Lepanto, Naval Battle, 1571

Discussion in 'Other Conflicts' started by Interrogator#6, Nov 20, 2014.

  1. Interrogator#6

    Interrogator#6 Active Member

    Is anyone interested in a discussion of the historic naval battle of Lepanto?
     
  2. DancingLady

    DancingLady Member

    The name isn't ringing bell with me, who was involved in it? I may know about it but am just not remembering by the name.
     
  3. Interrogator#6

    Interrogator#6 Active Member

    From: "The Encyclopedia of Military History", p.562, by Duprey and Duprey:

    "The Battle of Lepanto, October 7, 1571.

    "When the Turkish fleet was discovered at Lepanto,... [Don] Juan's fleet available for battle was 108 Venetian galleys, 81 Spanish galleys, and 52 other provided by the pope and other small states. He also had 6 giant Venetian galleasses.

    "The Turkish fleet immediately moved out from Lepanto. Ali had 270 galleys, on the average somewhat smaller than the Christians'. The crews were probably not so experienced as those of the Christian ships.

    "The two fleets formed up in a traditional battle formation which had varied little since the Battle of Actium [BC 31 ?]: each in a long line of three divisions, with a reserve in the rear...."

    There is more to the entry.

    It was a battle fought by traditional foes by traditional ships (mostly) in a traditional way but with decisively untraditional results. Why? Because of those "6 giant Venetian galleasses." And naval warfare would never be the same. And the famous Spanish Armada, 1588, saw few galleys in either the Spanish or English fleets.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2014

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