Ships, Sailors & Soldiers: Comparing the Spanish and English Fleets

Vocabulary based on the comparison between the Spanish and English fleets during the Armada conflict.

Spanish Fleet

A fleet of $130$ ships, including $64$ battleships and store-ships that were slow and difficult to maneouvre.

English Fleet

A fleet of about $200$ ships, including $54$ battleships and about $140$ converted merchant ships that were smaller and more maneouvrable.

Spanish Soldiers

About $30,000$ soldiers, with an additional $20,000$ coming from Netherlands under Parma.

English Soldiers

About $20,000$ soldiers who were mostly untrained.

Spanish Sailors

About $8,000$ experienced sailors.

English Sailors

About $14,000$ experienced sailors, though many were unpaid or sick.

Duke of Medina Sidonia

The Spanish Commander described as brave and well-organised but inexperienced at sea.

Lord Howard of Effingham

The inexperienced commander of the English Fleet.

Francis Drake and John Hawkins

Two experienced Vice-Admirals serving under the English commander.

Spanish Weapons

$2,000$ cannon designed mainly to fire over short distances.

English Weapons

Nearly $2,000$ cannon that were lighter and quicker than those of the Spanish and effective over longer distances.

Spanish Tactics

To get close enough to enemy ships for men to board or capture them and to get the army safely to England.

English Tactics

To destroy enemy ships from a distance by firing cannon and to stop the Armada from landing.