2nd Class GB

Spanish 2nd Class Gunboats - Part 2

By Nick Mitiuckov

General:

The following is some basic information on the 2nd Class Spanish Gunboats. The author is searching for more information on these vessels, and would like verification of the facts as listed below. If you can in either of these items, please contact the website administrator, and he will put us in contact! We need your help!

GADITANO

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
233 tons	38.9m x 6.8m x 2.2m	100	7 knots	830 miles	60 tons	Gaditano

The vessel waslaunched in 1860 in Cartagena, Spain. Her armament consisted of one 120mm/?cal bronze muzzleloading rifle and 1 machine gun. Her crew complement is unknown.

The vessel was a wooden-hulled gunboat specially built for use in shoal actions in Cuba. By the beginning of the Cuban Insurrection, she was in very poor Condition. She was struck from the navy rolls in 1895, and was in great disrepair by 1898.

The vessel's name means "Cadiz born and bred" in Spanish.

INDIO

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
179 tons	32.51m x 6.76m x 1.80	137	6.5 knots	900 miles	34 tons	Activo

The vessel was laid down on June 23, 1869 and launched on August 27, 1869 in New York. She had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 120mm/?cal bronze muzzleloading rifle. She had a complement of 33 men and 2 officers. The vessel cost cost 242,500 pesetas ($48,500).

The vessel was an wooden-hulled gunboat built in the U.S. during the First Cuban Insurrection as a gunboat for shoal actions. The funding for the vessel was half provided by the government, and half by contributions for Cuban people and businessmen loyal to Spain. She was dropped from the navy rolls in 1896. During the Spanish American War she was in very poor condition, completely breaking down in 1898.

The vessel's name means "Indian" in Spanish.

LEYTE - Click here to visit the LEYTE Page

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
151 tons	30.02m x 5.03m x 2.24m	120	8 knots	2000 miles	25 tons	Albay

The vessel, built in 1887, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 87mm/27cal breechloading gun, one 70mm/16cal breechloading gun, and 2 machine guns. She had a complement of 35 men.

The vessel was built for service in the Philippines. The details of her service are unknown, but during the Spanish American War, she guarded the entrance to Manila Bay. After the battle, she disappeared into the shallows On May 29, she attempted to escape the Bay but was captured by the USRC McCULLOCH and destroyed. After the ar, she was erpaired and commissioned in the U.S. Navy on march 22, 1900. She was struck from the Navy rolls on May 27, 1907 and sold on December 16, 1907.

The vessel was named for an island in the Philippines.

MACMAHON

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
115 tons	27.76m x 4.88m x 1.52m	150	10 knots	450 miles	10.5 tons

The vessel, built in El Ferrol Shipyards Spain in 1887, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of two 42mm/42cal quick-fire guns, one 37mm/30 cal rapid-fire gun. She had a complement of 31 men.

The steel-hulled vessel was built for service around Metropolis. Beginning in 1890, she was on the naval list as serving in the Ferrol naval Group, where she had patrol, guard and customs service. She satyed on the rolls until the 1930's, though the deatails are not known.

The vessel was apparently named for Rear-Admiral MacMahon, the commander of the Spanish rear-guard at the Battle of Trafalgar.

MANILENO

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
142 tons	30.25m x 4.78m x 1.86m	150	9 knots	1200 miles	30 tons	Manileno

The vessel, built in Hong Kong in 1885, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 87mm/27cal breechloading gun and 2 machine guns. She had a complement of 35 men.

The iron-hulled vessel was built for service in the Philippines. During the Spanish American War, she apparently served around Mindanao. In early 1899, she was captured by the Filipino Insuregents and sold to the Americans. On May 25, 1899, she was added to the U.S. Navy rolls. She was decommissioned at Cavite on October 31, 1900. She remained at the Cavite Navy Yard until being struck from the rolls on February 11, 1900 and sold on June 8, 1906.

The vessel's name means "Manila Born and Bred" in Spanish.

MARIVELAS

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
142 tons	30.40m x 4.96m x 2.01m	150	11 knots	1800 miles	30 tons	Manileno

The vessel was built in Hong Kong in 1886. Her armament consisted of one 70mm/16cal breechloading gun and 4 machine guns. She had a complement of 35 men.

The iron-hulled vessel was built for service in the Philippines. During the Spanish American War, she apparently served around Panay. After the war, she was sold to the Americans in 1898. On June 17, 1899, she was included on the U.S. Navy rolls. She was struck from the rolls on June 6, 1908 and sold on January 2, 1909.

The vessel was named for Marivelas, a mountain, town and harbor on Luzon.

MINDANAO

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
160 tons

The vessel, built in Cavite, Philippines. Her armament consisted of one 87mm/27cal breechloading gun and 2 machine gun. She had a complement of 35 men.

The steel-hulled vessel was built at Cavite for use i the Philippines. She was captured and destroyed by the Americans at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898.

The vessel was named for an island in the Philippines.

