In July 1588 King Philip II of Spain sent a fleet of 130 ships to Flanders to escort an army across the English Channel to attack England.
As they made their way in a crescent shaped defensive formation along the English Channel they were attacked by Sir Francis Drake and arrived at Gravelines near Calais on July 27th 1588.
There the English navy used "Hell Burners" which were old ships filled with anything flammable then set alight and allowed to drift into the Spanish formation breaking it up & scattering the fleet.
With the weather worsening and with their way back through the English Channel blocked they sailed north along the east coast of England and then around the north of Scotland into the Atlantic and from there make their way back to Spain.
It was now mid-September and with the ships in poor shape not having enough supplies or water for such a trip, conditions on board were terrible, but worse was to come, a navigational error meant they turned south too early sailing much closer to the Scottish isles and west coast of Ireland than planned.
1588 was also known for worse than usual north Atlantic storms and gales which drove a number of ships onto the rocks.
It is believed the up to 5000 Spanish sailors and soldiers died either by drowning, starvation or slaughter at the hands of English forces when they did manage to make it ashore.
Only 67 of the 130 ships made it back to Spain.
For some more detailed info click here.
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