Anson peered through his telescope, trying to assess the enemy’s strength. The galleon’s gun deck extended 124 feet—20 feet shorter than the Centurion’s. And compared to the Centurion’s sixty cannons, many of which fired twenty-four-pound balls, the galleon had only thirty-two guns, the largest mere twelve-pounders. In terms of firepower, the Centurion was clearly superior. But Montero had one crucial advantage. His ship was carrying 530 people—300 more than the Centurion—and the men on the Covadonga were generally healthy.
