"The Great Armada Myth" proclaims BBC History Magazine. Was the Spanish Fleet hit by a Kamikaze?

In 1274 a Mongol invasion fleet heading for Japan was dispersed by a major typhoon which the Japanese later gave the name Kamikaze, or Divine Wind.

Just over 300 years later, in 1588, another invasion fleet, this time the Spanish Armada attempting an invasion of England, also fell foul of the weather.

Lucy Worsley writing in BBC History Magazine (The Great Armada Myth, February 2020) informs us that the Spanish invasion fleet “. . . faced disease, rotting provisions and bad weather.”, before it even reached the English Channel.  When the Armada eventually reached France and was anchored awaiting further invasion troops it was attacked by English fireships. The Spanish panicked and sailed for the North Sea.

Ms Worsley tells us: “. . . what was left of the Armada was on its way home, running up around Scotland and Ireland to get back to Spain.  And there, in the north, the death knell was dealt to Spanish plans: not by Drake, Elizabeth l or brave English sailors – but by bad weather.”

So it seems it was not the ships of Francis Drake, John Hawkins, or Martin Frobisher that did for the dastardly Spanish and their Armada, but a hit by a Kamikaze!

Incidentally, BBC History Magazine has previous form with regard to debunking English naval victories.  In the August 2019 edition the cover has the headline Trafalgar – A Futile Victory?  And it is subtitled Why Nelson’s triumph didn’t turn the tide on Napoleon.  The article featured, by Sam Willis, is entitled Trafalgar: An overrated victory?  Mr Willis asks if the claim that Trafalgar was Royal Navy’s greatest triumph stands up to scrutiny.  More on this in a future blogpost!