Built as a first rate ship of the line for the Spanish Navy.
1784 Commence building at Havana, Cuba after plans made by Romero y Landa.
A three-decker, did have seven sisterships built along the same lines.
Fitted out and commissioned in El Ferrol, Spain in 1792 under the name SANTA ANA. (wrongly given by Stanley Gibbons as SANTA ANNA.)
Displacement 2.308 tons, dim. 210 x 58 x 27.5ft., draught 29ft.
Armament 30 – 36pdrs. 32 – 24pdr. 30 – 12pdr. 20 – 8pdr. guns.
1799 She attempted to sail with the Spanish fleet against England and join the French allies at Brest, France. But after sailing from Cadiz harbor she ran aground, and found to be taken water, and had to return to port for repair.
At the Battle of Trafalgar” on 21 October 1805, she was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Don Maria d’Alava in her first major action. The flag Capt was José Gardoqui.
The British ship ROYAL SOVEREIGN (100 guns) under Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood (1750-1819) was the first to engage her. Breaking the line behind the SANTA ANA and in front of the French LE FOUGUEUX (74 guns), Collingwood poured a broadside of double-shot from his port guns into the stern of the SANTA ANA. This deadly fire caused 200 casualties among the Spanish crew and their mizzen topmast came crashing down.
The ROYAL SOVEREIGN then came around and stationed herself on the SANTA ANA’s lee bow and there at muzzle range, the two ships fought. The SANTA ANA heavier guns at such range, however smashed the British ship with such force that she reeled over causing two of her lines of planking to be raised out of the water. But then a second British ship the HMS BELLEISLE (74 guns), approached firing a broadside into the SANTA ANA’s lee quarter. The SANTA ANA replied by carrying away the BELLEISLE’s mizzen mast and forging her to move out of range.
After an hour and a half both the SANTA ANA and the ROYAL SOVEREIGH had dismasted each other. Collingwood desperately called for aid from the British frigate HMS EURYALUS (36 guns) and transferred his flag to her. He then put a towline on the ROYAL SOVEREIGN and towed her around so that the relatively undamaged starboard side guns could be brought to bear. Within minutes of his new assault the SANTA ANA’s side caved in and she surrendered, since she was unable to return the fire.
Vice Admiral d’Alava was severely wounded in the head and could no longer command.
The SANTA ANA lost 104 men and 137 were wounded. As the British were taking their prize ships to Gibraltar, Commodore de Cosmao-Kerjulien, senior French officer at Cadiz, raided the British prize fleet and recaptured the SANTA ANA and the NEPTUNO (80 guns), but the latter vessel was wrecked trying to enter Cadiz harbor. The British prize crews transferred to the HMS THUNDERER (74 guns) and escaped by sailing on to Gibraltar.
The SANTA ANA was repaired and rearmed but spent the rest of the war blockaded in Cadiz harbor.
1810 She sailed to Havana to combat the republican uprising in Spain’s colonies in Latin America, and she spent the rest of her career there.
1812 She foundered at Havana and was lost.
Cuba 1996 85c sg 4077, scott 3746.
Paraguay 1987 60g sg?, scott 2232
Source: Trafalgar and the Spanish Navy by John D.Harbron. Campaign Vol. 14/3 as given in Watercraft Philately Vol 45/12.