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We continue telling our modeler friends the history of a fundamental warship in its next journey. The time has come for the Spanish ship of the line Santa Ana in Trafalgar, the naval battle that pitted the Iberians against the English Navy. The Hispanic vessel departs from the Bay of Cádiz on October 20th 1805 to arrive at Trafalgar the next day.

Commanding the Santa Ana? Commander José de Gardoqui, with the help of Lieutenant General Ignacio María de Álava and a Franco-Spanish fleet led by Gallic Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve and Lieutenant General Federico Gravina y Nápoli at the head of the ship Príncipe de Asturias. Of course, it should be noted that other important ships also accompany them. The vessels San Juan Nepomuceno with Cosme Damián de Churruca and Elorza, the Bahamas with Dionisio de Alcalá Galiano and the Santísima Trinidad with Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros. In addition, they are joined by numerous Spanish nobles and sailors.

SANTA ANA IN TRAFALGAR: DUEL AGAINST HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN

The Santa Ana in Trafalgar maintains a historic duel against the British ship led by Vice Admiral Collingwood, the relevant HMS Royal Sovereign. It all begins during the morning of October 21st 1805, when the two fleets position themselves for the combat. In this sense, Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve with the ship Bucentaure of 80 cannons lined up his ships to, in principle, avoid the confrontation. However, you must desist from maintaining the balance of peace. Two English naval formations in a line attack from the north and south. The famous 100-gun HMS Victory with Admiral Lord Horacio Nelson on deck and the other 100-gun Royal Sovereign with Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood.

What are the first targets of the English? One, to divide the Franco-Spanish front into the vanguard and the center. The other, to separate the center from the rear. The Santa Ana in Trafalgar stands at the center of the battle line. It is then that he sees that the Royal Sovereign is approaching on his port side, so he decides to get out of formation to fight her. One of the greatest naval confrontations in history begins. They are the ones who light the fuse of the fight.

However, it is still not known for sure in which of the two warships shout fire first. Apparently, what is clear is that the Santa Ana in Trafalgar almost sank at the moment due to the fury and precision of the English guns. Other ships of the Spanish fleet become aware of the difficult situation that the Santa Ana ship of the line is going through and come to its aid.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIGHT IN TRAFALGAR BETWEEN SANTA ANA AND ROYAL SOVEREIGN

Consequences of all this? Huge damage to the Royal Sovereign that almost sank it when attacked from both flanks, although shortly after other English ships gave it a hand and she continued afloat. It is towed with deep difficulties to Gibraltar.

The Santa Ana in Trafalgar is left with extremely significant damage: the rudder is practically unusable, the stern almost does not exist and its decks are in broad daylight. The British take the ship, but the Spanish with the help of ship Rayo manage to raise their flag again. Known the terrible state of the ship, the French frigate Thetis tows it to Cádiz to fix itself. The La Carraca arsenal entered the dock on February 20th 1806, where it was completely repaired and even included a new copper lining. On December 9th Santa Ana is ready to sail again.

Human casualties? The battle of the Santa Ana in Trafalgar, unfortunately, led to the death of 97 crew members, in addition to injuring 141 more. Of course, this ship of the line stands as the first to manage to stop the English.

SAD END FOR A GIANT OF SPANISH AND WORLD NAVAL HISTORY

Beyond the Battle of Trafalgar, the Spanish ship of the line Santa Ana has little more life. Starting because in 1808, just at the beginning of the Spanish War of Independence, it was unable to participate in the confrontation and capture of Admiral Rosily’s Gallic squadron in Cádiz. Why? Because it is still being repaired in the arsenal, so a new naval tactical disappointment for Spain.

In August 1812, it sets sail for Havana, where it arrived in November together with the Prince of Asturias and the English Implacable in a pitiful state. Without drinking water or food, their crews arrive in a fatal state of health. The intention is to insure these ships during the war against the French, but the cost was very expensive.

In 1816, the Spanish warship sinks in the Havana arsenal due to lack of hull. Its maintenance work is zero. It is located in one of the parts of the port. As last services, the Santa Ana is destined to, at least, act as a pontoon and as a depot for sailors. As a curiosity, in 1834 you could still see the Santa Ana together with the Príncipe de Asturias, both sunk. It provided more than three decades of highly relevant service for Spain. The Santa Ana is a true naval icon.

WOODEN MODEL SHIP KIT SPANISH SHIP OF THE LINE SANTA ANA AT 1:84 SCALE

Relive the Battle of Trafalgar with us. Bring this Spanish naval bastion back to life by building the splendid wooden model of the Spanish ship of the line Santa Ana (22905-N). New and limited Trafalgar 1805 edition! Find out on these two videos!

