Santa Maria de Visón (de Biscione)

The Santa Maria de Vison was a Mediterranean merchantman built in Ragusa and requisitioned in 1587 for service in the Armada of 1588. She was a large carrack and displaced 666 tons and carried 18 guns.

History
Spanish Navy EnsignSpain
NameSanta Maria de Vison
BuilderRagusa
AcquiredRequisitioned for Armada 6 May 1587 at Naples
FateWrecked 22 September 1588
General characteristics
Class and typeCarrack
Tons burthen666 tons
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement70 sailors
Armament18 guns of various weights of shot

Armada service

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She was part of the Levant squadron, a unit made up of mainly heavy transports carrying equipment and soldiers for the land invasion of England. Only one of the Levant squadron made it back to Spain. During the voyage half the fleets medical supplies were transferred to this ship after the La Paz became unseaworthy.

Wreck

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She was wrecked during a storm on 22 September 1588 of the coast of Cairbre Drom Cliabh (now county Sligo) on a sandbank off Streedagh strand. Her wreck was discovered in 1985 by an English salvage team.[1] The wreck is protected under the National Monuments (Amendment) Acts 1987 and 1994.

References

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  1. ^ Birch, Steven; McElvogue, D. M. (1999). "La Lavia, La Juliana and the Santa María de Vison: three Spanish Armada transports lost off Streedagh Strand, Co Sligo: an interim report". The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 28 (3): 265–276. doi:10.1016/S1057-2414(99)80050-8.