Planning The strength of the Spanish fleet came from its crescent formation plan – but when the English broke this up with their fireships, the Spanish became vulnerable and exposed to attack.

He sent an army under the Duke of Alva to defeat the ... other factors such as English piracy, led to Philip finally deciding to invade England, by means of the Spanish Armada.

The English sent fireships – old ships loaded with pretty much anything that would burn – among the Spanish. The Armada broke formation, and was now vulnerable. And on 29 July, the English ...

Print Collector/Getty Images The English fleet defeated the Spanish Armada in the English Channel in 1588 It is remembered as one of the greatest naval battles in history, when the English fleet ...