Second Battle of Algeciras

12–13 July 1801, The Strait of Gibraltar

British victory; two Spanish first rates blown up and one French ship taken

A Spanish squadron of five ships of the line came from Cádiz to bring Linois's damaged ships home. In six days the Gibraltar dockyard repaired Saumarez's ships, all but Pompée, and on the evening of 12 July, as the combined squadron sailed, his crews were cheered out of the harbour by the garrison. Saumarez sent Captain Keats in Superb, his fastest ship, ahead in the dark. Shortly before midnight she came up with the Spanish three-deckers Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo, fired into Real Carlos and passed on. In the darkness and confusion the two Spanish ships, each taking the other for the enemy, fired into each other, caught fire, fell together and blew up; some 1,700 men were lost. Superb went on to take the French Saint-Antoine. At dawn Venerable caught Formidable but was dismasted and driven ashore, and Formidable got into Cádiz. It was the last fleet action of the war before the Peace of Amiens.