Spanish cruiser Isla de Luzón facts for kids
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|} The Isla de Luzón was a special type of warship called a protected cruiser. It belonged to the Spanish Navy. This ship became famous for its role in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War.
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| History | |
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| Namesake | The island of Luzon, main island of the Philippine Islands. |
| Builder | Elswick, United Kingdom |
| Cost | 2,400,000 pesetas |
| Laid down | 25 February 1886 |
| Launched | 13 November 1886 |
| Completed | 22 September 1887 |
| Commissioned | 1887 |
| Fate | Scuttled 1 May 1898; captured and salvaged by the United States Navy |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Isla de Luzón-class protected cruiser |
| Displacement | 1,030 tons |
| Length | 184 ft 10 in (56.34 m) |
| Beam | 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) maximum |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | 2-shaft horizontal triple-expansion, 2 cylindrical boilers |
| Speed |
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| Complement | 164 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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Building a Warship: The Isla de Luzón Story
The Isla de Luzón was built in the United Kingdom by a company called Elswick. Work on the ship began on February 25, 1886. It was officially launched into the water on November 13, 1886. The ship was fully finished and ready for service by September 22, 1887.
This ship had a strong steel body and one large funnel. Even though it was called a "protected cruiser," it was quite small for its type. Some people even called it a gunboat by 1898. It had a wide shape for its length, which sometimes made it difficult to sail smoothly in rough seas. Its front part would often dip into the waves.
Isla de Luzón's Adventures and Battles
After it was built, the Isla de Luzón joined the main Spanish fleet. It took part in the Rif War between 1893 and 1894. During this conflict, it helped by firing its guns at a rocky area between Melilla and the Chafarinas Islands.
Later, a big uprising called the Philippine Revolution started in the Philippines in 1896. The Isla de Luzón was sent there to join a group of warships led by Rear Admiral Patricio Montojo de Pasaron.
The Battle of Manila Bay
The Isla de Luzón was still with Admiral Montojo's group when the Spanish–American War began in April 1898. The ships were anchored safely in Cañacao Bay, near the Cavite Peninsula in Luzon. This spot was about eight miles southwest of Manila.
Early on the morning of May 1, 1898, the United States Navy's Asiatic Squadron, led by Commodore George Dewey, found the Spanish ships. They attacked, and this battle became known as the Battle of Manila Bay. It was the first major fight of the Spanish–American War.
The American ships sailed past the Spanish fleet, firing their powerful guns. At first, they focused their attack on Admiral Montojo's main ship, the Reina Cristina, and another ship, the Castilla. Because of this, the Isla de Luzón did not get much damage at the start.
However, when the Reina Cristina was badly damaged, the Isla de Luzón and its sister ship, the Isla de Cuba, moved closer to help. They did this even while the American ships were still firing heavily.
After the Battle: A New Life for the Ship
As the battle ended and the Spanish fleet was defeated, the crew of the Isla de Luzón decided to sink their own ship in shallow water. This was done to prevent the Americans from capturing it. The ship had been hit three times, and one of its guns was broken. Six of its crew members were also hurt.
Even after it sank, parts of the ship remained above the water. A team from an American gunboat, the USS Petrel, went aboard and set the Isla de Luzón on fire.
Later, after the United States took control of the Philippines, the United States Navy found the Isla de Luzón. They managed to pull it out of the water, fix it, and put it back into service. In 1900, it was officially added to the U.S. Navy as the gunboat USS Isla de Luzon.
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Luzón (1887) para niños
- USS Isla de Luzon (1886)
