Spanish cruiser Cristóbal Colón facts for kids
Cristóbal Colón in 1897–1898
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Kingdom of Italy |
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| Name | Giuseppe Garibaldi |
| Namesake | Giuseppe Garibaldi |
| Builder | Italy |
| Laid down | 1895 |
| Launched | September 1896 |
| Fate | Sold to Spain, 16 May 1897 |
 Spain |
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| Name | Cristóbal Colón |
| Namesake | Christopher Columbus |
| Completed | May 1897 |
| Acquired | 16 May 1897 |
| Fate | Sunk 3 July 1898 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Giuseppe Garibaldi-class armored cruiser |
| Displacement | 6,840 long tons (6,950 t) normal (7,972 long tons (8,100 t) full load) |
| Length | 366 ft 8 in (111.76 m) |
| Beam | 59 ft 10+1⁄2 in (18.250 m) |
| Draft | 23 ft 3+1⁄2 in (7.099 m) maximum |
| Installed power | 13,655–14,713 ihp (10.183–10.971 MW) |
| Propulsion | Vertical triple expansion, 24 boilers |
| Speed | 19.3–20.02 knots (35.74–37.08 km/h) |
| Range | 4,400 nmi (8,100 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h) |
| Endurance | 1,050 long tons (1,070 t) coal (normal) |
| Complement | 510 to 559 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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The Cristóbal Colón was a powerful armored cruiser that belonged to the Spanish Navy. It was part of the Giuseppe Garibaldi class of ships. This ship became famous for its role in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War.
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About the Ship
The Cristóbal Colón was first built in Italy. Its original name was Giuseppe Garibaldi. It was the second ship of its kind to be started with that name. The ship was laid down (meaning its construction began) in 1895. It was launched into the water in September 1896. Spain bought the ship and it was given to the Spanish Navy in Genoa on May 16, 1897.
What Kind of Ship Was It?
The Cristóbal Colón had two funnels and was known for being fast. It had good weapons and strong armor, especially for its size. The ship was designed to be a mix between a large battleship and a faster cruiser. It was strong enough to fight in a battle fleet. Yet, it was also quick enough to escape from bigger, more powerful ships. This made it the Spanish Navy's first true armored cruiser.
Missing Guns
However, there was a big problem with the Cristóbal Colón. The Spanish Navy decided not to install its two main 10-inch guns. These guns were meant to be its most powerful weapons. Because of this, the ship was delivered without them. This greatly reduced its fighting power. Sadly, the ship was lost in battle before these important guns could ever be put in place.
Its Journey and the War
The Cristóbal Colón was part of the Spanish Navy's 1st Squadron. Tensions were growing between Spain and the United States. This was after the American battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana, Cuba, in February 1898.
Heading to Cuba
The Spanish squadron gathered at São Vicente in the Cape Verde Islands. They left Spain on April 8. The Spanish–American War began while the Cristóbal Colón was still there. Portugal, which owned São Vicente, was neutral. It told the Spanish ships to leave within 24 hours. So, the squadron left on April 29, 1898. They were headed for San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The ships reached Martinique, a French island, on May 10, 1898. France was also neutral and would not give them coal. The squadron then sailed to Curaçao, a Dutch island. They hoped to get coal there. But the Netherlands was also neutral. They only allowed two Spanish ships to enter port. They could only load a small amount of coal. On May 15, the ships left. They were no longer going to San Juan. Instead, they went to Santiago de Cuba, on the southeastern coast of Cuba. They arrived there on May 19, 1898.
Trapped in Santiago
The Spanish commander, Admiral Cervera, hoped to fix his ships in Santiago. But an American squadron arrived on May 27, 1898. They started a blockade that lasted for 37 days. The Cristóbal Colón was anchored at the harbor entrance. This position allowed it to help the shore batteries (guns on land). On May 28, it was the first Spanish ship the Americans saw in Santiago.
