The Spanish Armada

Year 1588 for England and Spain was a tragic one. Spain set out the Spanish Armada not to take over England, but to cripple it, and it worked out terribly for both countries. Both countries suffered many casualties, ship wrecks, and many wounded soldiers during the battles (1, 2, and 4). The military equipment and tactics used during the battles between the countries greatly influenced the outcome of the few fights between them.

The military tactics and equipment used by each side during the battles took a huge toll on both of them, as well as making the battles short and quick. The equipment used by each country during the battles gave each side advantages, though it gave them some disadvantages as well. The English fleets were heavily packed with cannons for long-range combat: a new tactic they were using to try and defend themselves against the Spanish Armada. The Spanish Armada also had cannons on their ships for a cannon battle, but they were mostly focused on their crew’s which carried short swords, long swords, daggers and more, for a close-range battle. Both countries had sufficient equipment for sea battles, but the tactics used by each country determined the battles fought. Spain’s tactics, although successful on some occasions could not compare to England’s new and improved tactics which crippled the Spanish Armada. England, after deciding that their close-range combat tactic was not very useful, they took a new approach at sea war tactics, and brought about long-range battle. As previously discussed, their ships were well loaded for long-range combat and it appeared to work for them (2). Spain however, used close-range combat where they fired one cannonball at their enemy and then boarded their enemy’s ships for a hand-to-hand battle (3). It appeared to them to work, but as the battles began, their ships could do nothing to England’s long-range ships because they could not get in sufficient distance to them (2). In addition to the new tactic used by the English and the less effective Spanish tactic, there were many losses during the battles. England, who did not have as many ships as Spain, lost a lot less then them, not only because of their size but because of their tactic, previously discussed. The English fleet lost somewhere from five hundred fifty to six hundred fifty soldiers, and also fewer than five of their ships were sunk during the battles ( 2). The Spanish Armada on the contrast lost far more than England totaling over seven hundred soldiers and over thirty of their ships were sunk (1, 4). Hence, England had an overall better and easier time during the battles, losing far less than their Spanish enemies.