Action of 9 August 1780

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Action of 9 August 1780
Part of the American Revolutionary War
The British convoy of 63 merchant ships with all but 8 ships captured by the fleet under Luis de Cordova, Unknown author
Date 9 August 1780[1] Location Off Cape St. Vincent, Atlantic Ocean 35°50′1″N 13°14′0″W / 35.83361°N 13.23333°W / 35.83361; -13.23333 Result Franco-Spanish victory[2]
Belligerents
Spain  France	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Luis Córdova Jose Mazarredo Antoine Beausset	John Moutray
Strength
32 ships of the line[1] 6 frigates	1 ship of the line 2 frigates 63 merchantmen
Casualties and losses
None	3,144 prisoners 55 merchantmen captured[1][3][4][5][6][7]

The action of 9 August 1780 was a naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War, in which a Spanish fleet, led by Admiral Luis de Córdova y Córdova, along with a squadron of French ships, encountered a large British convoy. The Spanish and French force captured almost all the merchant vessels in the convoy, which dealt a severe blow to the commerce of Great Britain.^[8][9][10]

The British convoy, escorted by HMS Ramillies (74 guns, under Captain Sir John Moutray) and two frigates - Thetis (36 guns) and Southampton (36 guns), sailed from Portsmouth on 27 July. On 9 August, they encountered the Spanish fleet.

The Franco-Spanish fleet captured 55 of the 63 merchant vessels present, making it one of the most complete naval captures ever made.^[11] The losses, were, in total 80,000 muskets, equipment for 40,000 troops, 294 cannons, and 3,144 men. The financial impact of the losses were estimated to be around £1,500,000^[12] (£1,000,000 in gold and £500,000 – £600,000 in equipment and ships). The action also helped to derail a secret British diplomatic effort to make peace with Spain.^[13] The loss was still remembered in Great Britain (by then the United Kingdom) 30 years later, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars.^[12]