SAN FRANCISCO II
The
San Francisco II began life as the
Florencia, an Italian ship owned by the Duke of Tuscany. She was captured by the Spanish in 1586 and sailed to Lisbon, where her brass and bronze cannons and modern gun carriages were much admired by visiting Spanish naval officers. In 1588, she was one of the 130 vessels of the vast Armada that set sail from Spain bound for the Spanish Netherlands. There, they were to take aboard Spanish troops to mount an invasion on England aimed at restoring the Catholic monarchy. However, a combination of English tactics and foul weather put paid to their plans and the
San Francisco II was forced to head for home, sailing round the north of Scotland and down the Irish Atlantic coast. When she reached Santander, she was found to be so badly damaged that she was left to rot on the shore. According to some sources, her master, Captain Bartoli, having brought her home died the following day.
Length: 178ft (54.25m)
Beam: 63ft (19.2m)
Height: 137ft (41.75m)
Masts: 3
Complement: 86 crew, 400 soldiers
Armament: 52 guns
Launched: c.1569, Italy