The first American attack on the blockade was against the Cristóbal Colón. On May 31, 1898, American battleships like USS Iowa and USS Massachusetts fired at the Cristóbal Colón. The Spanish ship and the shore guns fired back. No one was hurt on either side. The blockade continued, with occasional American attacks on the harbor. Some of the Cristóbal Colón's crew even joined a special Naval Brigade. They fought on land against the U.S. Army.
The Great Escape Attempt
By early July 1898, the U.S. Army was close to capturing Santiago de Cuba. Admiral Cervera decided his squadron had only one choice. They had to try to escape into the open sea by breaking through the blockade. This decision was made on July 1, 1898. The escape was planned for July 3, 1898. The crew of Cristóbal Colón spent July 2 getting ready for battle.
Admiral Cervera was on the lead ship, Infanta María Teresa. This ship was supposed to attack the fastest American ship, USS Brooklyn. This would allow the other Spanish ships to escape.
The Chase Begins
Around 8:45 AM on July 3, 1898, the Spanish ships started moving. They left the harbor in a line. The Cristóbal Colón was third in line. It followed the Infanta María Teresa and the Vizcaya. The American squadron saw the Spanish ships around 9:35 AM. This started the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.
While the Infanta María Teresa and Vizcaya attacked the Brooklyn, the Cristóbal Colón and other ships turned west. They tried to gain speed to reach the open sea. All four Spanish armored cruisers ended up in a line. They passed the last American ship in their way, the armed yacht USS Vixen.
The battle became a fast chase. The U.S. ships were about a mile to the side of the Spanish ships. Both sides fired all their guns. The Cristóbal Colón hit the Iowa twice. One hit damaged its medical area, and another made a hole below the waterline. This slowed the Iowa but did not stop it from firing.
The Final Moments
The Spanish squadron was outgunned and started to lose ships. Their ships caught fire and ran aground (got stuck on the shore). The Infanta María Teresa was first, beaching itself around 10:25 AM. The Almirante Oquendo ran aground a few minutes later. At 11:06 AM, the Vizcaya also ran ashore.
With the two Spanish destroyers also sunk, the Cristóbal Colón was alone. It was the last ship left from Cervera's squadron. For a while, it seemed like it might get away. Even though its engines were not at top speed, it was still considered the fastest ship in the battle. It had better armor and weapons than its sister ships. So far, it had only been hit a few times. It was going about 15 knots (28 km/h). The fastest American ship, Brooklyn, was six miles behind it.
After another hour, the Cristóbal Colón ran out of its best coal. It had to use a lower quality coal and started to slow down. At 12:20 PM, the American battleship Oregon fired a large 13-inch shell. It landed right behind the Cristóbal Colón. Soon, more large shells from the Oregon, Brooklyn, and New York were landing around the Spanish ship. The Cristóbal Colón could only fire one of its 6-inch guns back.
The Spanish cruiser was hit six times in total. When the American ships got closer, Captain Emilio Díaz-Moreu y Quintana, the commander of Cristóbal Colón, decided the chase was over. After a 50-mile run, he beached the ship at the mouth of the Turquino River. This was to save his crew's lives. He ordered his men to open the ship's valves to sink it. This would stop the Americans from capturing it. This was the end of the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.
Some of the sailors made it to shore. They had to be careful of Cuban rebels, who were shooting at the Spanish survivors. Other sailors were rescued by American sailors. The Americans came alongside the wrecked ship in small boats to pick up survivors.
What Happened Next?
That night, a U.S. Navy team tried to save the Cristóbal Colón. They thought it was worth fixing. They towed it off the rocks. But the team did not realize the ship had been scuttled (purposely sunk). When they towed it, they found out it was full of water. The ship quickly flipped over and sank completely. It was a total loss.
Today, there is a special underwater park in Santiago de Cuba. It was created to protect the wrecks of these ships. It also honors the brave sailors who died there. People can even go diving to see the shipwrecks.
See also
In Spanish: Cristóbal Colón (1897) para niños
