Action of 11 March 1727

Action of 11 March 1727
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1727–1729)

The Royal Oak at anchor, Willem van de Velde the Younger
Date11 March 1727
Location
Result British victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain Spain
Commanders and leaders
George Forbes Unknown
Strength
2 ships of the line 1 frigate
Casualties and losses
Light 200 killed or wounded
1 frigate captured

The action of 11 March 1727 was a minor naval engagement of the Anglo-Spanish War.

On 11 March the brand new Spanish 46-gun fifth-rate warship Nuestra Senor Del Rosario was out on sea trials after just being fully completed. The ship was on a journey bound from Santander to Cadiz. Meanwhile, HMS Royal Oak detached on a cruise with HMS Canterbury from the main body of a Royal Naval squadron reinforcing Gibraltar from a Spanish siege.

They sighted the Spanish frigate near the port of Cadiz and gave chase. Soon Royal Oak caught up, and after a few broadsides the Spanish warship soon surrendered. Canterbury was not able to get up till just as the Spanish surrendered. The prize was carried with the rest of the squadron, which managed to slip past the besieging Spanish forces to relieve Gibraltar on the 13 March.[1]

  1. ^ Clowes, p. 47