Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, major, early modern

Battle of Cape Passaro

Battle of Cape Passaro was a naval engagement fought on 11 August 1718 at Capo Passero, in what is now Italy. It was part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance, which ran from 1718 to 1720. The recorded result: British victory.

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In this painting, created half a century after the event, the action is shown at about 4 o'clock. Byng's flagship the 'Barfleur', 90 guns, is prominently depicted firing her starboard broadside, in st
In this painting, created half a century after the event, the action is shown at about 4 o'clock. Byng's flagship the 'Barfleur', 90 guns, is prominently depicted firing her starboard broadside, in st. Richard Paton (1717–1791), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought11 August 1718
WhereCapo Passero, Italy36.687N, 15.148E
OutcomeBritish victory
BelligerentsGreat BritainagainstSpain
Part ofWar of the Quadruple Alliance1718 to 1720

Where it sits in the War of the Quadruple Alliance

Battle of Cape Passaro, 1718Capture of Pensacola, 1719Siege of San Sebastián, 1719Siege of Seu d'Urgell, 1719Capture of Vigo and Pontevedra, 1719Siege of Roses, 1719Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 1719Villasur expedition massacre, 172017181720Battle of Cape Passaro, 1718
8 placed engagements of the War of the Quadruple Alliance in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date11 August 1718
PlaceCapo Passero, Italy
36.687N, 15.148E
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength21 ships of the line; 1 frigate; 2 fireships; 2 bomb vessels; 1 storeship; 1 hospital ship12 ships of the line; 18 frigates; 7 galleys; 2 sloops; 2 fireships
Casualties and losses500 killed or wounded2,400 killed or wounded; 3,600 captured; 7 ships of the line captured; 1 ship of the line destroyed; 6 frigates captured; 1 frigate scuttled
Commanders
  • Sir George Byng
  • Charles Cornwall
  • George Delaval
  • José Antonio de Gaztañeta
Battle of Cape PassaroBattle of Cape PassaroBattle of SyracuseSiege of SyracuseSiege of SyracuseSiege of SyracuseSiege of SyracuseBattle of SyracuseSiege of SyracuseSiege of SyracuseVallettaCatania100 km36.687N, 15.148E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1718

Battle of Cape Passaro is one of 2,009 engagements of the 18th century in the atlas and one of 942 in present-day Italy.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q241110, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Cape Passaro, revision 1381564542, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.