Spanish Auxiliary Gunboats
By Nick Mitiuckov
General:
The following article concerns Spanish auxiliary cruisers of the
Spanish American War period. The author is searching for more information
on these vessels, and would like verification of the facts as listed below.
If you can aid in either of these goals please contact the website
administrator, and he will put us in contact! We need your help!
When the Cuban Insurrection began, Spain found herslf in a difficult
situation: She had a "fleet in being", but, in fact, Spain had no control
of the Cuban coast. Small Cuban boats, scows, shalandas and etc. unloaded
theirs contraband cargoes in the remote areas of the island's bay and coasts
and the Spaniards had few small vessels for use in shoal areas to oppose
these incursions.
Spain ordered a great number of small 3rd class gunboats from England
and Spain, but for immediate use, they purchased and armed some small yachts,
steamers and tugs.
Formally, these vessels didn't exist on the official Spanish Navy
rolls, and this is why research into these vessels is rendered difficult.
However, these vessel made a heroic stand, and it would be a great crime
if they were forgotten in history.
In 1895-96, approximately 10 yachts, purchased in Cuba and the U.S.
were armed for use as auxiliary gunboats:
AGUILA
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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This vessel was built in 1871 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
ARAZONA
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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21 tons
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CENTINELA
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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30 tons
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30m x ?m x ?m
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?
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9.5 knots
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? miles
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3 tons
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|
This vessel was purchased in 1895, having been built in the U.S. Her
armament consisted of two 37mm/20cal rapid-fire guns. Her crew complement
consisted of 17 men.
The original owner of the wood-hulled vessel is unknown, as are the
details of her service. She was placed under the command of Ensign
Aldereguia. On June 30, 1898, while operating off of Nicero (near Manzanillo),
she was overtaken by the USS HIST, USS HORNET and the USS WOMPATUCK. The
CENTINELA, now under the command of Ensign Alejandro Aris Salagado, joined
battle in spite of the unequal situation. During the action, she took 25
hits, killing one of her crewmen and wounding others. The vessel sunk in
the shallows. However, one of her steam lines was damaged and the crew
attempted to wrap the damage. The Americans mistakenly took the steam to
be the smoke of her guns and again opened fire. A few days later, the gunboat
was raised and towed into Manzanillo for repairs. On July 18, she was destroyed
by the Americans.
The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "guard." ("sentinela")
DARDO
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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26 tons
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18m x 4m x 1.46m
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?
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?
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?
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6 tons
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She was launched in 1889(?) in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. Her armament
consisted of one 70mm/16cal breechloading Hontoria gun and one machine
gun. Her crew complement is unknown.
The wood-hulled vessel was purchased in 1895, but the details are
unknown. During the war, she served at Batabano. She was commanded by Ensign
Montero. She served from 1895 to 1898.
The vessel's name is the Spanish word for "dart."
DELGADO PAREJO
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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85 tons
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30m x 5.19m x 1.83m (3.05 full)
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?
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?
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?
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14 tons
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|
This steel-hulled vessel, constructed in the U.S. and formerly named
DART, was purchased in New York in 1896. Her armament consisted of one
57mm/43cal quick-fire Nordenfelt gun and one 37mm/20cal rapid-fire Hotchkiss
gun. Her crew complement is unknown.
The vessel was placed under the command of Lt. Ramos initially. By
the time of the Spanish American War she was under the command of Lt. Don
Ubaldo Seris. During the June 30 battle off Manzanillo with the USS HIST,
USS HORNET and USS WOMPATUCK, she was hit several times, resulting in 2
of her crewmen being killed, and 4 more wounded. During the July 18 battle,
she was destroyed by the Americans.
The vessel was named for Almirante Delgado Parejo (? - 1895), the
commander of Havana's naval base. He went down with the cruiser SANCHEZ
BARCAZTEGUI when she was sunk near Havana on September 18, 1895.
DEPENDIENTE
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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40 tons
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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This vessel was launched in 1896 in London, EnglandDetails about this
vessel are unknown. She was sunk in Casilda Bay by the USS YANKEE. The
vessel was placed under the command of Lt. Moreno Eliza.
The vessel's name means "Subordinate" in Spanish.
ESPERANZA
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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22 tons
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18.0 x 2.8m x ?m
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?
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?
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?
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?
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|
This wooden-hulled former U.S.- built yacht was armed with one
machine gun, and had a crew of 12 men. She served from 1895 to 1898. Futher
details about this vessel are unknown.
The vessel's name means "Hope" in Spanish.
INTREPIDA
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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25 tons
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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|
During the Spanish American War, this U.S.-built vessel was in the Caribbean,
under the command of Lt. Puerta. She served from 1896 to 1898. Other details
are unknown.
The vessel's name means "Intrepid" in Spanish.
LEALTAD
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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30 tons
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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|
During the Spanish American War, this vessel, built in Havana, Cuba,
was at the Sagua, under the command of Lt. Chereguini. Other details are
unknown. Some sources suggest that the vessel fored unsuccessfully on U.S.
naval vessels near Cardenas.
