On November 21st, 1739, Admiral Vernon attacked the so-called Iron Fort at the mouth of the harbor of Portobello with six ships. The names of the six ships were: the Burford (flagship) with 70 guns, the Hampton Court (Commodore Brown's ship) with 70 guns, the Worcester with 60 guns, the Strafford with 60 guns, the Princess Louisa with 60 guns and the Norwich with 50 guns. The Sheerness with 20 guns was sent as a scout in the direction of Cartagena. After a short but spirited resistance the fort surrendered. The next morning (November 22nd, 1739), before they could continue their attack on the remaining fortifications of San Jeronimo Battery and San Jago de Gloria Castle, a boat arrived under a flag of truce. The result was that the Spanish agreed to a conditional surrender.
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