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A big day in English naval history as it marks the defeat of the Spanish armada off the coast of France. Read itHERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada#Battle_of_Gravelines) The English had learned more of the Armada's strengths and weaknesses during the skirmishes in the English Channel and had concluded it was necessary to close within 100 metres to penetrate the oak hulls of the Spanish ships. They had spent most of their gunpowder in the first engagements and had after Wight been forced to conserve their heavy shot and powder for a final decisive attack near Gravelines. During all the engagements, the Spanish heavy guns proved unwieldy, and their gunners had not been trained to reload ? in contrast to their English counterparts, they fired once and then jumped to the rigging to attend to their main task as marines ready to board (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boarding_(attack)) enemy ships. In fact, evidence from Armada wrecks in Ireland shows that much of the fleet's ammunition was never spent.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada#cite_note-11)Their determination to thrash out a victory in hand-to-hand fighting proved a weakness for the Spanish; it had been effective on occasions such as the Battle of Lepanto and the Battle of Ponta Delgada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ponta_Delgada)(1582), but the English were aware of this strength and sought to avoid it by keeping their distance.With its superior maneuverability, the English fleet provoked Spanish fire while staying out of range. The English then closed, firing repeated and damaging broadsides into the enemy ships. This also enabled them to maintain a position to windward (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windward_and_leeward) so that the heeling Armada hulls were exposed to damage below the water line. As well, today Scottish Admiral Philip Charles Durham who was a Royal Navy officer whose service in the American War of Independence, French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars was lengthy, distinguished and at times controversial.  Read about him HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Charles_Durham) View the full article
