The Spanish Armada was completely defeated in 1588. At first, the English failed to break apart the strong crescent formation of the Spanish ships. However, a breakthrough came when Drake sent fireships into the Spanish fleet at Calais. This split up their tight formation and allowed the English ships to attack them at the Battle of Gravelines. Five Spanish ships were sunk at Gravelines and many more were damaged - no English ships were lost. The wind direction then made it impossible for the Spanish ships to meet up with reinforcements in the Netherlands. Instead, they were blown into gales in the North Sea and many ships were wrecked on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland. Only 60 ships returned to Spain and around 20,000 Spanish lost their lives.

Why the Spanish Armada L.O.S.T.:

Leaders: Sir Francis Drake and Lord Howard of Effingham were more experienced than the Spanish leader, the Duke of Medina Sidonia.
Organisation: the Spanish were more prepared for fighting on land once they had invaded, rather than at sea. Many of their cannons either didn't have cannon balls or lacked space to reload them. They failed to collect the Duke of Parma's army that was waiting to help them in the Spanish Netherlands.
Storms: the wind made it impossible for the Spanish ships to meet up with reinforcements in the Netherlands. Gales then wrecked large numbers of Spanish ships as they attempted to sail home around the north coast of Scotland.
Tactics: the English ships were faster and more nimble. Their cannons were more accurate and had a longer range. Broadside attacks were able to damage the Spanish ships from a safe distance. Fireships were effective in breaking up the Armada's crescent formation.

Signficance of the Defeat of the Armada:

England remained independent and Protestant.
It was a huge propaganda victory for Elizabeth. She claimed that the Armada had been defeated by a 'Protestant Wind', showing that God was on their side. This boosted morale at home and furthered the myth of Gloriana.
The English navy further developed their tactics helping England to become a great naval power.
England continued to be at war with Spain until 1604.

For more detail on the Spanish Armada see here (2020 Historic Environment Depth Study).

GCSE Elizabethan England 1568-1603 AQA

Defeat of the Armada