Editing War of Jenkins' Ear (section)

===Second attack on La Guaira (2 March 1743)===
{{Main|Battle of La Guaira|Battle of Puerto Cabello}}
[[File:Sir Charles Knowles governor.jpg|thumb|Commodore [[Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet|Charles Knowles]] in armour, one hand gestures to fortifications and a burning ship]]

The British attacked several locations in the Caribbean with little consequence to the geopolitical situation in the Atlantic. The weakened British forces under Vernon launched an [[Invasion of Cuba (1741)|attack against Cuba]], landing in [[Guantánamo Bay]] with a plan to march the 45 miles to [[Santiago de Cuba]] and capture the city.{{sfn|Gott|2005|p=39}} Vernon clashed with the army commander, and the expedition withdrew when faced with heavier Spanish opposition than expected. Vernon remained in the Caribbean until October 1742, before heading back to Britain; he was replaced by admiral [[Chaloner Ogle]], who took command of a sickly fleet. Fewer than half the sailors were fit for duty. The following year, a smaller Royal Navy squadron led by commodore [[Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet|Charles Knowles]] raided the Venezuelan coast, on 2 March 1743 attacking newly [[Battle of Guaira|La Guaira]] controlled by Royal [[Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas]] whose ships had rendered assistance to the Spanish navy during War in carrying troops, arms, stores and ammunition from Spain to her colonies, and its destruction could have been a severe blow both to the Company and the Spanish Crown.

After a fierce defence by Governor [[:es:Gabriel José de Zuloaga Moyúa|Gabriel José de Zuloaga]]'s troops, Commodore Knowles, having suffered 97 killed and 308 wounded over three days, decided to retire west before sunrise on 6 March. He decided to attack nearby [[Battle of Puerto Cabello|Puerto Cabello]]. However, despite his orders to rendezvous at [[Borburata]] Keys—{{convert|4|mi|km}} east of Puerto Cabello, the captains of the detached ''Burford'', ''Norwich'', ''Assistance'', and ''Otter'' proceeded to [[Curaçao]]. The commodore angrily followed them in. On 28 March, he sent his smaller ships to cruise off Puerto Cabello, and once his main body had been refitted, went to sea again on 31 March. He struggled against contrary winds and currents for two weeks before finally diverting to the eastern tip of [[Santo Domingo]] by 19 April.{{sfn|Rodger|2005|p=238}}