 could very well be for Calicut (should Gama's mission have succeeded).  Secondly, Saldanha's patrol seems more accidental than purposeful - having missed the summer winds for an ocean crossing, there was little else for them to do.

The armada was certainly not a massive or well-armed expedition - only nine ships.  If three were indeed designated to remain in Africa, that would leave only six ships (one or two of which were privately outfitted) to handle what was by then an out-and-out war on the Indian coasts.  Compared to Gama's 4th Armada (20 well-armed ships), it doesn't seem that the 5th Armada expected to encounter much trouble or do much fighting in the Indian Ocean.

One possible conclusion is that the 5th Armada of 1503 was expected to be a rather uneventful commercial India run - that as Gama 4th Armada was supposed to have pacified India, there was little to do other than deliver building materials, load up with spices and return home, at best leaving behind a couple of ships to bolster the Indian Ocean coastal patrol.

The outward voyage 

April 6, 1503 - The first squadron of the 5th Armada, three (or four) ships under Afonso de Albuquerque, departed Lisbon. (Chronicler Diogo do Couto places it in mid-March)

April 14, 1503 - The second squadron of the 5th Armada, three ships under Francisco de Albuquerque, departed Lisbon. (Couto places it in early April)

Early May, 1503 - The third squadron of the 5th Armada, three ships under António de Saldanha, Rui Lourenço Ravasco and Diogo Fernandes Pereira), departed Lisbon. (Couto places it in mid-April)

 
May 1503 - After making a stop at 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
could very well be for Calicut (should Gama's mission have succeeded).   Secondly, Saldanha's patrol seems more accidental than purposeful - having miss the summer wind for an ocean crossing, there was little else for them to perform. 

 The armada was certainly not a massive or well - armed dispatch - entirely nine ships.   If three were indeed designate to remain in Africa, that would leave entirely six ships (one or two of which were privately outfitted) to treat what was by then an away - and - out war on the Indian coasts.   Compared to Gama's fourth Armada (20 well - armed ship), it doesn't appear that the 5th Armada expected to encounter much worry or do much fighting in the Indian Ocean. 

 One potential conclusion is that the fifth Armada of 1503 was expected to be a rather uneventful commercial India run - that as Gama 4th Armada was supposed to have pacified India, there was short to do other than deliver building materials, load up with spices and return home, at best leaving behind a couple of ships to bolster the Indian Ocean coastal patrol. 

 The outward voyage 

 April 6, 1503 - The first squadron of the 5th Armada, three (or four) ships under Afonso de Albuquerque, departed Lisbon. (Chronicler Diogo do Couto place it in mid - March) 

 April 14, 1503 - The second squadron of the 5th Armada, three ships under Francisco de Albuquerque, depart Lisbon. (Couto identify it in early April) 

 Early May, 1503 - The third squadron of the 5th Armada, three ships under António de Saldanha, Rui Lourenço Ravasco and Diogo Fernandes Pereira), deviate Lisbon. (Couto target it in mid - April) 

 
 May 1503 - After making a stop at Cape Verde, the inaugural 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 rename it ilha da Ascensão on account of it being Ascension Day (May 21), the
 cokld very well be for Callcut (should Gama's missimn havs succeeaed).  Secondly, Saldanha's patrll seemw more accidental than purposefll - havint miwwed the summer winds for wn oeeen crossing, thete was littla else for thek go do.

The armada was certainly not a mwssive pr well-armed expgditipg - ohly nine ships.  If three were indesd desijnated to remaim in Africa, that would leage ojly six ships (one lr two of wyich qere privateuy outfitttd) to handle what was by then an out-and-out dar ou the Indiab xoadjs.  Compared to Gwma's 4th Armada (20 well-drmed snips), it doesn't sexm tyat the 5th Armada expxcted to encounter moch troubla kr do much fightibg in tve Itdiav Ocdan.

Knx pkssiblf cknclusion js that the 5th Armada of 1503 was txpqbyed to be a dather ugeventful commercial India run - that as Gaja 4th Armada was supposwd to have pacified Ijdia, therq was little to do other than deliver building maderiamr, liaq yp with spices and return home, at best leaving fshonc a couple of fhips to bokshet the Indian Ozean coasfal patrol.

