Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1657)

Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Part of Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660)
Robert Blake's flagship George at the battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1657.
Date 20 April 1657 [O.S. 30 April 1657] Location Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain 28°28′N 16°15′W / 28.467°N 16.250°W / 28.467; -16.250 Result English victory[1][2][3]
Belligerents
Spain	England
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Diego de Egües y Beaumont Alonso Dávila y Guzmán	Admiral Robert Blake Sir Richard Stayner
Strength
2 galleons,[a] 9 merchant ships,[b] 5 other vessels, 1 castle and various shore gun emplacements	23 warships[5]
Casualties and losses
12 ships sunk, 5 captured[6][c] 300 killed[8]	48 killed & 120 wounded[9][10]
class=notpageimage| Location within Canary Islands Show map of Canary Islands Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1657) (Africa) Show map of Africa

The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was a military operation in the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–60) which took place on 20 April 1657. An English fleet under Admiral Robert Blake penetrated the heavily defended harbour at Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Spanish Canary Islands and attacked their treasure fleet. The treasure had already been landed and was safe but the English engaged the harbour forts and the Spanish ships, many of which were scuttled and the remainder burnt. Having achieved his aim, Blake withdrew without losing any ships.^[11]

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