The Spanish Armada was the fleet that attempted to escort an army from Flanders as a part the Habsburg Spanish invasion of England in 1588, was divided into ten "squadrons" (escuadras)Journal of Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society. No 23 (1990) "The Surrender of an Armada Vessel near Tralee" by Brendan G. McCarthy The twenty galleons in the Squadrons of Portugal and of Castile, together with one more galleon in the Squadron of Andalucia and the four galleasses from Naples, constituted the only purpose-built warships (apart from the four galleys, which proved ineffective in the Atlantic waters and soon departed for safety in French ports); the rest of the Armada comprised armed merchantmen (mostly naos/carracks) and various ancillary vessels including urcas (storeships, termed "hulks"), zabras and pataches, pinnaces, and (not included in the formal count) caravels. The division into squadrons was for administrative purposes only; upon sailing, the Armada could not keep to a formal order, and most ships sailed independently from the rest of their squadron. Each squadron was led by a flagship (capitana) and a "vice-flagship" (almiranta). This list is compiled by a survey drawn up by Medina Sidonia on the Armada's departure from Lisbon on 9 May 1588 and sent to Felipe II; it was then published and quickly became available to the English. The numbers of sailors and soldiers mentioned below are as given in the same survey and thus also relate to this date.
List of Squadron Commanders Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia, commander of the Squadron of Portugal and of the whole enterprise Diego Flores de Valdés, commander of the Squadron of Castile Hugo de Moncada i Gralla, commander of the Squadron of Galleasses of Naples Juan Martínez de Recalde, commander of the Squadron of Biscay Pedro de Valdés, commander of the Squadron of Andalusia Miguel de Oquendo, commander of the Squadron of Guipuzcoa Martín de Bertendona, commander of the Squadron of Levantines Juan Gómez de Medina, commander of the Squadron of Hulks or Urcas Antonio Hurtado de Mendoza, commander of the Squadron of Communication (he died during the voyage to England, and was succeeded by Agustín de Ojeda) Diego de Medrano, commander of the Squadron of Galleys of Portugal (known as the São João Galleys), becoming interim Admiral on the Armada's return to Spain following the death of Admiral Miguel de Oquendo
These commanders did not necessarily sail in the capitana (flagship) of the squadron of which they were technically in command. For example, Juan Martínez de Recalde, as second-in-command of the whole enterprise, was aboard Medina Sidonia's flagship São Martinho (or San Martin in Spanish), which also carried the Duke's principal staff officers - Diego Flores de Valdés (chief advisor on naval matters) and (the general in charge of the fleet's military contingent). In view of this, in the event of the loss of the fleet flagship with its commanders aboard, it was determined by Felipe II that command of the enterprise would then devolve upon Alonso Martínez de Leiva, who commanded the Rata Santa María Encoronada of the Squadron of Levantines.
Ships of the Squadrons
Squadron of Portugal Twelve ships comprising ten galleons and two zabras (total seamen 1,293; total soldiers 3,330); São Martinho (48 guns). Known in Spanish as San Martin and in English as Saint Martin. Flagship of the commander-in-chief (Fleet Capitana), the Duke of Medina Sidonia and Maestre Francisco Arias de Bobadilla, the senior army officer. (São Martinho had an overall length of about with a beam of about . She carried the aforementioned 48 heavy guns on two enclosed gun decks, plus multiple smaller weapons). São João (de Portugal) 4 Galleys commanded by Captain Diego de Medrano: Capitana, Princesa, Diana, and Bazana (50 guns each), known in Spanish as the galleys of San Juan de Portugal and in English as Saint John of Portugal. Vice-flagship (Fleet Almiranta). Captained by Recalde (captain of this ship later in the expedition). São Marcos (33 guns). São Filipe (40 guns). São Luis (38 guns). São Mateus (34 guns). Known in Spanish as San Mateo and in English as Saint Matthew. Santiago (24 guns). Florencia (52 guns). The Tuscan-built galleon San Francisco (São Francisco in Portuguese) was appropriated, renamed and integrated within the squadron of Portuguese galleons.A galleon of 961 tons, built in Florence for the Tuscan Navy during the 1570s (the only galleon in the Tuscan Navy), and carrying 89 sailors and 194 soldiers. Older Portuguese galleons like the São Lucas and the São Rafael had already been withdrawn from service; one was still in the squadron at Lisbon, but was too small and too rotted to accompany the Squadron), and she was substituted by the Florencia.
