Battle of Havana (1748)

Battle of Havana (1748)
Part of the War of Jenkins' Ear

Sir Charles Knowles's Engagement with the Spanish Fleet off Havana
Richard Paton, 1770
Date12 October 1748
Location23°07′00″N 82°23′00″W / 23.1167°N 82.3833°W / 23.1167; -82.3833
Result See Aftermath
Belligerents
Great Britain Spain
Commanders and leaders
Charles Knowles Andrés Reggio
Strength
7 ships of the line 6 ships of the line
1 frigate
Casualties and losses
59 killed
120 wounded
86 killed
197 wounded
470 captured
1 ship of the line captured
1 ship of the line destroyed

The Battle of Havana was a naval engagement that took place between the British Caribbean squadron and a Spanish squadron based near Havana during the War of Jenkins' Ear. The battle occurred on the morning of the 12th and ended on 14 October 1748. The belligerents consisted of two squadrons under the command of Admiral Andrés Reggio of the Spanish Navy and Admiral Sir Charles Knowles of the Royal Navy, respectively.

The British succeeded in driving the Spanish back to their harbour after capturing the Conquistador and ran the vice-admiral's ship Africa on shore, where she was blown up by her own crew after being totally dismasted and made helpless. Although the advantage had clearly been with Knowles, he failed to use this to deliver a decisive blow. The battle was the last major action in the War of Jenkins' Ear which had merged with the larger War of the Austrian Succession.