Spanish ironclad Méndez Núñez facts for kids
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|} The Spanish ironclad Méndez Núñez was a powerful warship from Spain. It started as a steam-powered frigate called Resolución. A frigate is a type of warship. This ship had 38 guns. It was badly damaged during the Chincha Islands War (1864–1866). After the war, it was rebuilt into an armored corvette (a smaller warship).
Later, in 1873, rebels took control of the ship during a conflict called the Cantonal Revolution. The Méndez Núñez even fought in a big battle near Cartagena. It was returned to the Spanish government when Cartagena surrendered in early 1874. The ship was officially removed from the Navy List in 1886. It was then taken apart for scrap metal ten years later, in 1896.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} Spain |
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| Name | Méndez Núñez |
| Namesake | Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez |
| Builder | Reales Astilleros de Esteiro, Ferrol |
| Laid down | 22 September 1859 as frigate Resolución |
| Launched | 19 September 1861 |
| Completed | 28 August 1862 |
| Recommissioned | February 1870 |
| Renamed | Méndez Núñez, 21 August 1870 |
| Refit | 1867–1870 |
| Stricken | 1886 |
| Fate | Scrapped, 1896 |
| General characteristics (as reconstructed) | |
| Type | Central-battery ironclad |
| Displacement | 3,382 long tons (3,436 t) |
| Length | 236 ft 2 in (71.98 m) |
| Beam | 49 ft 3 in (15.01 m) |
| Draft | 21 feet 11 inches (6.68 m)* |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft, compound-expansion steam engine |
| Sail plan | Ship rig |
| Speed | about 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) |
| Complement | 417 |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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What Was the Méndez Núñez Like?
The Méndez Núñez was a special type of warship called a central-battery ironclad. This means its main guns were grouped together in the middle of the ship.
Ship's Size and Speed
The ship was about 72 meters (236 feet) long at the water line. It was 15 meters (49 feet) wide. The bottom of the ship sat about 6.7 meters (21 feet) deep in the water. The ship weighed about 3,382 long tons.
It had one main engine that used steam from four boilers. This engine made about 2,250 horsepower. This power allowed the ship to travel at a speed of about 8 knots (about 15 kilometers per hour). For long trips, the Méndez Núñez also had three masts and ship rigged sails. It could carry 400 long tons of coal for its engines.
Ship's Weapons and Protection
The Méndez Núñez was armed with six powerful guns. It had four 9-inch (229 mm) rifled muzzle-loading guns made by Armstrong. It also had two 8-inch (203 mm) rifled muzzle-loading guns. These guns were loaded from the front.
To protect itself, the ship had strong wrought-iron armor. This armor was 127 mm (5 inches) thick. It covered most of the ship's body and the area where the guns were located.
Building the Ship and Its Early Life
The ship was originally named Resolución. Its construction began on September 22, 1859. It was built at the Reales Astilleros de Esteiro shipyard in Ferrol. The ship was officially launched into the water on September 19, 1861. It was finished and ready for service on April 28, 1862.
Role in the Chincha Islands War
The Resolución played a very important part in the Chincha Islands War. This war involved Spain and some South American countries. The ship helped block the coast of Chile. It also took part in the Bombardment of Valparaíso and the Battle of Callao. During these battles, the ship was badly damaged.
Becoming the Méndez Núñez
Because of the damage, the Resolución was rebuilt. This happened between 1867 and 1870. When it was finished in February 1870, it was renamed Méndez Núñez. This new name honored Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez. The name change happened on August 21, 1870. After its rebuild, the ship joined the Mediterranean Squadron, a group of warships in the Mediterranean Sea.
Adventures During the Cantonal Revolution
In the middle of 1873, Spain was facing a lot of problems. The First Spanish Republic was dealing with the Cantonal Revolution. This was a time when different parts of Spain wanted to govern themselves. At the same time, Spain was also fighting the Third Carlist War.
Rebels Take Control
On July 12, 1873, the rebels took over Cartagena. Many Spanish warships were in the port at that time. These included the armored frigates Vitoria, Numancia, and Tetuan, along with the Méndez Núñez.
Some German and British warships, like the SMS Friedrich Carl and HMS Swiftsure, stepped in. They took control of the Vitoria and another ship. This happened after the rebel ships threatened to attack a city unless they were paid money. The German and British ships later gave the captured ships back to the Spanish government.
Battles and Groundings
On August 8, the Méndez Núñez got stuck in the shallow water. It was trying to get back the Numancia and Vitoria from the rebels. Later, the Numancia and Méndez Núñez attacked the forts protecting the city of Alicante. They received only minor damage.
On October 11, all three rebel ironclads—Numancia, Tetuan, and Méndez Núñez—were at sea. They were attacked near Cartagena by a smaller government fleet led by the Vitoria. The government ships did not want to sink the rebel ships. So, they kept their distance. They stopped the rebels from getting too close. The rebel ships had 13 people killed and 49 wounded in this fight.
On October 13, the Méndez Núñez was reported to have run aground again. This happened while it was leaving Cartagena with the Numancia and Tetuan. Luckily, it was refloated and got free.
The government ships then blocked Cartagena on October 23. The city finally surrendered to the government on January 12–13, 1874.
End of Service
The Méndez Núñez was officially removed from the navy's list in 1886. It was then taken apart for scrap metal in 1896.
See also
In Spanish: Méndez Núñez (1869) para niños
