July 29, 1588 - Defeat of the Spanish Armada

[Felix/FFDS]

SPANISH ARMADA DEFEATED:
July 29, 1588


Off the coast of Gravelines, France, Spain's so-called "Invincible Armada" is defeated by an English naval force under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake. After eight hours of furious fighting, a change in wind direction prompted the Spanish to break off from the battle and retreat toward the North Sea. Its hopes of invasion crushed, the remnants of the Spanish Armada began a long and difficult journey back to Spain.

[ozzy72]

Moral of the story don't mess with anyone crazy enough to carry on playing a pointless game in the face of doom, they're mental enough to be your demise

[C]

I remember being at the celebrations for the 400th anniversary in 1988 when they lit all the armada warning beacons around the south coast. Awesome sight. Strange that half the Armada ended up in northern Ireland...

[Hagar]

Strange that half the Armada ended up in northern Ireland...

If I remember correctly they sailed right up the east coast & round northern Scotland. Many of them foundered in bad weather on the way. Don't know how many got back home.

[ozzy72]

Strange that half the Armada ended up in northern Ireland

Not really, better Guiness up there

[H]

According to the legend of the Milesians, the last major migratory invaders of the main island, they arrived in Ireland from (what is now) Spain.

[Flt.Lt.Andrew]

Tis yet another indication of British superiority.


A.

[ozzy72]

It was not that we were superior Andrew, just we had some v.good luck, and often that is the most important thing in battle...
I can't remember who said it, I think Napolean, "I'd rather have a lucky general than a good one"

[H]

I can't remember who said it, I think Napolean, "I'd rather have a lucky general than a good one"

And every general would undoubtedly wish the same.