The fate of the
OQUENDO according to Admiral Cervera's Report
In the spring of 1898, ALMIRANTE OQUENDO was at Havana, Cuba. After VIZCAYA's return to Havana after her fateful visit to New York, both vessels steamed to the cape Verde Islands to join Admiral Cervera's squadron.
The OQUENDO was not able to be docked and her hull cleaned. As a result, the condition of the submerged portion of her hull was very poor. She could make only 12 to 14 knots. As part of Admiral Cervera's squadron, OQUENDO steamed for the Caribbean.
During the battle of July 3 (the naval Battle of Santiago), OQUENDO was rapidly set afire by the rapid artillery from the battleship IOWA. She received 43 hits from the IOWA's 57 mm (6 pounder) guns. As a result, most of the sailors on the upper decks were killed and wounded. OQUENDO also suffered from the heavier guns of the American fleet including three 203 mm (8 inch) hits, one 152 mm (6 inch) hit, one 127 mm (5 inch) hit, and nine102mm (4 inch) hits. After her boilers exploded, she had no remaining combat ability. Her mortally wounded commander, Captain Lazaga, ordered her scuttled. The cruiser sunk about 10:30 a.m. within about 700 meters (less than a half mile) of the Cuban shore, and about 12.6 kilometers from Santiago.
The OQUENDO lost about 80 men killed in the battle.
| Classification: | Belted Cruiser | |
|---|---|---|
| Laid down: | January, 1889 | |
| Launched: | April 10, 1891 | |
| Completed: | 1893 | |
| Rig: | Two military masts | |
| Armament: | Two 28 cm Hontoria breechloading guns (11 inch) | |
| Ten 14 cm Hontoria Quick firing guns (5.5 inch) | ||
| Eight 57 mm Hotchkiss Quick firing guns (3 pounder) | ||
| Eight 37 mm revolving Hotchkiss revolving guns (1 pounder) |
||
| Two 22 mm Nordenfelt machine guns | ||
| Two 2.75 inch bronze guns (for landing parties?) | ||
| Eight 365 mm tordedo tubes | ||
| Contractor: | Sociedad Astilleros del Nervión of Sestao,s upported by Brown of Sheffield (UK) | |
| Length: | 366 feet, 8 inches (111.8 meters) | |
| Beam: | 65 feet (19.81 meters) | |
| Mean draft: | 21 feet, 6 inches (6.55 meters) | |
| Displacement: | 6,890 tons | |
| Complement: | 497 Officers and Men, under the command of CaptainLagaza | |
| Engine type: | 13,700 hp. vertical triple expansion engines, twin screws. | |
| Speed: | 20 knots | |
| Coal bunker capacity: | 1,050 tons | |
| Coal endurance @ 10 knots: | 9,700 miles | |
| Armor: | 254-305 mm (10 -12 inch) steel side belt, | |
| 229 mm barbettes, 51-76 mm (2-3 inch) deck. |
Jane, Fred T., All the World's Fighting Ships, 1898 (New York: Arco Publishing Company, Inc.,1969)
Spanish Armored Cruisers (Warship International, 1970, #1, p 81-83).
Wilson, Downfall of Spain.