On this day 15 July - a ship-of-the-line vs. four frigates
On the 15th of July 1798, the HMS Lion (64), under the command of Captain Manley Dixon, engaged four Spanish frigates approximately 100 miles southeast of Cartagena, a port city on the southern Spanish Mediterranean coast. At 9:00 a.m., the Lion spotted the Spanish squadron, and proceeded toward it while the Spaniards, under the command of Commodore Don Felix O'Neil, formed a line in response. One of the Spanish 34-gunners, the Santa Dorotea, under Captain Don Manuel Gerraro, began to fall behind due to a previously lost topmast. O’Neil ordered the other three ships to turn around and support the Santa Dorotea as the British ship-of-the-line targeted the lone Spanish frigate. At 11:15, the Pomona, the Proserpine, and the Santa Cazilda, sailing close to the Lion, opened fire; Dixon returned the gesture. As the British 64-gunner continued to close with the Santa Dorotea, the Spaniard fired its stern chasers, causing rigging damage to the Lion. The three Spanish frigates made a second pass, but being at a very long range, fired ineffectively, though not without receiving return fire from Dixon’s ship. Dixon was able to close with the Santa Dorotea and exchange broadsides. The more powerful British ship-of-the-line quickly damaged the Spanish frigate. O’Neill had the other three frigates make a third pass, at a further distance than previously, before leaving the Santa Dorotea to her own fate. Gerraro struck colors.
The Battle:
For more on today’s event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_15_July_1798
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Originally Posted by Berthier
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