 In July 1718, "Shrewsbury" had been engaged at the Battle of Cape Passaro, at which a Spanish fleet had been comprehensively defeated; Balchen's first great naval action and his first major victory.In May 1719, Balchen was given command of the 70-gun HMS "Monmouth" under Sir John Norris, and served in the Baltic and North Seas until 1722.In 1722, Balchen took over the guardship HMS "Ipswich" at Spithead and, in 1726, returned to the "Monmouth" for further service in the Baltic under Norris and Sir Charles Wager.