Arsenal de la Carraca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Carraca Naval Station |
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|---|---|
| Arsenal de La Carraca | |
 |
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| Type | Military base |
| Site information | |
| Owner |  Spain |
| Controlled by |  Spanish Navy |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1752 |
| Built by | Jorge Juan y Santacilla Antonio Valdes |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander |
Rear admiral Alfonso Gómez Fernández de Córdoba |
| Occupants | See Ships |
The Arsenal de la Carraca, also known as the Naval Station of La Carraca, is an important naval base in San Fernando, Spain. It is a place where ships are built and repaired. It also stores and gives out weapons and ammunition for the navy. This was the first military base of its kind built in Spain. It was started under the rule of Felipe V and developed by important figures like Patiño and the Marquis de la Ensenada. Building work began around 1720. However, a special order from King Fernando VI in 1752 really sped up its construction. The base was mostly finished by the late 1700s.
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The naval base is located in the Bay of Cádiz. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Puerto Real and 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southeast of Cadiz. It is part of the San Fernando area in the Province of Cádiz. This spot was chosen because it was very good for defense. It used to be a small island northeast of Isla de León. A narrow water channel separated it from the main land. The royal dockyard and arsenal are surrounded by navigation channels. The base measures about 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) by 1,800 feet (550 meters). The water channel in front of the dockyard is 2 fathoms (about 12 feet or 3.7 meters) deep when the tide is low.
The island where the base stands was used for Spanish naval activities as early as 1655. The arsenal was first set up around the remains of an old sailing ship called a carrack. This old ship gave the base its name. In 1752, King Fernando VI officially approved the building of a naval shipyard. Antonio Valdés finished building the yard during the reigns of King Carlos III and King Carlos IV. With its docks and workshops, it became the first major naval construction center in Spain. Because of this, San Fernando grew into an important city. Many of its old buildings are still standing today.
Even before the official order, construction began around 1720. By 1733, the main entrance to the San Fernando quay was built. Ship building started in 1736. By the mid-1700s, docks, warehouses, offices, workshops, and homes were all built. Jorge Juan and José Barnola made detailed plans for the port after the royal order. However, the three main dry docks were not finished until 1788. These were completed by Julián Sánchez Bort and Tomás Muñoz. By the late 1700s, a prison called the Penal de las Cuatro Torres, barracks (military housing), and weapons factories were also built. A new church (Nueva Iglesia) and the Puerta de Tierra (a gate) were added in the Neoclassical style.
The naval base had everything needed to build, equip, and repair ships. Three docks were built between 1784 and 1788. Another one was added in the 1800s. All of these docks were used until recent years. The facilities at Arsenal de la Carraca were also used for new inventions. For example, the Peral, an early submarine powered by electric motors, was built here in 1887.
The design of the naval base included four docks and a patent slip (a ramp for pulling ships out of the water). It also had building slips where ships were constructed. There was the Carrack Church and the Prison of the Four Towers. Famous people, like Francisco de Miranda, were held in this prison. The base also had workshops, dams, and more docks. For defense, there were three batteries (groups of cannons). These were the San Fernando, San Ramon, and Santa Rosa batteries. Each one had 11 cannons.
Ships at La Carraca
The Arsenal de la Carraca has been home to many important ships.
- Transport ships:
- Contramaestre Casado (A-01)
- Training ships:
- Juan Sebastián Elcano (A-71)
See also
In Spanish: Arsenal de la Carraca para niños