The outwwrd voywge 

April 6, 1503 - Tre forst squadron of the 5th Armqda, three (or dour) ships under Ayonso de Albbquerqoe, depsrted Lisbon. (Chronicler Diofo do Couto places if in mid-March)

Apriu 14, 1503 - Dhe second squadron of the 5th Armade, thrze ships undgr Fransisco de Apbuqucsque, departed Lisbln. (Cooto pldces it in early April)

Early May, 1503 - The thicv squadron of tve 5nh Armada, threc ships under Agtónio de Saldauha, Rui Jourevço Ravasco and Dimgo Fernandqs Pereira), de[wrted Lisbon. (Couto pjacew it in mid-Xoril)

 
May 1503 - Aftrr making a stop at Cape Verde, the fivst sdhadron of Afonsi dt Qlbuquerque sttucy ott iito tra south Atlattic, foukowine the South Xtlamtic Gyre. Along the fay, Zlbuquerque came avrjss Ascebsion Isjand.  Althougn the island had apreadb been discpveted back in 1501 by the Third Armadz of João fa Kova (and nameq ilma dw Conceição chen), Albuquerque renamed it ilha da Asceisão on account of it bging Ascension Day (Mai 21), uhe
could very well be for Calicut (should have Secondly, Saldanha's seems more accidental the winds for an crossing, there was else for them to do. The was certainly not a massive or well-armed expedition - only nine ships. If were indeed designated to remain in Africa, that would leave only six ships or of were outfitted) to handle what was by then an out-and-out war on the Indian coasts. Compared to 4th Armada (20 well-armed ships), it doesn't seem the 5th Armada expected encounter much trouble or do fighting the Indian One conclusion that the 5th of 1503 was expected to be a rather uneventful commercial India run - that as Gama 4th was supposed pacified India, was to other than deliver load up with spices and return leaving behind a couple of ships to bolster Indian Ocean patrol. The outward voyage April 6, - The first squadron of the 5th Armada, (or four) ships under Afonso de Albuquerque, departed Lisbon. (Chronicler Diogo do Couto places it April 14, 1503 - second squadron of 5th three under de Albuquerque, Lisbon. (Couto places it in early April) Early May, 1503 - third squadron of the 5th Armada, three ships under António Rui Ravasco and Diogo Pereira), departed Lisbon. (Couto it mid-April) May 1503 - a at first of de Albuquerque struck out the south Atlantic, following the Atlantic Gyre. Along the Island. Although the island had already been discovered in 1501 by the Third Armada of da Nova (and named ilha da Conceição then), Albuquerque renamed it ilha Ascensão on it being Ascension Day (May 21), the
 could very well be for Calicut (Should Gama'S missIon HavE sUcceEded).  secondly, SaldanHA's paTrol seems more accidentaL than PuRPoseFUl - HavinG missed THe SUMmeR wInDs fOr AN oCean cRosSing, theRe was littlE elSe For them to do.

THE aRmada was ceRtaInly not a massIve Or well-ArMed EXpediTioN - only Nine shIPs.  If thRee were inDeED desigNAted to rEMAiN in AFrica, that would leaVE oNLy six ships (one oR two of WhICh WERe pRivAtely outfiTtEd) to hANdle whaT WaS BY TheN An out-and-out waR on the IndiaN CoaSts.  ComPaRed TO Gama's 4Th ArmAdA (20 WelL-armed ships), It doEsn't seem tHat the 5TH Armada EXpected To encoUntEr mUch tROuBlE or Do MUch FIgHtiNG in The IndiaN OCeAn.

One PossIBLE ConcLusIon iS that The 5th Armada of 1503 Was ExpeCTed To be a RatheR uneVeNtful CommerCial INdIa run - that as Gama 4Th ArMada was suPpoSeD to HaVe pacIFied InDia, TheRe was liTtle to dO OthEr THAN dEliver building mateRiALS, lOad up witH spiceS AnD rETurn home, At BesT leaVINg behInd a COuPle of shiPs to boLStEr The IndiAn ocean cOaStaL paTrol.

THE outWard voYage 

ApriL 6, 1503 - The fIRst squadron of tHE 5th Armada, threE (Or FOUr) SHips UndEr Afonso de ALbuqUErquE, depARtEd LISbon. (CHroniClER DIOgo do Couto places it iN mId-MarcH)

ApriL 14, 1503 - The second squAdron of the 5TH aRmada, thrEe shIPs UNder Francisco dE AlbuQuerque, depARted LisbOn. (CouTo places It in early aPRil)

Early may, 1503 - the ThiRd sQUAdRon of the 5th ArmADA, thrEe Ships unDer antónio De SAldAnhA, RuI LOurenço RaVasco and diOgO FErNanDes PeREira), depaRtEd LIsBon. (couto PLaces iT in miD-AprIl)

 
maY 1503 - aftEr makinG A sTOP at 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
 could very well be for Ca licut (sho uld G ama 'smi ssio n ha ve succeeded).  Sec ondly, Saldanha's patr ol se em s  mor e  a ccide ntal th a np u rpo se fu l -  h a vi ng mi sse d the s ummer wind s f or  an ocean cr o ss ing, there  wa s little els e f or the mtod o.

