History
Naval battle near Cuba
On the 30th of August 1638, there a naval battle took place between a part of the Spanish Tierra Firme fleet under the command of Carlos de Ibarra and a Dutch West India Company (WIC) fleet under command of Admiral Cornelis 'Peg Leg' Jol. The battle was fought near the west coast of Cuba, Organos.
The Faam was vice admiral ship. During the battle, vice admiral Roosendael had managed to come alongside the Spanish galleon San Marcos and clamp to it, but he died during this fight. The San Marcos managed to disengage and headed for Jol, who on his ship the Salamander, had attacked the Spanish admiral. The attack of the Dutch rear admiral Jan Mast's against the Carmen was also repulsed. This fight is vividly described by the captain of the Carmen, Urdanivia (see references). Jan Mast fell during this fight.
Description
Yard: Amsterdam
Crew: 100
Armament: 40 cannon
Status
In 1639 a list of ships was compiled that described the status of the WIC ships in Brasil. The Faam was old and battered. She was not operational at the time.
References
- NA, OWIC, 1.05.01.01, 57-185
Lijst van schepen en jachten te Brazilië. [1639] - Wright, I. A. (1934)
Nederlandsche zeevaarders op de eilanden in de Caraïbische zee en aan de kust van Columbia en Venezuela gedurende de jaren 1621-1648(9)..., II
pp 45