Anglo-Spanish War: The Spanish Armada

August 8, 1588 - Off the coast of Gravelines, the English fleet clashes with the Spanish Armada (left). Its formation broken from an English fireship attack, the Armada suffered heavily from English gunnery. Following the Battle of Gravelines, the Armada abandoned its mission of aiding in the invasion of England and attempted to sail home by circling the British Isles. While off the coast of Ireland, it encountered a hurricane which drove over two dozen ships ashore. Only 67 of the Armada's 130+ ships safely returned to Spain.

Photograph Courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org