Velasco class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Velasco class of unprotected cruisers
was a series of eight cruisers built during the 1880s for service with the Spanish Navy
. They were named for famous Spaniards of the past.
at Leamouth
, London
in the United Kingdom
, had fewer but heavier guns and were slightly faster than the next six, which were built at various yards in Spain
. The class took a long time to complete, with the two British-build ships being laid down in 1881 and the last Spanish built one not being completed until 1889. The ships had one rather tall funnel, an iron hull, and barque
rigging. They were unarmored.
. The three survivors lasted into the early 20th century, with the last one stricken in 1927.
was in the Philippines
at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.
was sent to the Philippines, where she sank in a typhoon in 1884.
was the longest lived of the class, undergoing a reconstruction in 1911 and not being stricken until 1927.
saw action during the Spanish-American War in the Second and Third Battles of San Juan
, and was stricken in 1907.
was lost off Cuba
in October 1895.
was in the Philippines
at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898. Salvaged, repaired and in 1900 commissioned into American Navy.
was in the Philippines
at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.
was stricken around 1905
Unprotected cruiser
An unprotected cruiser was a type of naval warship in use during the late Victorian or pre-dreadnought era . The name was meant to distinguish these ships from “protected cruisers” which had become accepted in the 1880s...
was a series of eight cruisers built during the 1880s for service with the Spanish Navy
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 famous Spaniards of the past.
Description
The Velasco class consisted of two slightly different subclasses. The first two ships, Velasco and Gravina, built by the Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd.Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company
The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Limited was a shipyard and iron works straddling the mouth of Bow Creek at its confluence with the River Thames, at Leamouth Wharf on the west side and at Canning Town on the east side...
at Leamouth
Leamouth
Leamouth is the area to the west of the mouth of the River Lea at the River Thames at . The northern part of the area lies within a meander of the Lea; the southern part is bounded in the west by the former East India Docks, on two sides by the Lea and by the River Thames to the south...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
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...
, had fewer but heavier guns and were slightly faster than the next six, which were built at various yards in 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...
. The class took a long time to complete, with the two British-build ships being laid down in 1881 and the last Spanish built one not being completed until 1889. The ships had one rather tall funnel, an iron hull, and 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...
rigging. They were unarmored.
History
The Velasco-class cruisers generally were assigned to colonial service. They were an ill-fated class, with two lost at sea and three more sunk during the Spanish-American WarSpanish-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...
. The three survivors lasted into the early 20th century, with the last one stricken in 1927.
Velasco
Completed in 1881, VelascoSpanish cruiser Velasco
Velasco was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy which fought in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.-Technical Characteristics:...
was in 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...
at the outbreak of 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...
in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.
Gravina
Completed in 1881, GravinaSpanish cruiser Gravina
Gravina was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy.-Technical Characteristics:Gravina was built by the Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. at Leamouth, London in the United Kingdom. Her keel was laid in 1881. She had one rather tall funnel. She had an iron hull...
was sent to the Philippines, where she sank in a typhoon in 1884.
Infanta Isabel
Completed in 1889 or 1889, Infanta IsabelSpanish cruiser Infanta Isabel
Infanta Isabel was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy.-Technical Characteristics:Infanta Isabel was built at the naval shipyard at Cadiz. Her keel was laid in 1883, she was launched on 26 June 1885, and she was completed in 1888 or 1889. She had one rather tall funnel...
was the longest lived of the class, undergoing a reconstruction in 1911 and not being stricken until 1927.
Isabel II
Completed in 1889 or 1889, Isabel IISpanish cruiser Isabel II
Isabel II was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy that fought at San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the Spanish-American War.-Technical Characteristics:...
saw action during the Spanish-American War in the Second and Third Battles of San Juan
Third Battle of San Juan (1898)
The Third Battle of San Juan began on 28 June 1898 when a Spanish blockade runner was intercepted by an American auxiliary cruiser. A Spanish squadron attempted to rescue the blockade runner and succeeded in taking off supplies and her crew but failed to save the ship, which was engaged by the...
, and was stricken in 1907.
Cristobal Colon
Completed in 1889 or 1889, Cristobal ColonSpanish cruiser Cristobal Colon (1887)
Cristóbal Colón was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy.-Technical Characteristics:Cristóbal Colón was built at La Carraca shipyard, Cadiz, Spain. Her keel was laid in 1883. She had one rather tall funnel. She had an iron hull and was rigged as a barque...
was lost off Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in October 1895.
Don Juan de Austria
Completed in 1888 or 1889, Don Juan de AustriaSpanish cruiser Don Juan de Austria
Don Juan de Austria was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy that fought in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.-Technical Characteristics:...
was in 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...
at the outbreak of 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...
in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898. Salvaged, repaired and in 1900 commissioned into American Navy.
Don Antonio de Ulloa
Completed in 1888 or 1889, Don Antonio de UlloaSpanish cruiser Don Antonio de Ulloa
Don Antonio de Ulloa was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy that fought in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.-Technical Characteristics:...
was in 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...
at the outbreak of 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...
in April 1898 and was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.
Conde del Venadito
Completed in 1888 or 1889, Conde del VenaditoSpanish cruiser Conde del Venadito
Conde de Venadito was a Velasco-class unprotected cruiser of the Spanish Navy.-Technical characteristics:Conde de Venadito was built at the naval shipyard at Cartagena, Spain. Her keel was laid in 1883, she was launched on 15 August 1888, and she was completed in 1888 or 1889. She had one rather...
was stricken around 1905