Action of Faial

Action of Faial
Part of the Anglo–Spanish War
Faial Island, off which the action was fought
Date 22–23 June 1594 Location Off Faial Island, Azores, Atlantic Ocean 38°18′N 28°36′W / 38.300°N 28.600°W / 38.300; -28.600 Result English victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Iberian Union Portugal	England
Commanders and leaders
Francisco de Melo Canaveado	Earl of Cumberland
Strength
1 carrack of 2,000 tons 700 men	3 galleons of 250–300 tons 420 sailors
Casualties and losses
1 carrack destroyed 600 killed or wounded[3] 13 survived/captured	60 killed or wounded (35 killed in explosion)[4]

The Action of Faial or the Battle of Faial Island was a naval engagement that took place on 22–23 June 1594 during the Anglo-Spanish War in which the large and richly laden 2,000-ton Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas was destroyed by an English privateer fleet after a long and bitter battle off Faial Island in the Azores. The carrack, which was reputedly one of the richest ever to set sail from the Indies, was lost in an explosion which denied the English, as well as the Portuguese and Spanish, the treasure.^[1][5]