Spanish ship San Hermenegildo (1789)

The San Hermenegildo was a Spanish first-rate ship of the line launched in 1789. She was one of the largest and most powerful warships in the Spanish fleet during her time. Built at Havana, Cuba, she displaced over 2,000 tons and was armed with 112 cannons.

Her service history was relatively short but eventful, culminating in her accidental destruction during the Second Battle of Algeciras in 1801. During that engagement, confused amidst the darkness and the thick smoke of battle, the San Hermenegildo mistakenly engaged her sister ship, the Real Carlos. Both vessels grappled each other, resulting in a fierce and ultimately fatal exchange of fire.

A fire erupted on board the Real Carlos, quickly spreading out of control. The flames soon jumped to the San Hermenegildo, and both ships were engulfed in a raging inferno. The massive explosions that followed, caused by the detonation of their powder magazines, were devastating and resulted in the deaths of the majority of their crews, including hundreds of Spanish sailors. The loss of both ships was a significant blow to the Spanish navy. The incident is often cited as a tragic example of the dangers of naval warfare and the potential for errors in communication and identification during combat.