Talk:Battle of the Channel

Latest comment: 2 months ago by DavidDijkgraaf in topic Spanish victory?

Spanish victory?

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@Baal Nautes Do the sources in the article literally say that this was a Spanish victory? DavidDijkgraaf (talk) 18:15, 17 September 2024 (UTC)Reply

To be perfectly honest, I just translated the article from Spanish, I didn't read the sources myself, but overall it did seem a victory to me because, if the sources are correct, the Spanish fleet inflicted much more damage to the Dutch fleet than vice versa and the troops went to survive the interception and eventually reach Dunkirk. On the other hand, the Spanish article does call it a "strategic victory" and it would perhaps be a better description, but I don't know if that's an option in the English wiki. --Baal Nautes (talk) 22:43, 17 September 2024 (UTC)Reply
The Dutch sources actually say that most of the transported troops were captured or died in England. And Van Lennep calls it a complete success. This would warrant a 'Dutch victory' in the infobox and I am tempted to make that edit if the Spanish sources do not conflict with that narrative.
I also think that there might be some orignal research playing a part on the Spanish wikipedia. The fact that the Dutch fleet might have suffered a lot of damage does not mean that the battle was a Spanish victory, and it is improbable that a historian would call this battle a Spanish victory, even a nationalistic Spanish historian. DavidDijkgraaf (talk) 23:05, 17 September 2024 (UTC)Reply
It seems so. For now I have no reason to to oppose the Dutch victory, as Spanish sources do say Zubiaur did a last feat and avoided a disaster but nothng more. About the casualties, it seems Dutch and Spanish sources differ greatly about it. The Spanish ones (I'm reading Duro and the two new ones I just added to the bibliography) seem unanimous that almost all the carriers and troops escaped, with only the two ships and 400 men lost as reflected in the current article. Baal Nautes (talk) 12:18, 18 September 2024 (UTC)Reply
Right, I'll change it and I will try to look if I can some more sources on the casualties. Thanks for checking those sources. DavidDijkgraaf (talk) 12:53, 18 September 2024 (UTC)Reply