Battle of Havana (1748)

For other battles, see Battle of Havana (disambiguation).

Battle of Havana (1748)
Part of the War of Jenkins' Ear

Sir Charles Knowles's Engagement with the Spanish Fleet off Havana, Richard Paton
Date12 October 1748
Location
Off Havana, Caribbean Sea
23°07′00″N 82°23′00″W / 23.1167°N 82.3833°W / 23.1167; -82.3833
Result See aftermath
Belligerents
 Great Britain Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
Charles Knowles Spain Andrés Reggio y Brachiforte
Strength
5 fourth-rates 4 fourth-rates,
1 frigate
Casualties and losses
59 killed and 120 wounded[1] 1 ship captured
1 ship destroyed
1 ship heavily damaged[2]
86 dead and 197 wounded[3]
470 captured[1]

The Battle of Havana was a naval engagement that took place between the British Caribbean squadron and a Spanish squadron based near Havana during the War of Jenkins' Ear.[4] The battle occurred on the morning of the 12th and ended on 14 October 1748. The belligerents consisted of two squadrons under the command of Admiral Don Andres Reggio of the Spanish Navy and Admiral Sir Charles Knowles of the Royal Navy, respectively.[5] The British succeeded in driving the Spanish back to their harbour after capturing the Conquistador and ran the vice-admiral's ship Africa on shore, where she was blown up by her own crew after being totally dismasted and made helpless. Although the advantage had clearly been with Knowles, he failed to use this to deliver a decisive blow.[6] The battle was the last major action in the War of Jenkins' Ear which had merged with the larger War of the Austrian Succession.[4]

  1. ^ a b Bruce p 289
  2. ^ Marley pp 412-13
  3. ^ Clodfelter p 82
  4. ^ a b Thomas p 263
  5. ^ Allen, Joseph (1852). Battles of the British Navy, Volume 1. G. Bell & Sons. pp. 167–69.
  6. ^ Harding p 332-33