The Armada In the beginning, the English struggled to cause any damage to the Spanish's strong crescent formation. However, when the English sent 8 burning fireships towards the anchored up Spanish fleet, causing it to flee and the crescent formation to diminish. With this, on the following day, August 8th, the Battle of the Gravelines took place and the English practically decimated the Spanish forces, that struggled against the long range, powerful weapons used by the English.