Battle of Cape Benitachell

The Battle of Cape Benitachell was a naval battle that took place during the Bonaventura Wars on June 18, 1806 between the Antargentine Armada and the Royal Liotainian Navy. The battle resulted in an Antargentine victory.

### Overview

During the spring and summer of 1806, the War of the Fifth Coalition got underway as
Liotain, Firocco, and Celtica gathered their forces to prepare for an invasion of Antargentina. As part of the Coalition's preparations, the Liotainians planned to land an army in Valpo to establish a foothold in the center of Antargentine territory. In order to accomplish this invasion, they needed to knock out the smaller Antargentine battle fleet based in Navarro.

Although the Antargentine fleet had taken possession of captured ships from Pictfearr and Eirenn, their own native fleet had been trapped inside the Gulf of Argent and Nestorian Sea by the combined Firoccan and Liotainian navies. Nevertheless, they retained nine ships-of-the-line based in Navarro and three more in Bascanet. Additionally, during Bonaventura's invasion of Celtica, the Armada Antargentina captured six ships-of-the-line in the Celtican port city of Mena.

Anticipating the Coalition's moves, Antargentina's ranking admiral Juan de la Torre ordered the captured Celtican ships manned and moved to join with the Bascanet Squadron, which in turn would move north to rendezvous with the fleet in Navarro. The Liotainian Navy attempted to intercept the captured ships before they reached Bascanet, but a Coalition fleet of nine ships-of-the-line (six Liotainian and three Firoccan) intercepted them at the Battle of Cape Torrachia, just off Valpo. The Coalition successfully captured four ships and drove three more ashore, with two escaping due to the fall of night.

The fierce battle caused heavy casualties on both sides, however, and the Firoccan contingent withdrew to conduct repairs, leaving the Liotainians alone.

Noting that the blockading forces had been weakened, the de la Torre ordered the successful commander of the Flota Littoral (coastal fleet) Luis-Antello Murguia to take command of the Navarro Squadron and take his chances with fighting the Liotainians. Murguia had misgivings about the plan given the manpower situation (and lack of sea experience) of his ships, but accepted the order.

Murguia did his utmost to prepare his fleet for sea and for battle. A number of Eirennach sailors were dragooned into service and marched overland to Navarro, while many Valpoan and Antargentine sailors from the coastal fleet were shifted to man the ships-of-the-line. This final step represented a major risk on the part of the Antargentine commanders, as any defeat might weaken the coastal forces so much that they could not resist the Liotainian coastal forces.

### = Royal Liotainian Navy

* 9 ships-of-the-line
* 2 frigates

### Action

Murguia weighed anchor from Navarro before dawn on June 16th. Liotainian frigates posted offshore noted the Antargentine fleet's departure, and shadowed Murguia while summoning their own reinforcements - nine Liotainian ships-of-the-line led by Admiral Martinaitis. The Liotainians were not caught completely off guard but were unable to match the Antargentine numbers, as they still had three ships-of-the-line under repair following the Battle of Cape Torrachia.

The two fleets found themselves off Cape Benitachell on the morning of the 18th. Weather conditions were hot with very little wind. The two fleets closed the range, and by 2:00 in the afternoon began trading fire. After nearly two hours, Martinaitis and his captains felt the odds were turning against them, and Martinaitis ordered the fleet to disengage, using the slight evening wind to their advantage. The 74-gun \*Akylas\*, in the rear of the Liotainian line, was unable to successfully complete the maneuver due to a lost mainmast, and struck her colors at 5:15.

### Results

The Antargentine fleet claimed victory following the battle, having broken the blockade of Navarro and captured one Liotainian ship. However, they took heavy damage and casualties during the action, and could not capitalize on their success. Meanwhile, the Liotainians were reinforced within a month by repaired ships (including vessels captured in March at Cape Torrachia) as well as Firoccan vessels.

Less than a month after the battle, the Liotainian coastal fleet raided the Valpoan coast and fought the indecisive Battle of Porto San Leo against the Antargentine Flota Littoral. The inability of the Antargentine battle-fleet to prevent this raid demonstrated that even their victory at Cape Benitachell did not change the balance of power.

The two battle-fleets would meet a final time in January of 1808 for the Battle of Cape Vakaru.