MINDORO

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
142 tons	30.02m x 4.88m x 1.65m	120	8 knots	2200 miles	30 tons	Manileno

The vessel, built in Hong Kong in 1886, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 70mm/16cal breechloading gun and 4 machine guns. She had a complement of 35 men.

The iron-hulled vessel was built for service in the Philippines. During the Spanish American War, she apparently served around Panay. After the war, she was sold to the Americans on June 12, 1899 and added to the U.S. navy rolls. She was sold for scrp on April 19, 1912.

The vessel was named for an island in the Philippines.

PAMPANGA

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
202 tons	34.72m x 5.19m x 2.03m	220	10 knots	1800 miles	32 tons	Samar

The vessel, built in 1888 in Cavite, Philippine Islands, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 87 mm/27cal breechloading gun and one 70mm/16cal. rapid-fire gun. She had a complement of 35 men.

The vessel was a steel-hulled gunboat built for service in the Philippines. During the Spanish American War, she served around Luzon. She was captured and destroyed by the U.S. Army in Manila Bay in June 1898. Later, she was repaired, being completed on June 18, 1899. She commissioned in the U.S. Navy on November 9, 1899. The vessel was decommissoned at Hong Kong on November 6, 1928 and sunk as a target near the China coast on November 21, 1828.

The vessel was named for a native tribe living in the Philippines.

PANAY

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
145 tons	27.98m x 5.39m x 1.78m	150	8 knots	1800 miles	25 tons	Manileno

The vessel, built in Hong Kong in 1886, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 87mm/27cal breechloading gun, 70mm/16cal breechloading gun, and two machine guns. She had a complement of 35 men.

The iron-hulled vessel was built for service in the Philippines. During the Spanish American War, she apparently served around Panay. After the war, she was sold to the Americans on June 3, 1899 and added to the U.S. navy rolls. She was sold for scrp on April 15 1920.

The vessel was named for an island in the Philippines.

PARAGUA

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
201 tons	34.77m x 5.19m x 2.01m	220	10 knots	1500 miles	32 tons	Samar

The vessel was a steel-hulled gunboat built for service in the Philippines. During the Spanish American War, she served around Luzon. She was captured and destroyed by the U.S. Army on May 29, 1899. Later, she was added to the U.S. navy rolls. The vessel was decommissoned at Hong Kong on April 19, 1911 and struck from the Navy rolls in June 17, 1911 and sold.

The vessel was named for an island in the Philippines. In 1905, the island was renamed Palawan.

PELICANO

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
145 tons	34.21m x 6.46m x 2.34m	160	8 knots	780 miles	23 tons	Pelicano

The vessel, built in Caracca, Spain in 1871, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 120mm/?cal muzzleloading rifleand 1 machine gun. She had a complement of 48 men.

The vessel was a wooden-hulled vessel which was launched during the Second Carlist War. She was originally named CAIMAN, but was renamed while still in the slip. Her frist service was in the vicinity of Spain, but after that, little in known of her career, except that she probably served in Fernando-Po.

The vessel was named for the Spanish word for "pelican".

PILAR

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
255 tons	35.23m x 6.63m x 2.49m	260	8.5 knots	850 miles	30 tons	Pilar

The vessel, built in 1881 in Cartagena, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 120mm/25cal breechloading gun and one 25 mm machine gun. She had a complement of 49 men.

The vessel was an iron-hulled gunboat built for service off Spain. During the Spanish American War, she was located at part of the Cartagena naval Group. Her fate is unknown.

The source of the vessel's name is unknown, but possibly this was the name of Saragosa's church.

PONCE DE LEON

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
200 tons	41.40m x 5.80m x 1.83m	230	12 knots	? miles	35 tons	Diego Velasques

The vessel was launched in Clydebank, Scotland in September of 1895, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of two 57mm/43cal quickfire guns amd two machine guns. Her crew complement was 38 men.

This steel-hulled vessel , completed in 1896, was built for service in Cuba and transferred to San Juan, Puerto-Rico. She was commanded by Lt. J. Cristelli. She took part in some ineffectual firing against the U.S. Navy's blockading vessels. After the war, she returned to Metropolis in 1899. Here, she had a major overhaul. In October of 1916, while cruising from Huelva to Cadiz, at the mouth of the Guadalqvir River, near Chempiona, the vessel collided with the sailing vessel SAN JOSE and sunk without any loss of crew.

The vessel was named for Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon (1460-1521). In 1508, Ponce de Leon conquered Puerto Rico and in 1513, he discovered Florida.

PRUEBA

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
122 tons	25.82m x 4.73m x 2.49m	157	8 knots	700 miles	13 tons

The vessel, built in Cavite in 1877, had one shaft. Her armament consisted of one 70mm/16 cal breechloading gun. Her crew complement is unknown.

The vessel was an wooden-hulled gunboat built for action in the Philippines. By the time of the Spanish American War, she was in very bad condition. Her fate is unknown.

The vessel's name means "argument" in Spanish.

