The monitor Puigcerda
By Francisco Jose Diaz Diaz
GENERAL:
During the last Carlist War, the Spanish Government ordered the construction
ofvarious ships to support the loyal army in the north. One of this ship
was the monitor PUIGCERDA. The vessel existed into the era of the Spanish
American War.
BACKGROUND:
PUIGCERDA was the only monitor which saw service in the Spanish Navy.
During the last Carlist War, the City of Bilbao (North of Spain) was blockaded
by the Carlist troops. To support the garrison of Bilbao, Spanish Government
bought this monitor in France. She was launched in 1874 and was commissioned
in 1875. PUIGCERDA and gunboats SEGURA, ARLANZA and TURIA served
in the Nervión River, which passes through Bilbao. When the war
ended, she was sent to Ferrol Harbor until 1890. In 1890 she was decommissioned.
On 1898, when Spanish American War broke out, Monitor PUIGCERDA was
rearmed and sent to Vigo Harbour to prevent an American attack on the Spanish
Coast. In 1900 the vessel was sold.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The monitor design was outdated, and not suitable for modern seagoing
warfare.
TECHNOTES:
On 1898, when Spanish American War burst, Monitor "Puigcerdá"
was rearmed and sent to Vigo Harbour to prevent American attack to Spanish
Coast. In 1900 was sold.
TECHNOTES:
| Classification |
|
Iron-Hulled Monitor |
| Keel Laid |
|
?
|
| Launched: |
|
1874 |
| Commissioned |
|
1875
|
| Hull |
|
Iron |
| Armament: |
|
One 160 mm (6.3 inch) guns |
|
|
Two 120 (4.7 inch) guns |
| Contractor: |
|
Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterreneé, La Seyne,
Toulon, France. |
| Length: |
|
41 m |
| Beam: |
|
9 m |
| Draft: |
|
2 m |
| Displacement |
|
553 tons |
| Complement: |
|
59 men |
| Engine Type: |
|
Engines listed as generating 530 HP |
| Boiler Type: |
|
? |
| Speed: |
|
8 knots |
| Coal bunker capacity: |
|
23 tons |
| Normal coal supply: |
|
? |
| Armor: |
|
100 mm thick |
| Cost: |
|
? |
Lledó Calabuig, José "Buques de Vapor
de la Armada Española 1834-1885" (Steam ships of Spanish Navy from
1834 to 1885) (Madrid, 1998, published by Agualarga Editores S.L.)
