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The Battle of La Guaira or La Guayra, took place on 2 March 1743 in the Caribbean, off the coast of La Guaira, present day Venezuela. La Guaira was a port of the Royal Gipuzkoan Company of Caracas, whose ships had rendered great assistance to the Spanish navy during War of Jenkins' Ear in carrying troops, arms, stores and ammunition from Spain to her colonies, and its destruction would be a severe blow both to the Company and the Spanish Government. A British expeditionary fleet under Sir Charles Knowles was defeated, and the expedition ended in failure. 400 men were killed and wounded, among whom was the captain of the ''Burford'', and many of the ships were badly damaged or lost. Sir Charles was therefore unable to proceed to Puerto Cabello until he had refitted.〔''The Navy In the War of 1739–48'', Cambridge University Press, p. 251〕 ==Background== The British Admiralty had decided to prosecute the war against the Spanish settlements, though on a different scale from that of the great expeditions of 1741 and 1742.〔''The Navy In the War of 1739–48'', Cambridge University Press, p. 244〕 Sir Chaloner Ogle, who had replaced Admiral Edward Vernon after the defeat at the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in 1741, prepared an invasion of another important commercial port on the Spanish Main. Believing La Guaira to be not well defended, Sir Chaloner Ogle wanted to take advantage and attack. On 22 February 1743, Sir Charles Knowles sailed from the island of Antigua with 19 ships:〔David Marley, ''Wars of the Americas; A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present'', California, 1998, p.263〕 * HMS ''Suffolk'' 70 gun third-rate * HMS ''Burford'' 70 gun third-rate * HMS ''Norwich'' 50 gun fourth-rate * HMS ''Advice'' 50 gun fourth-rate * HMS ''Assistance'' 50 gun fourth-rate * HMS ''Eltham'' 40 gun fifth-rate * HMS ''Scarborough'' 24 gun sixth-rate * HMS ''Lively'' 20 gun sixth-rate * HMS ''Otter'' 14 gun sloop * HMS ''Comet'' 8 gun bomb vessel (''flagship'') * Two Transport ships with 400 militia under Colonel Dalzell * Seven other ships Knowles underestimated the defences of La Guaira, believing it to be less well defended than Cartagena de Indias had been. He arrived at La Tortuga island on 27 February. It is said that the Spaniards had two months warning of the attack; whether this be true or not cannot definitely be stated.〔''The Navy In the War of 1739–48'', Cambridge University Press, p. 250〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of La Guaira」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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