The outcome of the action that followed, the Battle of Velez-Malaga,
was indecisive. Not a single vessel was sunk or captured on either side but the
mutual battering left many ships barely seaworthy and casualties on both sides
were high.
Byng's squadron, having
expended so much ammunition in the previous bombardment of Gibraltar,
was obliged to quit the line.
During the following day, the French kept their distance. On
the next morning, the French fleet was nowhere to be seen. Rooke was fearful
that it might have gone ahead of him to Gibraltar.
In fact, the French had returned to Toulon claiming
a great naval victory.
The reality was, however, that by retreating to Toulon the French turned
what had been a tactical stalemate into an allied strategic victory, because
after the Battle of Velez-Malaga the French Navy never again emerged from port
in full strength.
Battle of Velez-Malaga
The Battle of Malaga
(or Velez-Malaga)
was the largest naval battle in the War of the Spanish Succession that
took place on 24 August 1704 south of Malaga,
Spain.
The
Battle
Less than a week after the Capture of Gibraltar, Admiral George
Rooke received intelligence that a French fleet under the command of Toulouse and d'Estrees was approaching Gibraltar.
Leaving half his marines to defend the newly won prize, Rooke immediately set
off with his combined English-Dutch fleet to engage the French.
