Naval battle of Vélez-Malaga

The battles of Vélez-Málaga (or Málaga ) took place the August 24th 1704 in the south of Málaga. It was the greatest naval battle of the War of succession of Spain.

Context

The naval battle of Vélez-Malaga intervenes during the War of succession of Spain (1701-1714). In this conflict, France supports the king of Spain Philippe V, nephew of the king de France Louis XIV, against the other European powers (Austria, England, Holland). It is the greatest naval battle of this conflict.

The catch of Gibraltar by the English admiral Rooke on August 4th, 1704 poses a serious problem with king de France. From now on, the squadrons of Toulon are cut from the Atlantic. Also, Louis XIV decides it to take again Gibraltar in Anglais.
With this intention, he entrusts the command of the fleet to the Admiral de France, the Louis Alexandre of Bourbon, count de Toulouse what, moreover, constitutes an single act in the history of the marine of the end of 17th and of the 18th century. The aim had by the French was a failure (Gibraltar remains with the English) but the naval battle was not a defeat.

Gibraltar belongs to the British still today what causes time with others of the diplomatic tensions between Spain and the United Kingdom.

Involved forces

One finds, on a side, a Franco-Spanish fleet (but the Spanish participation is limited to the presence of galères which will not take share with the combat), and, other, a fleet anglo-Dutchwoman.

Float French

The mobilization of the squadrons of the West (Atlantic) and of Raising (the Mediterranean) make it possible France to join together a total of 93 ships. The naval army has of 3.522 guns and 24.275 men.

Avant-garde

Body of battle

Rear-guard

Apart from the line of battle, one also finds:

24 galères (including 5 Spanish),
7 frigates ( the Star , the Hercules , Galatée , Andromède , the Bird , the Jellyfish , Sybille ),
7 scathing attacks ( Ignited the , the Dangerous , Turquoise , the Crescent , Welcome , the Eagle-Wheel , the Lion ),
2 flutes (ships of transport).

Float anglo-Batavian

Rooke has 65 ships including 53 vessels and 12 other buildings of which some galiotes with bombs, without counting the Dutch ships. The English fleet has of 3.614 guns and 22.453 men. But on the whole, " the fleets, for the number of the vessels, were about equal ".

Under the orders of George Rooke.

Avant-garde

Body of battle

Rear-guard, anglo-Dutchwoman

Apart from the line of battle, one finds 6 frigates, 2 galiotes with bomb ( HMS Star and HMS Terror ), 7 scathing attacks.

the combat

Preliminaries, August 22nd and 23rd.

After the capture of Gibraltar, the fleet anglo-Dutchwoman left on the coasts Cruelty, to supply itself there. August 19th, HMS Centurion, one of his ships scouts, the presence of the French announces. It returns towards Gibraltar to re-embark part of the artillerists and Royal marines whom it had unloaded to take then to defend the fortress. It sets out again then towards the east, wavering against the wind.

The French fleet installed of Toulon on July 22nd. August 12th, it is in Barcelona when it receives the news of the English capture and the order to take again Gibraltar. The fleet sets sail towards the south. August 21st, it is in Calve-Malaga to make water there. The 22, around 3 hours of the afternoon, the count de Toulouse are advised approach of the enemy fleet, coming from the east. There is no wind and the galères cannot draw the vessels.

The following day, August 23rd, a light breeze of east makes it possible to the French to install. At the evening the two fleets are always distant.

On Sunday, August 24 in the morning, the adversaries are with approximately 9 miles of distance. They travel in the south, under a light breeze of is and are formed in line of file which is stretched on nearly 12 kilometers. The English are with the wind of the French.

The provision of the forces and plans envisaged

French.

command.

the French fleet is under the command of the count de Toulouse. 20 years old, this one was seen associating the marshal Victor Marie d' Estrées to compensate for its inexperience.

the other general officers count among best navy. The Villette-Mursay directs the avant-garde; De Langeron, the rear-guard.

Battle order.
Plane.

British.

command.
Battle order.
Plane.

Unfolding of the combat.

The combat takes on August 24th, 1704 at 8 a.m. in the morning. The English, placed at the wind of French, let themselves carry towards them to start the combat.

The French avant-garde of the Villette-Mursay tries to double the British avant-garde of Schovel, to take it between two fires. This one increases its speed to counter the operation. By doing this, a space between the body of battle and the British avant-garde grows hollow.

The count de Toulouse tries to benefit from the passage to break the English line but the operation fails. The cannonade becomes general throughout the line of battle. The French flagship, Striking down It , arrives to démâter the English flagship, Royal Catherine . The Serious , of Champmeslin, tries by 3 times to take with the boarding the Kent , without success. Dutch Albermarle , double-decker of 64 guns, does not fear to measure with the Royal Sun , three-decker of 102 guns.

" One had not for a long time seen with the more obstinate sea of more furious combat nor ". Written Rooke: " It is one of hardest battles the than I ever saw ".

Around 4 p.m., the combat dies out with the avant-garde. To trust , from the Villette-Mursay, received a bomb which destroyed part of its back and its Dunette. The vessel leaves the line. But its squadron interprets its movement badly, believing to have to follow an order of release. The British avant-garde benefits from it to assist from the red squadron.

However the British do not push their advantage and the combat in the center decrease and dies out towards 18-19 hours. With the rear-guard, fire continues jusques around 8 p.m. The two fleets move away for the night.

The situation August 25th and 26th.

The 25, the wind passed to the west. The two fleets remain in sight one of the other and repair their damage. The British were particularly abused because the French especially drew " with démâter".

The 26, the wind passed by again in the east. The two fleets return in sight one of the other, but avoid taking again the combat. Among British, it cannot be question about it: they are almost with course of ammunition. Among French, one discusses, then it is decided that one gained since the adversary does not want to take again the combat. The fleet sets out again towards Toulon.

The 27, with the relief of the British, the French fleet is not any more in sight. Gibraltar will not be worried. But Rooke will be criticized and will not obtain any more commands.

Assessment

The battle of Vélez-Malaga east one of hardest of the maritime wars of Louis XIV. The French drew 102.886 blows from guns.

France deplores 1.585 killed (34,4%) against 2.325 for the English (50,4%) and 700 for the Dutchmen (15,2%), is a total of 4.610 died in 12 hours. On average that represents a death every ten minutes.

This battle, delivered according to the theorized rules, inter alia, by the Father Hoste, will become emblematic. Initially because it will be it last major engagement delivered during nearly 40 years and that it will remain like reference for the new generations of sailors. The British will find there the reasons to seek the advantage of the wind to fight, the French their reasons to choose the combat under the wind. For the two camps, the sacralization of the line of battle, like only formation able to ensure the victory or, at the very least, to avoid the defeat. In this direction, Vélez-Malaga announces, and explains the battles of Toulon (1744).

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