Action of 11 November 1779 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action of 11 November 1779 |
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| Part of the Anglo-Spanish War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spain |
 Great Britain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Andres de Viana |
Alexander Graeme |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 1 frigate Santa Margarita |
1 frigate HMS Tartar |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 frigate captured 1 man killed 3 men wounded |
None | ||||||
The Action of 11 November 1779 was a small but important naval battle. It took place between a British warship and a Spanish warship. This fight happened off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal. It was part of the larger Anglo-Spanish War.
What Happened?
On November 11, 1779, Captain Alexander Graeme was sailing his ship, the British frigate HMS Tartar. His ship was part of a group led by Commodore George Johnstone. While off the coast of Lisbon, they spotted a Spanish ship. This ship was the 38-gun frigate Santa Margarita.
The Tartar had the wind behind it. This helped it catch up to the Spanish vessel. The two ships then began to fight. The battle lasted for about two hours. During the fight, the Santa Margarita was badly damaged. Its masts were almost broken. Because of this, the Spanish captain decided to surrender.
After the Battle
After the battle, the British took control of the Santa Margarita. It was then added to the Royal Navy. The ship kept its original name. It became a 36-gun frigate. The Santa Margarita had a very long career. It served the British Navy until the year 1836.
See also
In Spanish: Acción del 11 de noviembre de 1780 para niños
