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Covadonga (ship)
Encyclopedia
The schooner Virgen de Covadonga
(1859) was a ship that participated in the Chincha Islands War
and the War of the Pacific
, under Spanish and Chilean flags. She was launched in 1859. Covadonga hit a floating mine and sunk off Chancay
in 1880.
, Spain
, on February 13, 1858. She was a wooden schooner that was also fitted with steam propulsion. She was launched on November 28, 1859 and her construction had cost a total 5 million Reales de Vellón. She was named for the Battle of Covadonga
- a highly symbolic event in Spanish history, being considered the beginning of the Reconquista
.
She was commissioned by Royal Command on October 8, 1858 Her first commander was Lieutenant Evaristo Casariego y García. She was originally intended as a mail boat between Manila
and Hong Kong
, with her berth at the Naval Base of Manila, in the Philippine Islands.
, the Covadonga served as an auxiliary ship to the Spanish fleet. The Chilean corvette
Esmeralda
, under the command of captain Juan Williams Rebolledo
, captured Covadonga during the Naval Battle of Papudo
, on November 26, 1865. Her capture led to Spanish Admiral Juan Manuel Pareja
committing suicide.
Covadonga was commissioned into the Chilean navy on December 4, 1865, under her original name. During this war, she also participated at the Naval Battle of Abtao
.
, the Covadonga together with the Esmeralda, as the oldest and slowest ships of the Chilean navy, were left behind to blockade the port of Iquique. There they participated in one of the most important naval battles of the war.
The Esmeralda faced the Huascar
at the Naval Battle of Iquique
, and the Covadonga manage to escape from the attacks of the Peruvian ironclad Independencia when the latter collided with a submerged rock and sank, after trying to ram the schooner; in the so called Naval Battle of Punta Gruesa
, both on May 21, 1879.
, the sailors of the Covadonga saw an unmanned boat loaded with fresh fruits and produce being carried by the currents. When they tried to lift the boat it exploded as the Peruvians had rigged it as a floating mine. Covadonga sank in less than 10 minutes.
In the disaster, out of the 109 men of the crew, the commander Captain Pablo Ferrari and 32 sailors died, the gun-boat Pilcomayo rescued 29, and the Peruvians captured 48. Among the dead was petty officer Constantino Micalvi, a survivor of the Naval Battle of Iquique
.
Covadonga
Covadonga is a village and one of 11 parishes in Cangas de Onís, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northwestern Spain...
(1859) was a ship that participated in the Chincha Islands War
Chincha Islands War
The Chincha Islands War was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru and Chile from 1864 to 1866, that began with Spain's seizure of the guano-rich Chincha Islands, part of a series of attempts by Isabel II of Spain to reassert her country's lost...
and the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
, under Spanish and Chilean flags. She was launched in 1859. Covadonga hit a floating mine and sunk off Chancay
Chancay
Chancay is a small city in the Lima Region of Peru. Its population is 26,958....
in 1880.
Construction
A Royal Order of June 10, 1857 led to Covadonga's keel being laid at the Arsenal de la Carrara in CádizCádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, 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...
, on February 13, 1858. She was a wooden schooner that was also fitted with steam propulsion. She was launched on November 28, 1859 and her construction had cost a total 5 million Reales de Vellón. She was named for the Battle of Covadonga
Battle of Covadonga
The Battle of Covadonga was the first major victory by a Christian military force in Iberia following the Muslim Moors' conquest of that region in 711...
- a highly symbolic event in Spanish history, being considered the beginning of the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
.
She was commissioned by Royal Command on October 8, 1858 Her first commander was Lieutenant Evaristo Casariego y García. She was originally intended as a mail boat between Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, with her berth at the Naval Base of Manila, in the Philippine Islands.
Chincha Islands War service
During the Chincha Islands WarChincha Islands War
The Chincha Islands War was a series of coastal and naval battles between Spain and its former colonies of Peru and Chile from 1864 to 1866, that began with Spain's seizure of the guano-rich Chincha Islands, part of a series of attempts by Isabel II of Spain to reassert her country's lost...
, the Covadonga served as an auxiliary ship to the Spanish fleet. The Chilean 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...
Esmeralda
Esmeralda (1855)
The Esmeralda launched in 1855, was a wooden steam corvette sunk during the War of the Pacific as was set against superior forces, fought until sunk with colors flying on 21 May 1879 at the Battle of Iquique...
, under the command of captain Juan Williams Rebolledo
Juan Williams Rebolledo
Juan Williams Rebolledo was a Chilean rear admiral who was the organizer and commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy at the beginning of the War of the Pacific.-Early life:...
, captured Covadonga during the Naval Battle of Papudo
Battle of Papudo
The Naval Battle of Papudo was a naval engagement fought between Spanish and Chilean forces on November 26, 1865, during the Chincha Islands War...
, on November 26, 1865. Her capture led to Spanish Admiral Juan Manuel Pareja
Juan Manuel Pareja
Vice Admiral José Manuel de Pareja y Septien was a Spanish naval officer, who commanded the Spanish forces during the Chincha Islands War .-Youth and early career:...
committing suicide.
Covadonga was commissioned into the Chilean navy on December 4, 1865, under her original name. During this war, she also participated at the Naval Battle of Abtao
Battle of Abtao
The Naval Battle of Abtao took place on February 7, 1866, between a Spanish naval squadron and a combined Peruvian-Chilean fleet, at the island of Abtao in the Gulf of Ancud near Chiloé Archipelago in south-central Chile.-Background:...
.
War of the Pacific service
During the War of the PacificWar of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
, the Covadonga together with the Esmeralda, as the oldest and slowest ships of the Chilean navy, were left behind to blockade the port of Iquique. There they participated in one of the most important naval battles of the war.
The Esmeralda faced the Huascar
Huáscar (ship)
Huáscar is a 19th century small armoured turret ship of a type similar to a monitor. She was built in Britain for Peru and played a significant role in the battle of Pacocha and the War of the Pacific against Chile before being captured and commissioned with the Chilean Navy. Today she is one of...
at the Naval Battle of Iquique
Battle of Iquique
The Battle of Iquique was a confrontation that occurred on May 21, 1879, during the naval stage of the War of the Pacific, a conflict between Chile and Peru and Bolivia. The battle took place off the, by then, Peruvian port of Iquique...
, and the Covadonga manage to escape from the attacks of the Peruvian ironclad Independencia when the latter collided with a submerged rock and sank, after trying to ram the schooner; in the so called Naval Battle of Punta Gruesa
Battle of Punta Gruesa
The Battle of Punta Gruesa took place on May 21, 1879 during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. This may be labelled as the second part of the Naval Battle of Iquique, although it is described in many sources as a separate battle.-Context:...
, both on May 21, 1879.
Fate
On September 13, 1880, while enforcing a blockade in the port of Chancay, PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, the sailors of the Covadonga saw an unmanned boat loaded with fresh fruits and produce being carried by the currents. When they tried to lift the boat it exploded as the Peruvians had rigged it as a floating mine. Covadonga sank in less than 10 minutes.
In the disaster, out of the 109 men of the crew, the commander Captain Pablo Ferrari and 32 sailors died, the gun-boat Pilcomayo rescued 29, and the Peruvians captured 48. Among the dead was petty officer Constantino Micalvi, a survivor of the Naval Battle of Iquique
Battle of Iquique
The Battle of Iquique was a confrontation that occurred on May 21, 1879, during the naval stage of the War of the Pacific, a conflict between Chile and Peru and Bolivia. The battle took place off the, by then, Peruvian port of Iquique...
.