SALAMANDRO

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
190 tons	34.59m x 6.43m x 2.39m	138	6 knots	650 miles	22 tons	Pelicano

The vessel, built in El Ferrol, Spain in 1874, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 120mm/?cal muzzleloading rifleand 1 machine gun. She had a complement of 48 men.

The vessel was a wooden-hulled vessel which was launched during the Second Carlist War. Originally, she served off the Spanish coast. The remainder of her career is unknown, but the vessel was probably transferred to Fernando-Po (Guinea Gulf). Her eventual fate is unknown.

The vessel was named for the Spanish word for "salamander".

SAMAR

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
201 tons	34.77m x 5.34m x 2.03m	275	11 knots	1700 miles	32 tons	Samar

The vessel, built in 1887 in Cavite, Philippine Islands, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 87 mm/27cal breechloading gun and two machine guns. She had a complement of 35 men.

The vessel was a steel-hulled gunboat built for service in the Philippines. During the Spanish American War, she served around Luzon. She was eventually captured by the U.S. Army and on May 26, 1899 was added to the U.S. Navy rolls. The vessel was decommissioned on September 6, 1920 and sold on January 11, 1921.

The vessel was named for an island in the Philippines.

SANDOVAL (Click here for an article on Sandoval)

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
106 tons	33.47m x 4.73m x 1.63m	137	12 knots	? miles	17 tons	Alvarado

The vessel, launched in September, 1895 in Clydebank, Scotland, had two shafts. Her armament consisted of one 57mm/43 cal quick fire gun and one 37 mm/20 cal. rapid-fire gun. She had a complement of 33 men.

The vessel was a steel-hulled gunboat built for service in Cuba. After her completion, she was sent to Santiago, Cuba, under the command of Lt. Escandella. At the beginning of the Spanish American War, she took part in the mining of Santiago harbor. In May, the vessel as transferred to Guantanamo. On May 19, she stopped the attempt of the USS St. LOUIS and USS WOMPATUCK to cut the telegraph cable, but the cable wa finally cut the next day. On July 7, under the fire of the USS MARBLEHEAD and USS YANKEE, she disappeared into the shallows of Joa Bay. Before Guantanamo was captured, her crew destroyed the vessel. A few days later, the Americans began to repair her. She was taken in tow by the tug POTOMAC, and berthed alongside the VULCAN on September 2, 1898. She was commissioned in the U.S. Navy that same day. She was sold in 1919, but continued to be used as a private yacht until 1924.

The vessel was probably named for Prudecius de Sandoval (1560-1621), a Spanish state and church figure.

TELEGRAMMA

Displacement	Dimensions	Horsepower	Speed	Range	Bunker capacity	Class
179 tons	32.51m x 6.76m x 1.90m	137	6 knots	820 miles	36 tons	Activo

The vessel, built by M Braid in New York in 1869. Her armament consisted of one 130mm/?cal muzzleloading Parrott gun (60pdr.). She had a complement of 33 men and 2 officers. The vessel cost cost 242,500 pesetas ($48,500).

The vessel was an wooden-hulled gunboat built in the U.S. during the First Cuban Insurrection as a gunboat for shoal actions. The funding for the vessel was half provided by the government, and half by contributions for Cuban people and businessmen loyal to Spain. She was dropped from the navy rolls in 1894. During the Spanish American War she was in very poor condition, completely breaking down about 1898.

The vessel was named for the Spanish word for "telegram."

Bibliography:

Mitiuckov, Nick, Naval Historian, Izhevsk, Russia (personal correspondence)

Libro "Astilleros Espanoles, 1872-1998", page 60.

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.) (contributed by Francisco Jose Diaz Diaz).

Aguilera A. Buques de la Armada Espanola. (Madrid, 1967) 242.

"Some Spanish Warships Build at Clydebank," Warship International 1983., #4 P.424-425.

St Hubert Ch. "The early Spanish Steam Warships 1834-1870," Warship International 1983, #4. P.338-367; 1984. #1. P. 21-44.

St Hubert Ch., Zaforteza C.A. "The Spanish Navy of 1898" Warship International
1980. #1. P.39-60; 1980. #2. P.110-120; 1981. # 3. P. 262-270.

The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Ispaniya // Voennie Floty i Morskaya Spravochnaya Knizhka 1891. -S.330-348;
1894. - S. 279-300; 1897. - S. 393-452; 1899. - S. 337-412; 1901. - S. 565-579.

Libro "Astilleros Espanoles, 1872-1998", page 60.

Valdiveso Mario, Naval Historian, El Ferrol, Spain (personal correspondence)

Anca Alejandro, Naval Historian, Madrid, Spain (personal correspondence)

Poncet Jose, Naval Historian, Subig, Spain (personal correspondence)

Diaz Fransico Jose, Naval Historian, Leon, Spain (personal correspondence)

Von Mach Andreas, Naval Historian, Indersdorf, Germany (personal correspondence)

Please note that we are looking for more information on these vessels. If you have additional data, please contact us!

Spanish 2nd Class Gunboats - Part 2

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