Spanish ironclad Duque de Tetuán facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Spain |
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| Name | Duque de Tetuán |
| Namesake | Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan |
| Builder | Reales Astilleros de Esteiro |
| Commissioned | 1874 |
| Decommissioned | 1897 |
| Recommissioned | 1898 |
| Decommissioned | 1900 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1900 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | floating battery |
| Displacement | 703 tons |
| Length | 43 m (141 ft) |
| Beam | 9.5 m (31 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) |
| Installed power | 190 ihp |
| Speed | 6 knots |
| Complement | 60 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Armor | 100 mm (3.9 in) iron |
| Notes | 21 tons of coal |
The Duque de Tetuán was a special kind of warship called a floating battery. It was also an ironclad, meaning it had a strong metal armor. This ship was part of the Spanish Navy. It was built during a conflict in Spain called the Third Carlist War.
Its main job was to protect the coast and help soldiers on land by firing its cannons. The ship looked a bit like a monitor ship, which has a very low deck close to the water. Even though it was built for the war, it was finished after the fighting ended. It then served to defend the city of Ferrol in Spain. The Duque de Tetuán was taken out of service in 1897, brought back in 1898, and finally taken apart for scrap metal in 1900.
Contents
What Was the Duque de Tetuán Like?
The Duque de Tetuán was designed and built by the Reales Astilleros de Esteiro shipyard in Ferrol. The Spanish Navy needed a floating battery that could support troops on land during the Third Carlist War.
How Was the Ship Built?
The ship was made mostly of wood. Its hull, which is the main body of the ship, was covered with thick iron armor. This armor was about 100 millimetres (3.9 in) (almost 4 inches) thick. Some of this iron armor actually came from an older armored ship called the Tetuan. That ship had been damaged in a fire during a rebellion.
What Weapons Did It Have?
The Duque de Tetuán was armed with powerful cannons. It had one large 160-millimetre (6.3 in) (about 6.3-inch) cannon. It also carried four smaller 120-millimetre (4.7 in) (about 4.7-inch) cannons. These smaller cannons were "rifled," meaning they had grooves inside to make the cannonballs spin and fly more accurately.
The ship was being built in Cartagena when rebel forces took over the city. The unfinished Duque de Tetuán was among the ships they captured.
What Did the Duque de Tetuán Do?
The Spanish government really needed this ship to help fight in the Carlist War. However, the Duque de Tetuán was not finished in time to join the battles.
Why Was It Not Used for Attacks?
Because of its design, the ship was not very good for attacking enemies far away. Some people even called it "a failure as a ship of war." So, instead of fighting, it was given the job of defending the main Spanish Navy base at Ferrol.
Its Role in Protecting Ferrol
The Duque de Tetuán stayed in this quiet role for its entire career. It never saw any real action or battles. By the late 1800s, it was considered an older, less important ship. It was taken out of service in 1897.
Return to Service During War
In 1898, the Spanish–American War began. Because of this new conflict, the Duque de Tetuán was brought back into service. Its job was once again to defend Ferrol from possible attacks. The ship was even equipped to control electric mines that were placed to protect the naval base.
After the war ended, the Duque de Tetuán was taken out of service again. It was sold and taken apart for scrap metal in 1900.
See also
In Spanish: Duque de Tetuán (1874) para niños
