explanation of his popularity, is said to be erroneous. His name is often given as Mings.The date of Myngs's birth is...
) - BarfleurHMS Barfleur (1697)HMS Barfleur was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 10 August 1697.She was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Deptford, relaunching on 27 June 1716. Barfleur was hulked in 1764, and eventually broken up in 1783....
(96, flag of Admiral Sir Cloudesley ShovellCloudesley ShovellAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Cloudesley Shovell , was an English naval officer. Rising through the ranks and fighting in many of the important battles of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, he became a popular British hero, whose celebrated career was brought to an end in a disastrous shipwreck in...
, Captain James Stuart) - WarspiteHMS Warspite (1666)HMS Warspite was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1666 at Blackwall Yard. This second Warspite was one of the five ships designed to carry more provisions and lower deck guns higher above the water than French and Dutch equivalents...
(70, Captain Edmund Loades) - OrfordHMS Orford (1698)HMS Orford was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford in 1698.. She carried twenty-two 24-pounder guns and four culverins on the lower deck; twenty-six 12-pounder guns on the upper deck; fourteen sakers on the quarter-deck and forecastle; and four 3-pounder...
(70, Captain John Norris) - SwiftsureHMS Swiftsure (1673)HMS Swiftsure was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Sir Anthony Deane at Harwich, and launched in 1673. By 1685 she had been reduced to a 66-gun ship.In 1692 she saw action at the Battles of Barfleur and La Hogue....
(70, Captain Robert Wynn) - Lennox (70, Captain William Jumper)
- Assurance (66, Captain Robert Hancock)
- NottinghamHMS Nottingham (1703)HMS Nottingham was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard and launched on 10 June 1703. She was the first ship to bear the name....
(60, Captain Samuel Whitaker) - Tilbury (50, Captain George DelavalGeorge Delaval-Family:He was of a junior branch of the Delaval family, the son of George Delaval of North Dissington, Northumberland. His father left him a legacy of only £100 but he went on to make a large fortune from his naval and diplomatic career.-Naval career:...
) - Garland (50, Captain Henry Hobart)
Centre
- Royal KatherineHMS Royal Katherine (1664)HMS Royal Katherine was an 84-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1664 at Woolwich Dockyard.In the Second Anglo-Dutch War she fought at the Battle of Lowestoft , the Four Days' Battle , and the St. James's Day Battle...
(90, flag of Admiral Sir George RookeGeorge RookeAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke was an English naval commander. He is known for his service in the wars against France and particularly remembered today for his victory at Vigo Bay and for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704.-Early life:Rooke was born at St Lawrence, near Canterbury...
, Captain John Fletcher) - St GeorgeHMS Charles (1668)HMS Charles was 96-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Christopher Pett at Deptford Dockyard until his death in March 1668, then completed by Jonas Shish after being launched in the same month. Her name was formally Charles the Second, but she was known simply as Charles,...
(96, Captain John Jennings) - ShrewsburyHMS Shrewsbury (1695)HMS Shrewsbury was a three-decker 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 6 February 1695.Shrewsbury narrowly escaped destruction on the Goodwin Sands during the Great Storm on 26 November 1703...
(80, Captain Josias Crowe) - GraftonHMS Grafton (1679)HMS Grafton was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Woolwich Dockyard in 1679.Grafton underwent a rebuild at Rotherhithe in 1700, remaining as a 70-gun third rate. She was captured by the french during the Action of 2 May 1707....
(70, Captain Sir Andrew Leake) - NassauHMS Nassau (1699)HMS Nassau was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1699.Nassau was wrecked in 1706....
(70, Captain Francis Dove) - EagleHMS Eagle (1679)HMS Eagle was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1679.She underwent a rebuild at Chatham Dockyard in 1699, retaining her armament of 70 guns....
(70, Captain Lord Archibald Hamilton) - MonmouthHMS Monmouth (1667)HMS Monmouth was a 66-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, and was the second ship to be named for the town of Monmouth in Wales. She served from 1667 to 1767, winning ten battle honours over a century of active service...
(70, Captain John Baker) - MontaguHMS Montague (1654)Lyme was a 52-gun third rate frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Portsmouth, and launched in 1654.After the Restoration in 1660 she was renamed HMS Montague. She was widened in 1675 and underwent her first rebuild in 1698 at Woolwich Dockyard as a 60-gun fourth rate ship...
