Action of 30 October 1762
Action of 30 October 1762 | |||||||
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Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1762–63) | |||||||
Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, 5th Bt, George Romney | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Great Britain | Spain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Hyde Parker Richard King | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1 ship of the line 1 frigate | 1 galleon | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
35 killed 37 wounded[1] |
18 killed 10 wounded 750 captured 1 galleon captured[1] |
The action of 30 October 1762 was a minor naval battle that was fought in the San Bernardino Strait off the coast of British-occupied Manila in the Philippines between two Royal Navy ships and a Spanish ship; the 60 gun ship of the line HMS Panther under Captain Hyde Parker and the frigate HMS Argo under Richard King captured the heavily armed Spanish treasure galleon Santisima Trinidad.
Background
The Santisima Trinidad was a large ship constructed in 1750 at
Battle
As Trinidad passed through the San Bernardino Strait, HMS Panther and HMS Argo soon discovered her and caught up with the Spanish ship. An action followed with Argo and Panther concentrating their fire on the masts and rigging. To Parker's amazement, the shots from Panther made a minimal impression on the galleon's hardwood hull. However, Trinidad was soon disabled and unable to manoeuvre as the opening gun battle left its rigging a dismasted wreck. Despite this, Trinidad managed to put up a stout resistance and continued for 2 hours, but the ship was overcrowded for its size of nearly 800 crew, marines, civilians, and large cargo. It had fewer than half the guns required to fight.[2] Soon, the Spanish commander realised that any further resistance was futile and surrendered soon after. The human cost for the Spanish was 18 killed, 10 wounded, and 750 captured, while British casualties were 35 killed and 37 wounded.[1]
Aftermath
The cargo was valued at $1.5 million, and the ship at $3 million.[3] The galleon was eventually broken up for scrap.[3]
See also
- Great Britain in the Seven Years War
References
Bibliography
Fish, Shirley (2011). The Manila-Acapulco Galleons: The Treasure Ships of the Pacific With an Annotated List of the Transpacific Galleons 1565-1815. Authorhouse.
Paine, Lincoln P. (2001). Warships of the world to 1900. Houghton Miffin.
Tracy, Nicholas (1995). Manila Ransomed. University of Exeter Press.