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This Week in Maritime History

Published May 18, 2012 5:19 PM by The Maritime Executive

MAY 19, 1588: SPANISH ARMADA SETS SAIL TO BRITAIN
On this day in 1588, the massive Spanish fleet sets sail from Lisbon to England, to take control of the English Channel. King Phillip II of Spain planned the conquest to England after the Queen supported Dutch rebels in the Spanish Netherlands. The armada included 130 ships carrying 2,500 guns and 30,000 men. Storms delayed the fleet, but it eventually arrived in Southern England in late July. The English navy bombed the seven mile long line of ships eventually causing the fleet to retreat to Calais, France. The Spanish attempted to sail to the Netherlands but were intercepted by a Dutch fleet and forced to face the English again; they sailed north to Scotland. The battered fleet returned home, sailing through the North Sea around Ireland. Only half of the original fleet returned. England’s defeat of the “Invincible Armada” marked England as a naval power and the abilities of long range vessels.

 

MAY 20, 1498: VASCO DE GAMA REACHES INDIA
Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama sailed from Lisbon in July 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and anchored at Malindi on the east coast of Africa. He set off from Africa across the Indian Ocean, with the aid of a Indian merchant ship and landed in Calicut on May 20, 1498, making him the first European to sail to India via the Atlantic Ocean. 

   

 

 

MAY 20, 1863: SEIGE OF PORT HUDSON

On this day in 1863 the Union Department of the Gulf surrounded Confederate stronghold, Port Hudson, Louisiana. The port was considered a significant threat to Federal ships on the Mississippi River. The Port of Hudson was just south of Vicksburg, Mississippi another important Confederate hold. Thirty-thousand troops surrounded 3,500 confederate soldiers at Port Hudson. On May 21st, Confederate commander Franklin Gardner received orders to abandon the port. Gardener refused and continued to fight for three weeks, managing to thwart off the Union that outnumbered them, until finally surrendering after Vicksburg surrendered.