| Spanish king Philip II planned to build a fleet unequaled in power in the 1580s in hopes of not only ending English raids on Spanish towns and ships but also to invade and conquer England. Eight years later, 130 large battleships sailed for England. The English failed to stop the fleet in long-range cannon duels. They next used ships laden with gunpowder and set afire to attack the Armada. The Spanish force eluded the fire ships by sailing out to sea, but strong gales wrecked most of the ships off the coast of Ireland, and only 67 ships returned to Spain. |
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