The Return of Spanish Africa: 1732 Spanish Invasion of Oran

The Spanish had long held territory within North Africa, but during the early 18th century, the nation would lose control over their long held holdings. The loss of land wouldn't last long however, and the Spanish would retake the land back that they had. Spanish North Africa has returned.

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Making up this grand fleet would be 12 ships of the line, each of them packing 60 or 74 guns. 50 frigates, packing 32 or 40 guns, 26 half galleys with six guns each, 96 Xebec vessels, acting as both troop and supply vessels. 109 troop Transport vessels, Plus hundreds more craft that included a combination of Brigs, Galleys, Bomb Vessels, mortar boats, and others. The army itself, was split into 32 infantry battalions, twelve royal guard regiments, and a company of Oranian riflemen, Amounting to 23,000 men. Aiding them, would be 3,400 cavalrymen, split into 8 regiments, as well as an artillery battalion which boasted 60 guns and 20 mortars.

Mustapha Bouchelaghem the Dey of Algeris, had received advanced warning of the Spanish invasion and gathered his forces for their eventual arrival. With him, would be his militia forces amounting to roughly 9,000 men, 1,500 of them being mounted tribal warriors. Most of the men were poorly if trained at all, and most were poorly equipped, many having firearms dating back decades if not hundreds of years, or were armed with swords and bows as their only offensive capability. At the center of the army, and acting as its hardened core however, were 150 Ottoman Janissaries with relatively modern equipment, including a small contingent of modern artillery, numbering ten pieces. Supporting the Dey, would be allied troops numbering 1,500 Turkish regulars and 5,000 horsemen from the Kingdom of Fez. The Ottomans themselves would send 2,000 Jannisarries from Constantinople to aid as well, but neither force was present during the invasion. The Dey would be left with his out numbered and out equipped forces to fend off the Spanish.

On June the 27th, the Spanish would arrive off the coast, landing just to the east of Mers el-Kebir. The landing was not heavily opposed, and only skirmishers, consisting of light Algerian Calvary would engage the Spanish, slowing them down on their advance towards the city. At a location between the two cities, the Spanish would set about building a small fort from where to launch their invasions from. The Algerians would attack multiple times at the encampment, but would be repulsed time and time again. With his force split between three locations, the Dey know that he didn't have the ability to stop the Spanish. Instead, he decided that the best course of action was to consolidate his forces, harass the invading troops as best as he could, and await reinforcements.

The Spanish would reach the gates of Mers el-Kebir on July the first, defending the city, was the 150 janissaries that the Dey had at his command, the rest of the men having been transferred out from the city, and taking up positions with the rest of the army in the mountain pass. The Spanish would put the city under siege, but the Janissaries surrendered on the same day, on the condition that they would be allowed to leave Algeria and return home. Albornoz, hearing that the Dey's troops were on the move, quickly advanced with 7,000 men towards the nearby mountains where he knew the bulk of the Algerian army was. Caught off guard by the sudden advance. The Algerian army scattered, some re-grouping in Oran itself, while many others simply laid down their arms and returned home. His forces now scattered and weakened even more, the Dey pulled all his troops out from Oran, knowing that defending it was not possible, and the Spanish would occupy the city on July the 5th.

This wouldn't be the last of the Dey's attempts however. In August, after Montemar had left North Africa, with a garrison of 8,000 troops in the cities. The Dey, now reinforced with the Fezian troops and Ottoman reinforcements, would attempt to take Oran again. With 10,000 men he'd advance on the city, but ultimately would fail. Losing 2,000 men to the Spanish's 500. While he would continue to prob the city for the rest of the year, he never had the manpower to dislodge the garrisoned troops, and he'd ultimately admit defeat and send the rest of his men back home. Leaving Spain once again with the Algerian footholds.