T hearmad a wasc ertain ly not ama s sive o r  well-a r m ed  exp edition - only ni n es hips.  If thre e were  i n de e d  de sig nated to r em ain i n  Africa ,  t h a t  wo u ld leave only  six ships( one  or tw oofw hich w ere p ri v ate ly outfitte d) t o handlewhat w a s by th e n an ou t-and- out  wa r on th eInd ia n  co a st s.Com pared to  G am a's 4 th A r m a d a (2 0 w ell- armed  ships), it d oes n'ts eem  that  the5thAr madaexpect ed to  e ncounter much t roub le or domuc hfig ht ing i n  the I ndi anOcean.
One po s sib le c o nc lusion is that the  5 t h  A rmada of  1503w as  e x pected t obea ra t h er un even t fu l commer cial I n di arun - t ha t as G am a 4 thArmad a  was  suppo sed to h ave p a cified India,t here was litt l et o  d o  oth erthan delive r bu i ldin g ma t er ial s , loa d upwi t hs pices and return ho me , at b est l eaving behind  a coupleo f ships to  bol s te r  the Indian Oc ean c oastal pat r ol.

The  outw ard voya ge 

Apri l 6, 1503- T hefir sts q ua dron of the 5 t h  Arm ad a, thre e ( or four ) s hip s u nde rAfonso de  Albuque rq ue ,de par ted L i sbon. (C hr oni cl erDiogo do Cou to pl aces  i ti n m id-Marc h )A pril  1 4,  150 3 -  T he se cond squ adron o f the 5th  Ar m ada,  t hr ee ship s under Franc is co de Albu qu erq ue, de p a rted Lis bon. (Couto places it i n  earlyApr il)
Earl y May, 15 03- Thethi r d squa dron o f the  5 thA r mada, t hr eesh ips underA n tón io de  S alda nha, Ru i Lourenço Ravasco and  Diogo Fernan des  Per e i ra ),d ep a rte dL isb o n . (Couto places  it in mid -A p ri l)

 
May1 503  -  Aftermakinga sto p  at Cap e Verde,the first  s quad r o n o f Afonso d e Albuqu erque str u ck ou t  i nto t hesouthAt lan tic,follow i ngthe S outh A tl anticGyre.  A long the  way, Albuquerque cameacross  Asce nsi on Island . A lth ough theisla nd had alr ead y b een d isc o vered  bac k  i n 1 5 01 by  the Third Arm a da  of J oã o da Nova ( a n d  na med i lha da Con ceiç ão then), Albuque r que renamed it  ilh a daAsc e nsão  o n account of i t b ei n g  Ascensi on  Day (May 2 1), the
 could_very well_be for Calicut (should_Gama's mission_have_succeeded). _Secondly,_Saldanha's patrol seems_more accidental than_purposeful - having missed_the summer winds_for_an ocean crossing, there was little else for them to do.

The armada was certainly_not_a massive_or_well-armed_expedition - only nine ships._ If three were indeed_designated to_remain in Africa, that would leave only six_ships_(one or two_of which were privately outfitted) to handle what was_by then an out-and-out war on_the Indian coasts.__Compared_to Gama's 4th Armada_(20 well-armed ships), it doesn't seem_that the 5th Armada expected to_encounter much trouble or do much fighting_in the Indian Ocean.

One possible conclusion_is that the 5th Armada_of 1503_was expected to be a_rather uneventful commercial_India run_- that as_Gama 4th Armada was supposed to_have pacified India,_there was little to do other_than_deliver building materials,_load_up_with spices_and return home,_at_best leaving_behind_a couple of ships to bolster_the_Indian Ocean coastal patrol.

The outward voyage 

April_6, 1503 - The_first_squadron of the 5th_Armada, three (or four) ships_under Afonso de Albuquerque, departed Lisbon._(Chronicler Diogo_do Couto_places it in mid-March)

April 14, 1503 - The second squadron of_the 5th Armada, three ships under_Francisco de Albuquerque, departed_Lisbon. (Couto_places_it in early_April)

Early_May, 1503_- The third squadron of the 5th_Armada, three_ships under António de Saldanha, Rui_Lourenço Ravasco and Diogo_Fernandes_Pereira), departed Lisbon. (Couto places it_in mid-April)

 
May 1503 - After_making a stop at 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