(60, Captain William Cleveland) - PantherHMS Panther (1703)HMS Panther was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard and launched on 15 March 1703.In 1707, she belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet...
(50, Captain Peregrine Bertie) - KentHMS Kent (1679)HMS Kent was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Blackwall Yard in 1679. She was the second ship of the name....
(70, flag of Rear-Admiral Thomas Dilkes, Captain Jonas Hanway) - CambridgeHMS Cambridge (1695)HMS Cambridge was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 21 December 1695.She was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Woolwich Dockyard, and relaunched on 17 September 1715...
(80, Captain Richard LestockRichard LestockRichard Lestock was an officer in the Royal Navy, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral. He fought in a number of battles, and was a controversial figure, most remembered for his part in the defeat at the Battle of Toulon, and the subsequent court-martial.-Family and early years:Lestock is...
) - Royal OakHMS Royal Oak (1674)HMS Royal Oak was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Jonas Shish at Deptford and launched in 1674. She was one of only three Royal Navy ships to be equipped with the Rupertinoe naval gun...
(76, Captain Gerard Elwes) - BedfordHMS Bedford (1698)HMS Bedford was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Woolwich Dockyard on 12 September 1698. She carried twenty-two 24-pounder guns and four culverins on the lower deck; twenty-six 12-pounder guns on the upper deck; fourteen sakers on the quarter-deck and...
(70, Captain Sir Thomas Hardy) - SuffolkHMS Suffolk (1680)HMS Suffolk was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by contract of 20 February 1678 by Sir Henry Johnson at his Blackwall Yard and launched in May 1680...
(70, Captain Robert Kirkton) - BurfordHMS Burford (1679)HMS Burford was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Woolwich Dockyard in 1679.She was rebuilt at Deptford in 1699, remaining as a 70-gun third rate....
(70, Capt. Kerryll Roffey) - MonckHMS Monck (1659)HMS Monck was a 52-gun third rate frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England at Portsmouth, and launched in 1659. She retained her name after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. By 1677 her armament had been increased to 60 guns....
(60, Captain James Mighells) - SwallowHMS Swallow (1703)HMS Swallow was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Deptford Dockyard and launched on 10 February 1703. Swallow was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Chatham Dockyard, and was relaunched on 25 March 1719...
(50, Captain Richard HaddockRichard HaddockSir Richard Haddock was an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral in August 1690.-Family and early life:...
) - RanelaghHMS Ranelagh (1697)HMS Ranelagh was a three-decker 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 25 June 1697. She took part in a number of actions during the War of the Spanish Succession, including the Battle of Vigo in 1702 and the Battle of Vélez-Málaga in 1704.On 20...
(80, flag of Rear-Admiral Georg ByngGeorge Byng, 1st Viscount TorringtonAdmiral of the Fleet George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington, KB PC was a British naval officer and statesman of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His career included service as First Lord of the Admiralty during the reign of King George II.-Naval career:Byng was born at Wrotham, Kent, England...
, Captain John Cowe) - SomersetHMS Somerset (1698)HMS Somerset was a three-decker 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Chatham Dockyard on 31 May 1698. She was the first ship to bear the name....
(80, Captain John Price) - DorsetshireHMS Dorsetshire (1694)HMS Dorsetshire was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Southampton on 8 December 1694.She was rebuilt according to the 1706 Establishment at Portsmouth Dockyard, and relaunched on 20 September 1712...
(80, Captain Edward Whitaker) - TorbayHMS Torbay (1693)HMS Torbay was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard on 16 December 1693. In 1707, she served as flagship of Rear-Admiral of the Blue Sir John Norris and belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet...
(80, Captain William Caldwell) - EssexHMS Essex (1679)HMS Essex was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Blackwall Yard in 1679.She was rebuilt at Rotherhithe in 1700, retaining her 70-gun armament. She underwent a second rebuild in 1713, and on 20 May 1736 she was ordered to be taken to pieces and rebuilt at Woolwich as...
