Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - A shekara ta 1639, a lokacin gwagwarmayar Holland don 'yancin kai daga Spain, Tromp ya ci babban rundunar jiragen ruwa na Spain da ke zuwa Flanders a yakin Downs
, alama ce ta ƙarshen ƙarfin jirgin ruwan Mutanen Espanya. A cikin yakin farko, aikin 18 ga Satumba 1639, Tromp shine kwamandan jirgi na farko da aka sani don yin amfani da dabarun yaƙi. Babban jirginsa a wannan lokacin shine "Aemilia".