NameTypeTonsBuilt atYear builtNo of gunsCrewTroopsFate São Martinho(Sp. San Martín) galleon1,000 Portugal 157848161317 Returned to Santander São João(Sp. San Juan) galleon1,050 Portugal 158650156387 Returned to A Coruña, subsequently burned there by Sir Francis Drake in May 1589 São Marcos(Sp. San Marcos) galleon790 Portugal 158533108274 Wrecked on the coast of County Clare, Ireland. São Luís(Sp. San Luis) galleon830 Portugal 158538100339 Returned to Santander São Filipe(Sp. San Felipe) galleon800 Portugal 158540108362 Ran aground and lost off Flanders, between Nieuport and Ostend. São Mateus(Sp. San Mateo) galleon750 Portugal 157934110286 Ran aground and lost off Flanders, between Nieuport and Ostend. São Tiago(Sp. Santiago) galleon520 Portugal 15852480293 Returned to Santander São Francisco(Sp. San Francisco de Florencia) galleon961 Tuscany 15855289294 Returned to Santander São Cristóvão(Sp. San Cristóbal) galleon352 Portugal 15802079132 Returned to Santander São Bernardo(Sp. San Bernardo) galleon352 Cantabria 15862165171 Returned to A Coruña Augusta zabra166 Cantabria 1585134349 unknown Julia Zabra166 Cantabria 1585144887 unknown
Squadron of Castile Sixteen ships comprising ten galleons, four armed merchant carracks (naos) and two pataches (total seamen 1,719; total soldiers 2,458); seven of the galleons were built as a class at Guarnizo in 1583–83. San Cristobal (36 guns). Flagship of Diego Flores de Valdés (who served as chief-of-staff to Medina Sidonia aboard the São Martinho throughout the campaign, and did not set foot aboard the San Cristobal during the campaign). San Juan Bautista (24 guns). Vice-flagship. San Pedro (24 guns). San Juan (24 guns). Santiago el Mayor (24 guns). San Felipe y Santiago (24 guns). Asunción (24 guns). Nuestra Señora del Barrio (24 guns). San Medel y Celedon (24 guns). Santa Ana (24 guns). Nuestra Señora de Begoña (nao). La Trinidad Bogitar (nao). La Santa Catalina (nao). San Juan Bautista (nao). Patache Nuestra Señora del Socorro (or Nuestra Señora del Rosario). (14 guns). Patache San Antonio de Padua (12 guns).
NameTypeTonsBuilt atYear builtNo of gunsCrewTroopsFate San Cristóbal galleon700 Santander 158336116202 Returned to Laredo San Juan Bautista galleon750 Santander 15852490244 Returned to Santander San Juan (el Menor) galleon530 Guarnizo 15842477231 Returned to Santander San Pedro (el Mayor) galleon530 Guarnizo 15842490184 Returned to Santander Santiago el Mayor galleon530 Guarnizo 158424103290 Returned to Santander San Felipe y Santiago galleon530 Guarnizo 15842475204 Returned to Santander Asunción galleon530 Guarnizo 15842470170 Returned to Santander Nuestra Señora del Barrio galleon530 Guarnizo 15832481202 Returned to Laredo San Medel y Celedón galleon530 Guarnizo 15842475200 Returned to Laredo Santa Ana galleon250 France 1581245498 Returned to Santander Nuestra Señora de Begoña nao750 Santander 15852481202 Returned to Cangas (Galicia) Trinidad nao872 Santander 15862479173 Lost off the coast of Desmond — probably at Valentia Island, off the coast of south Kerry Ireland Santa Catalina nao882 Santander 158624134193 Returned to Santander San Juan Bautista nao650 Santander 15852457183 Returned to Santanderon 7 October 1588 Nuestra Señora del Socorro(or Nuestra Señora del Rosario) patache75 Santander 1586141520 Possibly lost in Tralee Bay, County Kerry, Ireland.Discovering Kerry by T.J. Barrington. Backwater Press, 1976. San Antonio de Padua patache75 Santander 1586122020 Sank off the west coast of Ireland
Squadron of Galleasses of Naples Four ships (galleasses); the flagship (capitana) of Don Hugo de Moncada was the San Lorenzo; when she was captured by the French at Calais after a hard fight with the English, Moncada died from a bullet wound.
These powerfully-armed vessels were built for the Neapolitan Navy (probably in Sicily) a decade earlier. Each had 28 oars on each side, but relied on a square-rigged sailing arrangement installed for the 1588 campaign, as they were slow under oars alone. Their armament consisted on six forward-firing heavy cannon in the bows and four similar guns rear-firing in the stern; they also had 20 smaller guns (4- to 12-pounders) mounted in the fore and stern castles, and 20 swivel-mounted light guns on the raised catwalks above the rowers' benches. San Lorenzo (50 guns). Grounded at Calais after the Battle of Gravelines. Captured by the French after a hard fight with the English that cost Don Hugo de Moncada his life. Zúñiga (50 guns). Forced to take refuge at Le Havre after suffering rudder damage while trying to return home. It is unclear whether Zúñiga ever returned home. It was last reported silted up at Le Havre after an unsuccessful effort to sail home. Girona (50 guns). Wrecked 30 October 1588 at Lacada Point, County Antrim, Ireland. There may have been as many as 1,295 casualties due to the Girona carrying survivors from Santa Maria Rata Encoronada and Duquesa Santa Ana. Napolitana (50 guns).
NameNo of GunsBuilt atYear builtTonsCrewOarsmenSoldiersFate San Lorenzo50 Naples 1578380124300248 Grounded at Calais after the Battle of Gravelines. Zúñiga50 Naples 1578380104300226 Returned to Le Havre, where abandoned Girona50 Naples 1580380129300229 Lost driven on to Lacada Point and the "Spanish Rocks'" (as they were known, thereafter) near Ballintoy in County Antrim, Ireland on the night of 26 October 1588. Napolitana50 Naples 1581380102300221 Returned home intact, making landfall at Laredo, Spain.
Squadron of Viscaya (Biscay) Fourteen ships comprising ten naos and four pataches (total seamen 863; total soldiers 1,937); Santa Ana (30 guns: Flagship of Juan Martinez de Recalde, Captain General and second in command of the Armada). Commanded by Nicolas de Isla. El Gran Grin (28 guns: Vice-flagship). Commanded by Pedro de Mendoza. Santiago (25 guns). La Concepción de Zubelzu. (16 guns). La Concepción de Juan del Cano (18 guns). La Magdalena (18 guns). San Juan (21 guns). La María Juan (24 guns). La Manuela (24 guns). Santa María de Montemayor (18 guns). Patache La María de Aguirre (6 guns). Patache La Isabela (10 guns). Patache de Miguel de Suso (6 guns). Patache San Esteban (6 guns).