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Blockade of Western Cuba

Blockade of Western Cuba (1591)
Part of the Anglo–Spanish War

Map of Cuba at the time of the blockade, that took place between the Western tip and Havana
DateMay – July 1591
Location
Between Cape San Antonio & Havana
Present-day Cuba
Result English victory[1][2]
Belligerents
England England  Spain
Commanders and leaders
Michael Geare
William Lane
Christopher Newport		 Diego de la Ribera
Antonio Navarro
Strength
10 ships[3] 7 galleons
2 galleys
2 pinnaces
Ships of Plate Fleet convoy[4]
Casualties and losses
1 bark sunk[5] 2 galleons captured[6]
8 ships captured, sunk, or burned[5]
2 galleys severely damaged[7]

The Blockade of Western Cuba, also known as the Watts' West Indies Expedition of 1591, was an English privateering naval operation that took place off the Spanish colonial island of Cuba in the Caribbean during the Anglo–Spanish War. The expedition along with the blockade took place between May and July 1591 led by Ralph Lane and Michael Geare with a large financial investment from John Watts and Sir Walter Raleigh.[8] They intercepted and took a number of Spanish ships, some of which belonged to a Spanish plate convoy of Admiral Antonio Navarro, and protected by the Spanish navy under Admiral Diego de la Ribera intending to rid English privateers.[9] The English took or burnt a total of ten Spanish ships including two galleons, one of which was a valuable prize.[7][10] With this success and the loss of only one ship the blockade and expedition was terminated for the return to England.[11] The blockade was one of the most successful English expeditions to the Spanish Main during the war militarily and financially.[7][12]

  1. ^ Watt's ships, scored a tremendous success in 1591. Andrews p 106
  2. ^ Bradley pp 106–07
  3. ^ Quinn pp 333–34
  4. ^ Wernham, Richard Bruce (1980). List and analysis of state papers, foreign series: Elizabeth I June 1591 – April 1592 Volume 3. Public Record Office. p. 413.
  5. ^ a b Andrews p 167
  6. ^ English privateering voyages to the West Indies, 1588–1595, Volume 111. Hakluyt Society at the University Press. 1959. p. 127.
  7. ^ a b c Dean pp 102-03
  8. ^ "Publications of the Catholic Record Society". Catholic Record Society. 52: 153. 1959.
  9. ^ Childs p 183
  10. ^ Marley p 124
  11. ^ Wright, Irene Aloha (1951). Further English Voyages to Spanish America, 1583–1594: Documents from the Archives of the Indies at Seville Illustrating English Voyages to the Caribbean, the Spanish Main, Florida, and Virginia. University of Michigan: Hakluyt Society. p. LXXVIII.
  12. ^ Nichols/Williams p 66

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