Invasion of Algiers (1775)

Invasion of Algiers
Part of the Spanish-Algerian war (1775–1785)
Map of the Spanish attack on Algiers in 1775
Date July 8, 1775 Location Algiers, Deylik of Algiers Result Algerian victory
Belligerents
Regency of Algiers	Spain Tuscany
Commanders and leaders
Mohammed V Salah Bey Mohammed el Kebir Moustafa Waznadji Ali Agha	Alejandro O'Reilly Jose de Mazarredo Antonio Barceló Bernardo de Gálvez John Acton
Strength
Dey's personal guard: ~4,000 cavalry Beylik of Constantine: ~15,000 camelry Beylik of Oran: ~4,000 infantry Beylik of Titteri: ~10,000 Kabyle troops[1]	20,000[2]–26,000[1] 7 ships of the line 12 frigates 27 gunboats 5 hulks 9 feluccas 4 mortar boats 7 galleys 3 smaller warships 230 transports[2]
Casualties and losses
300 killed and wounded[3][4]	500[2]–800[5] killed 2,000 wounded[2] 2,000 captured[6]

The invasion of Algiers was a massive and disastrous amphibious attempt in July 1775 by a combined Spanish and Tuscan force to capture the city of Algiers, the capital of The Deylik of Algeria. The amphibious assault was led by Spanish general Alexander O'Reilly and Tuscan admiral Sir John Acton, commanding a total of 20,000 men along with 74 warships of various sizes and 230 transport ships carrying the troops for the invasion. The defending Algerian forces were led by Baba Mohammed ben-Osman. The assault was ordered by the King of Spain, Charles III, who was attempting to demonstrate to the Barbary States the power of the revitalized Spanish military after the disastrous Spanish experience in the Seven Years' War. The assault was also meant to demonstrate that Spain would defend its North African exclaves against any Ottoman or Moroccan encroachment, and reduce the influence that the Barbary states held in the Mediterranean.

The Spanish forces departed Cartagena in 1775 and sailed towards Algiers. On the coast, near the city, O'Reilly ordered the Spanish forces to land on the shores and capture the city, while the Spanish and Tuscan warships would protect the landing craft as they landed on the shore. However, the landing was flawed from the start, as the area chosen by the Spanish for the landing was not the one the pilots of the landing craft sailed towards, with the new landing site being totally unsuitable for bringing ashore the heavy artillery meant to bombard the city walls of Algiers. Most of the guns became stuck in the wet sand resulting in their absence from the ensuing fight. Despite this, the Spanish forces assaulted Algerian forces, who proceeded to draw back to positions further inland. The Spanish chose to pursue, but walked into a carefully set trap and suffered massive casualties, losing a quarter of their total force compared with light casualties on the Algerian side. Forced to retreat back to their boats waiting offshore, the assault ended in a spectacular failure and the campaign proved to be a humiliating blow to the Spanish military reorganisation.