Battle of San Fernando de Omoa

Battle of San Fernando de Omoa
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Exterior view of the fort at San Fernando de Omoa. Photo taken in 2006
Date 16 October–29 November 1779 Location San Fernando de Omoa, Captaincy General of Guatemala, present-day Honduras Result British victory Subsequent withdrawal on the 29 November.[1][2][3][4] The fortress was later reoccupied by Spain.[5]
Belligerents
Great Britain	Spain
Commanders and leaders
William Dalrymple John Luttrell	Matías de Gálvez Simón Desnaux Juan Dastiex
Strength
885 regulars, marines, militia, & natives[6] 12 ships	365 regulars & militia 2 ships
Casualties and losses
6 killed 14 wounded additional casualties to disease[7] 1 frigate damaged	2 wounded 360 captured 2 ships captured[4]

The Battle of San Fernando de Omoa was a short siege and battle between British and Spanish forces fought not long after Spain entered the American Revolutionary War on the American side. On the 16 October 1779, following a brief attempt at siege, a force of 150 British soldiers and seamen assaulted and captured the fortifications at San Fernando de Omoa in the Captaincy General of Guatemala (now Honduras) on the Gulf of Honduras.

The British forces managed to overwhelm and capture the Spanish garrison, consisting of 365 men. The British only held the fort until November 1779. They then withdrew the garrison, which tropical diseases had reduced, and which was under threat of a Spanish counter-attack.