Portuguese galleons belonged to the ocean-going system opened by Vasco da Gama's voyages, not solely to the Armada. They needed the endurance for long routes and enough firepower to impose themselves when they reached distant waters. Spain also depended on such ships to carry gold, silver, and other resources from its empire. San Martín's place in the Armada links the 1588 campaign to the maritime infrastructure that supported Iberian trade and imperial power.
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Portuguese galleons supported oceanic trade and empire
Portugal's galleon tradition grew from Vasco da Gama's oceanic routes and supplied the armed long-range shipping on which Iberian imperial wealth depended.