5th Portuguese India Armada (Albuquerque, 1503) Cape Verde, the first squadron of Afonso de Albuquerque struck out into the south Atlantic, following the South Atlantic Gyre. Along the way, Albuquerque came across Ascension Island. Although the island had already been discovered back in 1501 by the Third Armada of João da Nova (and named "ilha da Conceição" then), Albuquerque renamed it "ilha da Ascensão" on account of it being Ascension Day (May 21), the name that has since stuck. Strong south-westerly winds pushed them towards the coast of Brazil, where Albuquerque made a brief stop to take on water (exactly where is uncertain), before making his
NRP Afonso de Albuquerque (1934) led by the Leopard-class frigate , just outside the Mormugao port. The two frigates and a minesweeper were an advance group of a task force which included the aircraft carrier and about ten cruisers, destroyers, frigates and minesweepers. At 1200, as the Portuguese commanders refused to surrender, the INS "Betwa" and her sister ship forced the entrance into the port and opened fire on "Afonso de Albuquerque", which moved towards the enemy ships and returned fire. At the same time, the final radio message was sent to Lisbon: "We are being attacked. We are responding." "Afonso de Albuquerque" was hit