The schooner Virgen de Covadonga was a ship that participated in the Chincha Islands War and the War of the Pacific, under Spanish and Chilean flags. She was launched in 1859. Covadonga hit a floating mine and sank off Chancay in 1880.
A Royal Order of 10 June 1857, led to Covadonga's keel being laid at the Arsenal de la Carraca in Cádiz, Spain, on 13 February 1858. She was a wooden schooner that was also fitted with steam propulsion. She was launched on 28 November 1859, and her construction cost a total of 5 million Reales de Vellón. She was named for the Battle of Covadonga - a highly symbolic event in Spanish history, being considered the beginning of the Reconquista.
She was commissioned by Royal Command on 8 October 1858. Her first commander was Lieutenant Evaristo Casariego y García. She was originally intended as a mail boat between Manila and Hong Kong, with her berth at the Naval Base of Manila, in the Philippine Islands.
Covadonga was commissioned into the Chilean Navy on 4 December 1865, under her original name. During this war, she also participated at the Naval Battle of Abtao.
During the War of the Pacific, Covadonga and Esmeralda, as the oldest and slowest ships of the Chilean navy, were left behind to blockade the port of Iquique. There they participated in one of the most important naval battles of the war.
On 8 June 1880, she was hit by shore based artillery fire at Arica, Peru and was beached.[1]
Fateedit
On 13 September 1880, while enforcing a blockade in the port of Chancay, Peru, the sailors of Covadonga saw an unmanned boat loaded with fresh fruit and produce being carried by the currents. When they tried to lift the boat it exploded as the Peruvians had rigged it as a floating mine. Covadonga sank in less than 10 minutes.
In the disaster, out of the 109 men of the crew, the commander, Captain Pablo Ferrari, and 32 sailors died, 29 were rescued by the gun-boat Pilcomayo, and 48 were captured by the Peruvians. Also among the dead was petty officer Constantino Micalvi, a survivor of the Naval Battle of Iquique.
Bibliographyedit
Adamson, Robert E. & de St. Hubert, Christian (1991). "Question 12/89". Warship International. XXVIII (2): 199–205. ISSN 0043-0374.
Warship International Staff (1975). "Question 84/73: Navies of Chile, Peru and Ecuador during the Spanish Intervention of 1866". Warship International. XII (4): 350–351. ISSN 0043-0374.
de St. Hubert, Christian (1984). "Early Spanish Steam Warships, Part II". Warship International. Toledo, OH: International Naval Records Organization. XXI (1): 21–45. ISSN 0043-0374.
Referencesedit
^"The War in South America". The Times. No. 29946. London. 29 July 1880. col D, p. 10.
External linksedit
(in Spanish)
Historical Text Archive, Chile: A Brief Naval History
December 18, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The schooner Virgen de Covadonga was a ship that participated in the Chincha Islands War and the War of the Pacific under Spanish and Chilean flags She was launched in 1859 Covadonga hit a floating mine and sank off Chancay in 1880 Covadonga at berth in Valparaiso ChileHistorySpainNameVirgen de CovadongaOrderedJune 10 1857BuilderArsenal de la Carrara shipyard Cadiz Spain Cost5 000 000 Reales de VellonLaid down13 February 1858Launched28 November 1859Commissioned8 October 1859CapturedBattle of Papudo 26 November 1865FateCaptured by Chilean Navy during the Chincha Islands WarChileNameCovadongaAcquired26 November 1865Commissioned4 December 1865FateSunk by a mine in Chancay Peru during the War of the Pacific 13 September 1880General characteristicsTypeScrew propelled schoonerTons burthen630 tonsLength107 ft 33 m Propulsion160 CV 120 kW steam engine made in the Factory Nº 4 Ferrol 1 shaftSail planBrigantine sail riggingSpeed7 knots 13 km h 8 1 mph on steamComplement110 crewmanArmament2 70 pounder 200 mm revolving guns 2 9 pounder guns 3 40 pounder guns Notes Installed after 21 May 1879 Contents 1 Construction 2 Chincha Islands War service 3 War of the Pacific service 4 Fate 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 External linksConstruction editA Royal Order of 10 June 1857 led to Covadonga s keel being laid at the Arsenal de la Carraca in Cadiz Spain on 13 February 1858 She was a wooden schooner that was also fitted with steam propulsion She was launched on 28 November 1859 and her construction cost a total of 5 million Reales de Vellon She was named for the Battle of Covadonga a highly symbolic event in Spanish history being considered the beginning of the Reconquista She was commissioned by Royal Command on 8 October 1858 Her first commander was Lieutenant Evaristo Casariego y Garcia She was originally intended as a mail boat between Manila and Hong Kong with her berth at the Naval Base of Manila in the Philippine Islands Chincha Islands War service editDuring the Chincha Islands War Covadonga served as an auxiliary ship to the Spanish fleet The Chilean corvette Esmeralda under the command of captain Juan Williams Rebolledo captured Covadonga during the Naval Battle of Papudo on 26 November 1865 Her capture led to Spanish Admiral Juan Manuel Pareja committing suicide Covadonga was commissioned into the Chilean Navy on 4 December 1865 under her original name During this war she also participated at the Naval Battle of Abtao War of the Pacific service editMain article Battle of Punta Gruesa During the War of the Pacific Covadonga and Esmeralda as the oldest and slowest ships of the Chilean navy were left behind to blockade the port of Iquique There they participated in one of the most important naval battles of the war Esmeralda faced the ironclad Huascar at the Naval Battle of Iquique and Covadonga managed to escape from the attacks of the Peruvian ironclad Independencia when the latter collided with a submerged rock and sank after trying to ram the schooner Naval Battle of Punta Gruesa both on 21 May 1879 On 8 June 1880 she was hit by shore based artillery fire at Arica Peru and was beached 1 Fate editOn 13 September 1880 while enforcing a blockade in the port of Chancay Peru the sailors of Covadonga saw an unmanned boat loaded with fresh fruit and produce being carried by the currents When they tried to lift the boat it exploded as the Peruvians had rigged it as a floating mine Covadonga sank in less than 10 minutes In the disaster out of the 109 men of the crew the commander Captain Pablo Ferrari and 32 sailors died 29 were rescued by the gun boat Pilcomayo and 48 were captured by the Peruvians Also among the dead was petty officer Constantino Micalvi a survivor of the Naval Battle of Iquique Bibliography editAdamson Robert E amp de St Hubert Christian 1991 Question 12 89 Warship International XXVIII 2 199 205 ISSN 0043 0374 Warship International Staff 1975 Question 84 73 Navies of Chile Peru and Ecuador during the Spanish Intervention of 1866 Warship International XII 4 350 351 ISSN 0043 0374 de St Hubert Christian 1984 Early Spanish Steam Warships Part II Warship International Toledo OH International Naval Records Organization XXI 1 21 45 ISSN 0043 0374 References edit The War in South America The Times No 29946 London 29 July 1880 col D p 10 External links editOfficial description from the Chilean Navy in Spanish Historical Text Archive Chile A Brief Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga amp oldid 1136268671, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
