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.

There were only a few battles fought during the few days of war between the two countries and they took huge tolls on both. First of all, the first few battles were just off the English Channel where the Spanish Armada was planning to sail up and around to flank England. During this fight, there was a large consumption on ammunition between the two countries as well as very little casualties and wounded soldiers or ships (2, 3). Neither the English ships nor the Spanish Armada could do much damage to each other because of England’s long-range tactic which was inaccurate, though it also kept the Spanish Armada’s ships from getting to close and boarding the English fleet because as Phillip of Spain said “God blew with his winds and they were scattered” (2, 4) The second battle, and scariest for the Spanish Armada happened one night while they were needing to anchor.

While the wind had taken Spain close to the English fleet, the English escaped with their nimble handling, causing the Spanish Armada to anchor at Calais during the night without meeting the rest of their Armada. While anchored, the Spanish Armada was expecting an attack from the English fleet. The Armada had learned about these new fire projectiles England used, which they happened to use that night, but the Spanish luckily escaped with no casualties, only minor wounds (2, 3). The last and final battle between the Spanish Armada and England was the most famous one: The Battle of Gravelines. The Spanish who were already weakened by the confusion and scattering caused by blazing projectiles of the English were not at all ready for the next day’s attack by England.

This attack used up more than half of England’s ammunition although they took very minimal damage and suffered little casualties (1, 2, 3). The Spanish Armada in contrast though took many casualties as well as over thirty of their ships being sunk during the battle (4). This is was bloodiest battle during the time of the Spanish Armada and took the biggest toll on them. Thus, the few battles fought between the two countries took huge tolls on them, resulting on many casualties and many ships lost.

The few battles fought between England and the Spanish Armada was greatly influenced by the equipment each side used, as well as the tactics they used to destroy their opponent. England had the overall edge in the war and had less of a toll on their country at the end. They used a better tactic, and had better equipment than their Spanish adversaries. The overall outcome of the battles was that England lost less than half of what Spain had lost, but they used much more ammunition than Spain (1, 2, 3, and 4). England was triumphant during the battles during which Spain used their Spanish Armada.