(70, Captain John Hubbard) - Firme (70, ex-French, Captain Baron Wyld)
- KingstonHMS Kingston (1697)HMS Kingston was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Frame in Hull and launched on 13 March 1697. She had an eventful career, taking part in numerous engagements.-Career:...
(60, Captain Edward Acton) - Triton (50, ex-French, Captain Tudor Trevor)
- CenturionHMS Centurion (1691)HMS Centurion was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1691 at Deptford Dockyard.She served until 1728, when she was broken up....
(50, Captain John Herne)
Rear
The rear division comprised the Dutch element of the Anglo-Dutch fleet.- Graaf van Albemarle (64, flag of Lieutenant-Admiral Gerard CallenburghGerard CallenburghGerard Callenburgh was a Dutch admiral.Gerard was born in Willemstad, the son of a wood-trader, but chose to enter the Dutch navy in 1661 as a cadet, serving the Admiralty of the Maze. He was made second lieutenant in May 1666 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. On 10 February 1671 he was promoted...
) - blew up on 27 August on the way back to Gibraltar. - Unie (90, flag of Vice-Admiral J. G. van Wassenaer)
- Gelderland (72, Capt. P. Schrijver)
- Dordrecht (72, Capt. van der Pot)
- Katwijk (72, Capt. J. C. Ockersse)
- Wapen van Vriesland (64, Capt. C. Middagten)
- Wapen van Utrecht (64, Capt. Bolck)
- Bannier (64, Capt. J. W. van Ghent)
- Leeuw (64)
- Vlissingen (64)
- Nijmegen (54, Capt. H. Lijnslager)
- Damiaten (52)
Others
- Five frigates
- Larke (40, Captain Charles Fotherby)
- Roebuck (40, Cptain Thomas Kempthorne)
- Charles GalleyHMS Charles Galley (1676)HMS Charles Galley was a 32–gun fifth rate of the Royal Navy built at Woolwich Dockyard and launched in 1676. She was rebuilt in 1693, and again at Deptford Dockyard in 1710. She was renamed HMS Torrington after a third rebuild in 1729, and was Hulked in 1740. She was finally sold on 12 July...
(32, Captain Joseph Taylor) - Tartar (32, Captain John Cooper)
- Newport (24, Captain George Paddon)
- Two (bomb)s
- Hare
- Terror (Captain Isaac Cook)
- Seven fireships
- FirebrandHMS Firebrand (1694)HMS Firebrand was a Royal Navy fireship built at Limehouse in 1694, the first Royal Naval vessel to bear the name.-Service:Firebrand served in the Caribbean and Mediterranean...
(Cmdr. Henry Turvill) - Griffin (Cmdr. George Ramsey)
- Hunter (Cmdr. Thomas Legge)
- Lightning (Cmdr. Archibald Hamilton)
- PhoenixHMS Phoenix (1694)HMS Phoenix was originally built as a fireship. In 1707, she belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet. She saw action during the unsuccessful Battle of Toulon and was present during the great naval disaster off the Isles of Scilly when Shovell and four of his ships were lost, claiming...
(Cmdr. Edmund Hicks) - Vulcan (Cmdr. John Clifton)
- Vulture (Cmdr. George Fisher)
- Firebrand
- Two hospital ships
- Princess Anne (Cmdr. Charles Guy)
- Jefferies (Cmdr. Thomas Robinson)
- One yacht
- William and Mary (Cmdr. John Robinson)
France (Toulouse and d'Estrées)
- Sérieux (70, Chamelin)
- Foudroyant (104, flagship of Toulouse)
Vanguard
- Fier (flag of VA de Villette Mursay)
- Excellence
- Sage
- Intrépide (Jean du CasseJean du CasseJean Baptiste du Casse was a French Buccaneer and Admiral.In his youth, he was not allowed into the French Navy because his parents were Huguenots...
) - Constant (Sainte-Maure)
Centre
- Tonnant (flag of ToulouseLouis-Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de ToulouseLouis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse , duc de Penthièvre , d'Arc, de Châteauvillain and de Rambouillet , , was the son of Louis XIV and of his mistress Madame de Montespan...
) - ? (flag of d'EstréesVictor-Marie d'EstréesVictor Marie d'Estrées, count then duke d'Estrées was a Marshal of France.-Biography:...
) - others