Aragon class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Aragon class of unprotected cruisers was a series of three cruisers built between the late 1860s and early 1880s for service with the Spanish Navy
. They were named for historic regions and kingdoms of Spain
.
s with a central battery ironclad design began in 1869, with plans to give them 890 tons of armor and 500 mm (19.7 inches) of armor at the waterline. In 1870, their design was changed to that of an unprotected cruiser or wooden corvette
; political events delayed their construction, but they finally were launched in this form in the years between 1879 and 1881 and completed in 1880 and 1882. Their original conception as armored ships and the change to an unarmored one during construction left them with an overly heavy wooden hull that was obsolescent by the time of they were launched.
The ships had two funnels and were rigged as barque
s. The lead unit's machinery was manufactured by the John Penn Company in the United Kingdom
, while her sisters' was manufactured at the naval shipyard at Ferrol following John Penn's pattern. The original main battery of Armstrong
-built 8-inch (203-mm) guns was obsolescent when the ships were completed, and were quickly replaced with more modern guns mounted in sponsons, with Aragon more heavily armed than her sisters. Designed for colonial service, they was never intended to fight the kind of heavily armed, armored, steel-hulled warships Castilla would face in the Battle of Manila Bay.
, were she was sunk, but it is known only that the other two were in home waters in the 1890s. Sources differ on whether Aragon and Navarra were hulked and then scrapped in the 1890s or survived into the early 20th century in non-combat roles.
, the lead unit, was under construction for eleven years before commissioning in 1880. In home waters in the 1890s, she either was hulked in 1896 and sold for scrap in 1900 or survived until stricken around 1905.
was under construction for thirteen years before commissioning in 1882. In home waters in the 1890s, she either was hulked in 1896 and sold for scrap in 1899 or survived to become a cadet training ship in 1900.
was under construction for thirteen years before commissioning in 1882. After early service in Spanish waters, she was sent to the Philippines
, where she supported Spanish operations against Philippine insurgents in 1896-1897, the early part of the Philippine Revolution
known to the colonial Spaniards as the "Tagalog Revolt." She was part of the squadron of Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasaron when the Spanish-American War
began, and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
. They were named for historic regions and kingdoms of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Description
Construction of the Aragon-class cruises as armored corvetteCorvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s with a central battery ironclad design began in 1869, with plans to give them 890 tons of armor and 500 mm (19.7 inches) of armor at the waterline. In 1870, their design was changed to that of an unprotected cruiser or wooden corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
; political events delayed their construction, but they finally were launched in this form in the years between 1879 and 1881 and completed in 1880 and 1882. Their original conception as armored ships and the change to an unarmored one during construction left them with an overly heavy wooden hull that was obsolescent by the time of they were launched.
The ships had two funnels and were rigged as barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
s. The lead unit's machinery was manufactured by the John Penn Company in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, while her sisters' was manufactured at the naval shipyard at Ferrol following John Penn's pattern. The original main battery of Armstrong
Armstrong Whitworth
Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,...
-built 8-inch (203-mm) guns was obsolescent when the ships were completed, and were quickly replaced with more modern guns mounted in sponsons, with Aragon more heavily armed than her sisters. Designed for colonial service, they was never intended to fight the kind of heavily armed, armored, steel-hulled warships Castilla would face in the Battle of Manila Bay.
History
Much of the operational history of the Aragon-class cruisers is obscure. Castilla served in home waters and then in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, were she was sunk, but it is known only that the other two were in home waters in the 1890s. Sources differ on whether Aragon and Navarra were hulked and then scrapped in the 1890s or survived into the early 20th century in non-combat roles.
Aragon
AragonSpanish cruiser Aragon
Aragon was an Aragon-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy in the late 19th century.-Technical Characteristics:Aragon was built at the naval shipyard at Cartagena, Spain...
, the lead unit, was under construction for eleven years before commissioning in 1880. In home waters in the 1890s, she either was hulked in 1896 and sold for scrap in 1900 or survived until stricken around 1905.
Navarra
NavarraSpanish cruiser Navarra
Navarra was an Aragon-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy in the late 19th century.-Technical Characteristics:Navarra was built at Ferrol, Spain. Her construction as an armored corvette with a central battery ironclad design began in 1869, with plans to give her 890 tons of armor and...
was under construction for thirteen years before commissioning in 1882. In home waters in the 1890s, she either was hulked in 1896 and sold for scrap in 1899 or survived to become a cadet training ship in 1900.
Castilla
CastillaSpanish cruiser Castilla
Castilla was an Aragon-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy that fought in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.-Technical characteristics:Castilla was built at Cadiz, Spain...
was under construction for thirteen years before commissioning in 1882. After early service in Spanish waters, she was sent to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where she supported Spanish operations against Philippine insurgents in 1896-1897, the early part of the Philippine Revolution
Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution , called the "Tagalog War" by the Spanish, was an armed military conflict between the people of the Philippines and the Spanish colonial authorities which resulted in the secession of the Philippine Islands from the Spanish Empire.The Philippine Revolution began in August...
known to the colonial Spaniards as the "Tagalog Revolt." She was part of the squadron of Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasaron when the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
began, and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.