The first battle of the Anglo-Spanish War, fought just eight days after Spain's declaration of war against Britain in October 1796.
Key Facts
- Date
- 13 October 1796
- Duration
- 1 hour 40 minutes
- HMS Terpsichore guns
- 32 guns
- Mahonesa guns
- 34 guns
- Outcome
- Mahonesa captured by British
- Days after Spanish declaration of war
- 8 days
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Spain, formerly an ally of Britain, signed the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1796, re-entering the War of the First Coalition as a French ally. This brought Britain and Spain into direct conflict. Captain Bowen's frigate HMS Terpsichore had been shadowing a large Spanish fleet from Cádiz and encountered the Spanish frigate Mahonesa while returning to Gibraltar.
Off the Mediterranean coast near Cartagena, Spanish frigate captain Ayalde offered battle to HMS Terpsichore, which Captain Bowen accepted. The two frigates fought at close quarters for an hour and forty minutes. The Spanish ship suffered far greater damage and casualties, and though Ayalde attempted to flee, Mahonesa was too crippled to escape and surrendered after a 20-minute chase.
Bowen brought the captured Mahonesa to Lisbon, where damage was found too severe to repair. The engagement marked the opening of Anglo-Spanish hostilities in the Mediterranean. Bowen continued operations off Cádiz in subsequent months before being killed at the Battle of Santa Cruz in July 1797.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain Richard Bowen.
Side B
1 belligerent
Frigate Captain Tomás de Ayalde.