The vessel's name means "Faith, Fidelity" in Spanish.
MENSAJERO
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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30 tons
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20.0m x 3.8m x 1.0m
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?
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10
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?
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4 tons
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|
This steel-hulled former yacht, built in the U.S., mounted one
machine gun and had a crew of 16 men. She served from 1896 to 1898. Other
details concerning her servic are unknown. At the beginning of the Spanish
American War, she was located at Batabano. Some sources indicate that the
vessel fired on the vessels of the U.S Navy near Havana.
The vessel's name means "Courier" or "messenger" in Spanish.
RELAMPAGO
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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25 tons
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?
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?
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10
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?
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4 tons
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|
This U.S.-built vessel was sunk by the Cuban Insurgents in 1896.
The vessel's name means "lightning" in Spanish.
In 1895-96 some small steamers and tugs, purchsed in Cuba and also
from the U.S. were armed. They are as listed below.
ANTONIO LOPEZ (For
more information on this vessel, click here!)
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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68 tons
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?
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?
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10
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?
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4 tons
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|
This former tug, built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. in 1883,
was armed with one 57 mm/43cal. quick-fire Nordenfeldt gun and one 37mm/30cal
quick-fire Hotchkiss. This vessel took part in battles on May 8, and may
11, 1898 near Cardenas. On May 11, she was engaged in an unequal battle
ag8inst four U.S. Navy vessels. Early in the battle, the gunboar LIGERA
was ordered out of action because of damage, ANTONIO LOPEZ's commander,
Domingo Montez was ordered scuttled in the shallows while he, himself,
continued firing one of her guns. The firing was accurate. The U.S. Torpedo
Boat WINSLOW was badly damaged, with 5 men killed
and four wounded (this was actually more damage than than both Admiral
Montojo and Admiral Cervera were able to
inflict at Manila Bay and
Santiago
respectively). The Americans claimed that the ANTONIO LOPEZ was sunk. She
was not, but she did take 12 hits, killing two of her crew and wounding
others. She took part in no other actions.
The vessel was named for Antonio Lopez (1817 - 1883), a Spanish
businessman who established the "Antonio Lopez Co", later reorganized and
called the CampanaTransatlantica Espanola (CTE).
GUARDIAN
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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65 tons
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?
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?
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12
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?
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?
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This steel hulled vessel, built in 1893 in New York, U.S.A., was formerly
the AZTECA (owned by the A Menendez company). She was armed with one 47mm/42cal
Nordenfeldt quick-fire gun and three machine guns. The vessel had been
purchased for conversion in 1895. At the battle of Mansanillo on June 30,
1898, while under the command of Lt. Don Carlos del Camilo, she remained
at anchor because of broken machinery and took no part in the action. After
the battle on July 18, she was disarmed by her crew.
The vessel's name means "watchman" in Spanish.
MARIA
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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This old wooden-hulled vessel was armed with on 120 mm bronze muzzleloading
gun. By 1898, she was in no condition to move under her own power
and was used as a floating battery at Mansanillo. In the June 30 battle
at Mansanillo she was hit several times, and had four members of her crew
wounded. She was totally destroyed on July 18 by American naval fire.
The vessel was propably named for Reina
Maria Cristina, the Queen of Spain.
MEJICO
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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During the Spanish American War, this vessel was used as a mine-laying
vessel at Santiago. She was under the command of Lt. Duran.
VALENTE
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Displacement
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Dimensions
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Horsepower
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Speed
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Range
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Bunker capacity
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Class
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30 tons
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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|
This vessel was former the steamship CONDE DE LA MORTERA, which was
built in the U.S. During the Spanish American War, she was stationed in
the Caribbean. She was unde rthe command of Ensign Garay.
The vessel's name means "Courage" in Spanish.
Other vessels, on which we have no information, include:
AMALIA, ARDILLA, CANDELARIA, CADIDA, CEFIRO, CONSTANTE, DOLORES,
DOS HERMANAS, ESMERADA, FAMA, GALARDA, GAMO, GARZA, GUINDILLA, GUINDA,
INTREPIDA, JAVIER, LIEBRE, MARIANA, NIMFA, PEZ, PRONTA, RADIANTE, SAN JUAN,
SANTA MARIA, SAN MATEO, SERPIENTE, TRUENO, TURIA, VIVA.
There in information, that during war AMALIA, ANITA, MARIA and PERLAwere
in Havana.
Please note that we are looking for more information
on these vessels. If you have additional data, please contact
us!
Bibliography:
AGUILERA's Buques de la Armada Espanola (Madrid: Editorial Silex,
1999) (data courtesy of Francisco Jose Diaz Diaz)
"Mansanillo battle," Warship International. 1977.
Valdiveso Mario, Naval Historian, El Ferrol, Spain (personal correspondence)
Voennie floty i morskaya spravochnaya knizhka na 1899 god. - SPb,
Tipigraphy
E.Goppe, 1899.
Wilson H.W., Downfall of Spain. (London, 1900).
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