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The following is some basic information on the 3rd 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!

There was a total of about forty 3rd Class Gunboats on the official Spanish Navy rolls, however, some sources list some of the vessels as auxiliary gunboats.

REAL DECRETO

En atencion a lo expuesto por el Ministro de Marina y de conformidad con el Consejo de Ministors:

En nombre de mi Augusto hijo el Rey D. Alfonso XIII, y como ReinaRegente del reino,

Venego en decretar lo siguiente:

Articulo 1. Se aprueba el adjunto estado de nueva clasificacion debuques de la Armada.

CANONEROS DE TERCERA
LOS COMPRENDIDOS ENTRE 100 Y 20 TONELADAS.

Madrid, 18 de Agosto de 1895 -
El Ministro de Marina, Jose Maria de Beranger.

These iron-hulled vessels were ordered to La Sen (France) during the Second Carlist War. By the time of the Spanish American War, only three gunboats of this class were still on the rolls of the Spanish Navy, and they were stationed at Metropolis. These remaining vessels were in poor condition, and totally broke down about 1900.

The vessels of the BIDASOA class are as follows:

ARLANZA (built 1875)

Named for a Spanish river.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was in very poor condition.
Her fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a Spanish river.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was in very poor condition.
Her fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a Spanish river.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was in very poor condition.
Her fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a Spanish river.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was in very poor condition.
Her fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a Spanish river.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was part of Ferrol Naval Group.
Fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a Spanish river.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was in very poor condition.
Her fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a town in southern Spain.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was part of Ferrol Naval Group.
Fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a town in central Spain.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was in very poor condition.
Her fate and details of service are unknown.

Named for a town in central Spain.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was part of Ferrol Naval Group.
Fate and details of service are unknown.

These wooden-hulled vessels were built at Caracca between 1875 and 1879.

The vessels of the ATREVIDA class are as follows:

ATREVIDA (built 1875)

Her name is the Spanish word for "courageous."
Career: It the early 1890's, she was part of the Cadiz Naval Group, but in 1895 was transferred to Cuba.
Fate and details are unknown.

Her name is the Spanish word for "charitable."
Career: In the 1890's, the vessel was transferred to Cuba. In the autumn of 1895, the vessel ran aground and was wrecked. Fate and details are unknown.

Her name is the Spaish word for  "adroit."
Career: In the early 1890's, the vessel was part of Ferrol Naval Group, but, in 1895 was transferred to Cuba. Fate and details are unknown.

These iron-hulled vessels were built at Cavite for service in the shaols and rivers of the Philippines.

The vessels of the OTALORA class are as follows:

BLASCO (built 1883)

The origin of her name is unknown
Career: During Spanish American War, she was located in a remote location.
Details and fate are unknown.

The origin of her name is unknown
Career: During Spanish American War, she was located in a remote location.
Details and fate are unknown.

The origin of her name is unknown
Career: During Spanish American War, she was located in a remote location.
Details and fate are unknown.

The vessel was named for Andreas de Urdaneta (1498 - 1568), a Spanish explorer, who, in April, 1565 established the first mission on the Sebu.
Career: During Spanish American War, she was located in a remote location.
In 1899, while on the Orani River, she was captured by Insurgents and total destroyed.

These iron-hulled vessels were built for service in the shaols and rivers of Metropolis.

The vessels of the DIAMANTE class are as follows:

DIAMANTE (built 1889)

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "diamond."
Career: The vessel served as part of Ferrol Naval Group
Details are unknown. She was probably scrapped in the first decade of the 1900's.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "pearl."
Career: The vessel served as part of Cadiz Naval Group.
Details are unknown. She was scrapped in 1925.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "ruby."
Career: The vessel served as part of Ferrol Naval Group
Details are unknown. She was probably scrapped in the first decade of the 1900's.

These steel-hulled vessels were built in 1895 for service in Cuba against the insurgents by British "Forrest & Son" Co. They were built in lieu of the series
of torpedo-boats that were originally planned in the 1887 shipbuilding program.

The vessels of the ALERTA class are as follows:

ALERTA

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "vigilance."
Career: In 1896, she was sent to Cardenas, Cuba, under the command of  Lt. Pasquin.
Details of her service are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish ward for "squirrel."
Career: In 1896, she was sent to Cardenas, Cuba, under the command of  Lt. Bauza.
Details of her service are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "comet."
Career: In 1896, she was sent to Cienfuegos, Cuba, under the command of  Lt. Carreras.
Details of her service are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "star."
Career: In 1896, she was sent to Mansanillo, Cuba, under the command of  Lt. Don Joaquin Rivero. The vessel took part in the Mansanillo battle of June 30. After the July 18, she was scuttled and destroyed by her crew. Further details of her service are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish warod for "arrow."
Career: In 1896, she was sent to Havana, Cuba, under the command of  Lt. Latorre. Some source indicate that the vessel took part in the battles at Havana on may 14 and June 10, 1898. Further details of her service are unknown.

