Third, it would bring a decisive concentration on the rear of the Franco-Spanish fleet.
The British took 22 vessels of the Franco-Spanish fleet and lost none.
The Franco-Spanish fleet also had six more ships of the line, and so could more readily combine their fire.
The arrival of a large combined Franco-Spanish fleet in May changed the strategic situation.
The rest of the fleet followed and the Franco-Spanish fleet were heavily defeated.
At 5:45 the van of the Franco-Spanish fleet opened fire.
Nelson formed up his lines and the British began to converge on the distant Franco-Spanish fleet.
The next morning the Franco-Spanish fleet had disappeared.
These were not the only problems faced by the Franco-Spanish fleet.
With the boom broken, and the forts silenced, the Franco-Spanish fleet was lost.