Read the first part of the post…

We are lucky and our elite modelers friends too. You already know that we have manufactured a new edition of a very famous Spanish ship of the line: the so-called ‘Trafalgar 1805’. Let’s get to know, then, the relevant history of Santa Ana vessel in order to have a better perspective of what this great ship was like before assembling its splendid model ship in wood at 1:84 scale.

HISTORY OF SANTA ANA VESSEL: DIMENSIONS

The Santa Ana was a Spanish ship of the line equipped with 112 cannons that was part of the glorious Spanish Armada. Of course, in the Battle of Trafalgar it was armed with 104 cannons and 32 howitzers, but… What were its measures? It had a length of 213.4 feet and a beam of 58 feet, in addition to a total weight of more than two tons. To build it, the plans of the Navy engineer José Romero Fernández de Landa were taken as an example. This, in turn, was based on how another ship of the line was created: the Purísima Concepción. In this case, the one who would direct the construction of the Santa Ana would be Miguel de la Puente, using the aforementioned guidelines, with the engineers Sánchez Bort and Tomás Muñoz.

The beautiful Santa Ana sailboat was erected as one of the pioneering ships with three decks called ‘Meregildos’. In this very special group of ships, there were also another seven that were born later as Príncipe de Asturias, Mejicano, Reina María Luisa, Conde de Regla, Salvador del Mundo, Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo. All were built based on the Santa Ana by Royal Order of 1786.

HISTORY OF SANTA ANA VESSEL: FEATURES

Its characteristics? Huge decks, great maneuverability, a strong military muscle thanks to its numerous cannons and a great resistance capacity against the attacks of the sea and enemies. It carried three masts with square sails and two or three artillery decks. It even had lightning rods and metal chains! If one fell, the system channeled the electrical discharge to the sea.

The history of the Santa Ana vessel shows it as one of the best. He created a new way of fighting in those times that would be essential for the Navy. The different ships lined up one behind the other to create an artillery front that fired at the same time. Although the Santa Ana was launched in 1784, even years later it still underwent some improvements.

The Santa Ana and her naval brothers became the best warships on the European continent. It was a ‘sea monster’. Their crew? 745 sailors on its three decks, as a warship. When a conflict broke out, it was increased to 1,050. And, in the Battle of Trafalgar, it was up to 1,102. Of course, the largest of the ships of the line would finally be Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad, called ‘El Escorial de los Mares’.

INITIAL MARITIME JOURNEYS OF THE SHIP OF THE LINE

The history of the Santa Ana vessel begins in 1785 with Commander Félix de Tejada at the helm to make its first voyage, its first test. The maritime route began in El Ferrol and ended in Cádiz. He realizes that, even though it is very resistant in the worst navigation conditions, certain improvements must be made to the rigging and he opens the third La Carraca breakwater a year later.

In July 1797, the ship of the line Santa Ana begins to forge its legend. Admiral Jervis and Rear Admiral Nelson of the British Royal Navy attempt to storm Cádiz. And that is where sixteen gunboats are positioned between Rota, La Caleta (gate of Seville) and Sancti Petri, and an additional fifteen at the mouth of the port. Thus, they support the warship and reject the English under the orders of José de Mazarredo. Of course, the blockade and the British presence is repeated more times.

In February 1798, the Santa Ana resumed its maritime voyage with Mazarredo’s squadron. Twenty-two ships, five frigates and three brigantines to pursue the British fleet, made up of only 9 ships and several frigates. This withdrew towards San Vicente, while the Spanish squadron, failing to catch up with them, entered Cádiz again on the 13th. Jervis appeared four days later with twenty-two ships and six frigates to resume the blockade.

HISTORY OF SANTA ANA VESSEL: FIRST SETBACKS

Commander Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros took command in July 1799, aided by Lieutenant General Grandallana, campaigning in the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Cadiz. However, anecdotally, he was stranded shortly after starting his journey towards Brest together with the French fleet.

What happens then? That the Spanish warship is forced to return to the port of the Andalusian city to disarm and repair itself. A great setback for Spain for which Hidalgo de Cisneros is tried in court martial, although he is totally acquitted at the end of the process. Just before the Battle of Trafalgar, in which we will deepen in the next post, the history of the ship Santa Ana joins the captaincy of Alcalá Galiano between 1803 and 1804.

In the meantime, you can read more about the Santa Ana Line Ship Wooden Model (22905-N) and you can order it at this other link. Be amazed by its beauty and go ahead and build it!

Read the second part of the post…

Tag: battle

Santa Ana in Trafalgar (II): The Spanish Naval Standard Bearer that Fought in the Battle against the English Fleet