The vessel was named for a Spanish officer anmed Fradera (?-1864) who was killed at Callao, Peru. His loss was the catalyst for the war between Spain and Chili and Peru.
Career: In 1896, the vessel was transferred to Batabano, Cuba under the command of Lt. Ortiz.
Fate and details are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "gull."
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Cienfuegos, Cuba, under the command of Lt. Carillo. The vessel did participate in some ineffectual firing with the U.S. blockading vessels.
Fate and details are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "desire."
Career: In 1896, the vessel was transferred to Nuevitas, Cuba, Nuevitas under the command of Lt. Jaudenes. After the capture of the Nuevitas, she was transferred to Gibara. The vessel was scuttled and destroyed at the moment of the port's capitulation.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "light."
Career: In 1896, the vessel was transferred to Cardenas, Cuba, under the command of Lt. Perez Rendon. The vessel took part in the April 25 action against the U.S. torpedoboat CUSHING in the first action of the Spanish American War. The vessel also took part in the May 8 action, taking two small hits but without significant damage. At the Cardenas battle of May 11, 1898 against four U.S. vessels, she took one hit to her in her machinery and had to leave the battle order. After temporary repairs, she was towed to Havana for major repairs. Some sources indicate that she took part in some fire with the U.S. blockading squadron. Her fate and details are unknown.

Her name is the Spanish word for "lynx."
Career: In 1896, the vessel was transferred to Cienfuegos, Cuba, under the command of Lt. Gomez Aguado. She took part in some ineffectual exchanges of fire with the U.S. blockading vessels.
Fate and details are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "satellite."
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Cienfuegos, Cuba, unde rthe command of Lt. Moreno. She took part in some ineffectual exchanges of fire with the U.S. blockading vessels.
Fate and details are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "sentry."
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Mariel, Cuba under the command of Lt. Nunez-y-Boado.
Fate and details are unknown.

These iron-hulled vessels were built in 1895-96 for service in Cuba against the insurgents by vea Murguia Co. of Cadiz. They were built in lieu of the series
of torpedo-boats that were originally planned in the 1887 shipbuilding program.

The vessels of the BARACOA class are as follows:

ALMANDARES

The vessel was named for a river in Cuba.
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Batabano, Cuba under the command of Lt. Canto.
Fate and details are unknown.

The vessel was named for a town in Cuba.
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Nipe, Cuba, under the command of Lt. Guiterrez. After the American attack on Nipe, she was transferred to Gibara. The vessel was scuttled and destroyed at the moment that the port capitulated.

The vessel was named for a river in Cuba.
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Caibarien, Cuba, under the command of Lt. Flores.
Fate and details are unknown.

The vessel was namde for a town in Cuba.
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Mansanillo, Cuba, under the command of  Lt. Don Bartolome Morales. The vessel took part in the June 30 action at Mansanillo. After the July 18 battle, the vessel wasscuttled and destroyed by her crew.

The vessel was named for a river in Cuba.
Career: In 1896, the vessel was transferred to Sagua, Cuba under the command of Lt. Lisarregui.
Fate and details are unknown.

The vessel was named for a river in Cuba
Career: In 1896 the vessel was transferred to Nuevitas, Cuba, under the command of Lt. Suances. After the capture of Nuevitas, she was transferred to Gibara. She was scuttled and destroyed at the moment the port capitulated.

These steel-hulled vessels were built in 1895-96 at Cavite for service in the Philippines against the insurgents. They were built in lieu of the series of torpedo-boats that were originally planned in the 1887 shipbuilding program.

The vessels of the GENERAL BLANCO class are as follows:

ALMONTE (1895)

Career: Details and fate are unknown.

65 tons
Career: During the Spanish American War, this vessel was still on the slip. Details and her fate are unknown.

40 tons
Career: Details and fate are unknown.

65 tons
The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "Spain."
Career: During the Spanish American War, the vessel was still on the slips. Details and her fate are unknown.

60 tons, 11 knots., Armament: 1 x 42mm/42cal quick-fire gun, 1 machine gun.
The vessel was named for General Blanco, who served as general-governor of the Philippines at the time, prior to being sent to Cuba, where he spent the Spanish American War.
Career: She was build for service on Lanao lake.
Details and fate are unknown.

60 tons, 11 knots, Armament: 1 x 42mm/42cal quick-fire gun, 1 machine gun.
The vessel was named for a lake on the Philippine island of Mindanao.
Career: She was built for service on Lanao lake.
Details and fate are unknown.

These steel-hulled vessels were built for service at Metropolis.

The vessels of the CONDOR class are as follows:

AGUILA (1891)

This vessel was different in tht it carried one 37mm/30cal quick-fire instead of the 87mm gun.
The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "eagle."
Career: The vessel was part of the Cadiz Naval Group, but at the beginning of the Insurrection, she was transferred to Havana, Cuba. Some sources indicate that she took part in the June 10, 1898 action.
Details and fate are unknown.

The vessel's name is the Spanish (and English) word for the famous bird of prey.
Career: The vessel was part of Ferrol Naval Group. During the Spanish American War, she served patrol and customs duties Galicia. She was lost on the rocks of Vigo Bay on January 24, 1902.

The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "raven."
Career: The vessel was part of the Cadiz Naval Group. During the Spanish American War, she served patrol and customs duties at Gibraltar.
Details and fate are unknown.

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)