Battle of Vigo Bay

Significance

The Battle of Vigo Bay was fought in October 1702 during the opening years of the War of the Spanish Succession, following a failed Anglo-Dutch attempt to seize Cádiz in September of that year. The Cádiz operation had aimed to secure a naval base on the Iberian Peninsula from which the Allies could project power into the western Mediterranean, particularly against the French fleet at Toulon. With that objective unfulfilled, the engagement at Vigo Bay represented a consequential sequel in the Allied maritime campaign on the Iberian coast. French casualties of 2,000 indicate that the action was costly for the Franco-Spanish side. The battle involved senior Allied naval commanders George Rooke and Philips van Almonde against the French force under Châteaurenault, with Manuel de Velasco commanding on the Franco-Spanish side.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (4)