[3][1] She was designed by Spanish naval architect José Romero y Fernández de Landa as a third-rate, two decked seventy-four gun ship of the line.

She departed Concepcion for Manila in the Spanish Philippines on 10 October 1796 accompanied by her fellow third-rates Montañes and San Pedro along with two 34-gun frigates, Pilar and Fama.

[6] A British force under the command of Edward Cooke raided Manila in January 1798, and found Europa to be one of the Spanish ships undergoing repairs there.

de Navarrete sailed the fleet to Southern China, where he intended to intercept Britain's annual – and extremely valuable – convoy of merchants returning to Europe from Canton.

[8] During the battle, the larger Europa attempted to pursue the lighter HMS Intrepid, but damage to Montañes forced de Navarrete to break off his attack and order a withdraw to Manila.