Said to have been launched in 1690 the San Felipe was the lead ship of the Spanish Armada. Although there are debates as to when the ship was actually built owing to lack of proper sources of information, it still generates great interest among model ship builders
The San Felipe was one of the most beautiful Spanish Galleons of the 17th century. Being the lead ship of the famed Spanish Armada it could displace about 1000 tons. Not only was the San Felipe majestic but it could carry 110 guns onboard which made it a formidable challenger against the British and French enemy ships. Funded by the gold collected in the visits to the Americas the Spanish Armada or fleet were the Goliath of their time and deemed practically infallible. But destiny had different plans for the fleet.
In 1705 the San Felipe participated in a furious 24 hour long battle between 12 Spanish ships and 35 British ships and was finally captured by the British. But it was very badly damaged from the fires caused by the British fire ships. It went down at sea, with rumors of several tons of gold inside it. The lack of credible news means we have very little information about this Spanish galleon.
Centuries after it sunk to the bottom of the ocean it is still a favorite topic of discussion amongst ship enthusiasts and historians alike.
No other ship or galleon in the Spanish fleet generates as much curiosity as the San Felipe and it is still a favorite of ship model collectors and enthusiasts.