Battle of Vélez-Málaga

Battle of Málaga

Part of the War of the Spanish Succession

The Battle of Malaga by Isaac Sailmaker. Oil on canvas, 1704.

Date	24 August 1704
Location	near Málaga, Spain 36°42′15″N 4°22′10″W / 36.704293°N 4.369526°W / 36.704293; -4.369526Coordinates: 36°42′15″N 4°22′10″W / 36.704293°N 4.369526°W / 36.704293; -4.369526
Result	Tactically indecisive; Grand Alliance strategic victory

Belligerents

Commanders and leaders

Comte de Toulouse

Victor-Marie d'Estrées

George Rooke

Strength

50 warships
6 frigates
(3,577 guns)
24,275 men

53 ships of the line
6 frigates
7 fireships
28 galleys
(3,614 guns)
22,543 men

Casualties and losses

1,600 dead or wounded

2,700 dead or wounded

Comte de Toulouse

The Battle of Málaga (or Vélez-Málaga) was the largest naval battle in the War of the Spanish Succession. It took place on 24 August 1704, south of Málaga, Spain.

Less than a week after the Capture of Gibraltar, Admiral George Rooke received intelligence that a French fleet under the command of Toulouse and d'Estrées was approaching Gibraltar. Leaving half his marines to defend the newly won prize, Rooke immediately set off with his combined Anglo-Dutch fleet to engage the French.

The outcome of the action that followed, the Battle of Vélez-Málaga, was indecisive. Not a single vessel was sunk or captured on either side but the mutual battering left many ships barely seaworthy and casualties on both sides were high. As the French and the British approached each other two days later, on 26 August, they finally decided not to engage each other. Considering the British had a significantly higher number of casualties and highly damaged ships, particularly their masts, the French mistakenly interpreted the British fleet's prudence as an overall victory. Byng's squadron, having expended so much ammunition in the previous bombardment of Gibraltar, was obliged to quit the line.

The French had returned to Toulon claiming victory. The reality was, however, that by retreating to Toulon the French turned what had been a tactical stalemate into an Anglo-Dutch strategic victory, because after the Battle of Vélez-Málaga the French Navy never again emerged from Toulon in full strength.

(90-gunners and above were 3-deckers)

The rear division comprised the Dutch element of the Anglo-Dutch fleet.

3614 guns, 22543 men

3577 guns, 24275 men

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