Spanish destroyer Furor facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | 
|}
Furor was a fast warship called a destroyer, built for the Spanish Navy. It played a role in the Spanish–American War, especially during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. Destroyers like Furor were designed to protect bigger ships from small, fast torpedo boats, and also to attack larger enemy ships using torpedoes.
Contents
- Tensions Rise and a Squadron Forms
- War Begins and a Dash for Freedom
- Reaching Cuba and the Blockade
- The Final Battle: Santiago de Cuba
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} Spain |
|
| Name | Furor |
| Namesake | Spanish word for "fury". |
| Builder | Thomson, later Clydebank |
| Laid down | 21 February 1896 |
| Launched | 7 August 1896 |
| Completed | 21 November 1896 |
| Fate | Sunk 3 July 1898 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Furor-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 370 tons |
| Length | 220 ft 0 in (67.06 m) |
| Beam | 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m) |
| Draft | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Installed power | 6,000 ihp (4,500 kW) |
| Propulsion | 2-shaft, 4-cylinder triple expansion, 4 Normand boilers |
| Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Complement | 67 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 100 tons coal (normal) |
Building the Furor
Furor was built in the United Kingdom by a company named Thomson. This company later changed its name to Clydebank Engineering & Shipbuilding Co.. The ship's construction began on February 21, 1896. It was finished and ready for service on November 21, 1896. Furor had three tall funnels, which were used to release smoke from its engines.
Furor's Journey and Battles
Tensions Rise and a Squadron Forms
In early 1898, there was growing tension between Spain and the United States. Furor became part of the Spanish Navy's 1st Squadron. This group of ships was led by Vice Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete. The squadron was ordered to gather at São Vicente in the Cape Verde Islands, which belonged to Portugal.
On April 8, 1898, Furor left Cadiz, Spain. It sailed with Cervera's main ship, the armored cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa, and other ships. They arrived at São Vicente on April 14. The journey was tough, with some mechanical problems and a lot of coal being used up. Soon, two more armored cruisers joined the squadron.
War Begins and a Dash for Freedom
The Spanish–American War officially started while Furor was still at São Vicente. Portugal was a neutral country, meaning it didn't take sides in the war. Because of this, Furor and the other Spanish ships were told to leave São Vicente within 24 hours.
So, on April 29, 1898, the squadron left, heading for San Juan, Puerto Rico. Because of engine trouble and low coal, Furor and the other destroyers had to be towed for part of the trip. The ships reached Martinique, a French island, on May 10, 1898.
While the main ships stayed in international waters, Furor and another destroyer, Terror, went into the port of Fort-de-France to ask for coal. France, being neutral, would not give them coal. Also, an American ship had just left the port. French officials said that Furor and Terror had to wait 48 hours after the American ship left before they could leave.
Terror had serious engine problems and couldn't move. So, the destroyer commander, Captain Fernando Villaamil, took Furor out into the harbor on May 12. He pretended to be testing its engines. Then, he quickly sailed out into international waters a day early, escaping the port.
Reaching Cuba and the Blockade
Leaving Terror behind, Furor and the rest of the squadron sailed for Curaçao, a Dutch island. Cervera hoped to get coal there. They arrived on May 14. However, the Netherlands was also neutral and only allowed two ships to enter port and take on a small amount of coal.
On May 15, Cervera's ships left Curaçao. They were no longer going to San Juan, which was now blocked by the U.S. Navy. Instead, they headed for Santiago de Cuba on the coast of Cuba. They arrived there on May 19, 1898. Cervera hoped to fix his ships there before they got trapped.
However, an American squadron arrived on May 27, 1898, and started a blockade of Santiago de Cuba. This blockade lasted for 37 days. During this time, Furor and the other ships faced occasional attacks from American naval guns. On June 6, 1898, Furor was hit by a shell, but it didn't cause serious damage. Some of Furor's crew even joined a special "Naval Brigade" to fight on land against American soldiers.
The Final Battle: Santiago de Cuba
By early July 1898, American soldiers were close to capturing Santiago de Cuba. Cervera decided his squadron's only chance was to try and escape the blockade into the open sea. The plan was made on July 1, and the escape was set for July 3.
On July 2, Furor's crew came back from fighting on land and got the ship ready for battle. Furor was planned to be the fifth ship in line during the escape. The idea was for the lead Spanish ship to attack the fastest American ship. This would allow Furor and the others to speed away into the open sea.
Around 8:45 AM on July 3, 1898, the Spanish ships began to move. At about 9:35 AM, the U.S. squadron saw the Spanish ships coming out of the channel, and the Battle of Santiago de Cuba began.
As the four armored cruisers turned to the west, Furor and another destroyer, Pluton, turned inside them and sailed closer to the coast. The American battleships and cruisers started firing at the two destroyers. They hit both ships several times. However, the American ships then focused on chasing the bigger Spanish cruisers.
The two damaged destroyers sped up, chased only by the American armed yacht USS Gloucester. Gloucester was not as well-armed as the destroyers, but it was bigger, faster, and undamaged. Gloucester hit both destroyers many times. Soon, many sailors on Furor were injured or killed. The back of the ship began to flood and sink. All of its boilers were destroyed, and its engine was damaged. Fires broke out in several places, including a dangerous one in the engine room, which was above the ammunition storage. A hole was punched in the side of the ship, and finally, its steering stopped working.
Pluton was too badly damaged to continue. It ran aground on the beach at 10:45 AM. Furor was now alone and lasted only five more minutes. It was still firing its guns, but half of its crew were dead or wounded. It was clear the ship was doomed. Furor lowered its flag, showing it surrendered, and began to lower its small boats. Some American shells hit Spanish sailors who were already in the water before the Americans realized Furor had given up.
Two American boats came to rescue survivors. But they quickly pulled away because they feared the ship's ammunition might explode. This explosion happened shortly after. Furor sank about a mile offshore in deep water at 10:50 AM.
Captain Villaamil died on board Furor, along with more than half of its crew. Some survivors who made it to shore had to be careful of Cuban rebels, who sometimes shot Spanish sailors they found. Other survivors were rescued by American sailors in small boats.
Images for kids
-
An unidentified Spanish destroyer – possibly Furor, Terror, or Pluton – with Cervera's squadron at São Vicente in April 1898.
See also
In Spanish: Furor (1896) para niños
