Armada

Timeline of the Armada

By Serena Pagliarulo
  • Armada signted out at sea

    Armada signted out at sea

    A fast ship went back to pass on the news; a series of beacons where lit to pass the news as quickly as possible along the coast
  • Armada sighted off Cornwall's coast

    Armada sighted off Cornwall's coast

    English fleet sailed out of
    Plymouth.
  • Armada got into its fighting formation.

    Armada got into its fighting formation.

    English fleet behind the Armada
  • The Armada anchored at the port of Calais. The Spanish began by pushing the fireships out of the way with long hooks but the guns that had been left on board began to explode and they panicked, all trying to get out of the way.

    The Armada anchored at the port of Calais. The Spanish began by pushing the fireships out of the way with long hooks but the guns that had been left on board began to explode and they panicked, all trying to get out of the way.

    Reinforcement ships had arrived to
    join the English and it was decided
    to act quickly before the Duke of
    Parma could arrive with his army.
    A number of old ships were stuffed
    full of things that would burn and
    then they were set alight and sent
    into Calais.
  • The Spanish ships tried to regroup while the fighting continued but they were being blown along the coast towards the port of Gravelines in the Netherlands and the ships were almost wrecked on some sandbanks.

    The Spanish ships tried to regroup while the fighting continued but they were being blown along the coast towards the port of Gravelines in the Netherlands and the ships were almost wrecked on some sandbanks.

    The English attacked fiercely,
    sailing close to the Spanish so
    that they didn't waste their
    ammunition. At this point it was
    not clear whether the Armada
    had been defeated and Hawkins
    continued to ask for more food
    and ammunition.
  • The wind continued to blow against the Armada, preventing them from sailing back to the English Channel.

    The wind continued to blow against the Armada, preventing them from sailing back to the English Channel.

    The English followed at a distance
    - they didn't really have enough
    ammunition to attack. Once it
    became clear the Spanish were
    leaving, the English returned to
    port.