Action of San Mateo Bay

Action of San Mateo Bay
Part of the Anglo–Spanish War (1585)
Date 29 June – 1 July 1594 Location Esmeraldas River mouth, nowadays Ecuador Result Spanish victory[1]
Belligerents
Kingdom of England	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Richard Hawkins  (POW)	Beltrán de Castro
Strength
1 galleon 1 pinnace prize	1 galleon 1 galley-zabra
Casualties and losses
1 galleon captured 1 pinnace recaptured 27 killed 17 wounded 93 captured[2]	28 dead 22 wounded[1]

The action of San Mateo Bay or action of Atacames Bay was a naval engagement which took place from 29 June to 1 July 1594 between the galleon Dainty under the command of English privateer Richard Hawkins and a Spanish squadron of three galleons commanded by Beltrán de Castro at the mouth of the Esmeraldas river, nowadays Ecuador.