Spanish ironclad Vitoria facts for kids
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|} The Spanish ironclad Vitoria was a powerful warship from the 1860s. It was an armored frigate, meaning it was a large sailing ship with a steam engine and covered in iron armor. Vitoria was bought from England by Spain. This ship played a big part in Spain's history, especially during a time of civil unrest called the Cantonal rebellion in 1873–1874. It even fought on both sides during this conflict! Later, it helped the government during the Third Carlist War. Vitoria was used as a training ship before it was taken apart in 1912.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Vitoria |
| Namesake | Battle of Vitoria |
| Ordered | December 1860 |
| Builder | Thames Ironworks, Blackwall, London |
| Laid down | January 1862 |
| Launched | 4 November 1865 |
| Completed | May 1867 |
| Commissioned | February 1868 |
| Stricken | 1912 |
| Fate | Scrapped, 1912 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Broadside ironclad |
| Displacement | 7,250 t (7,140 long tons) |
| Length | 96.8 m (317 ft 7 in) |
| Beam | 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in) |
| Draft | 7.7 m (25 ft) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft, 1 trunk steam engine |
| Sail plan | Ship rig |
| Speed | about 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Range | 2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 561 |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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What was the Vitoria like?
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The Vitoria was a very large ship. It was about 96.8 meters (317 ft 7 in) long, which is longer than a football field! It was 17.3 meters (56 ft 9 in) wide and sat 7.7 meters (25 ft 3 in) deep in the water. The ship weighed about 7,250 metric tons (7,135 long tons), which is like the weight of many elephants. A crew of 561 sailors and officers worked on board.
How did Vitoria move?
The ship had a special steam engine that used steam from eight large boilers. This engine powered a single propeller shaft, allowing Vitoria to move through the water. It could reach a speed of about 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph), which is fairly fast for a ship of its time. The Vitoria could carry a lot of coal, enough to travel 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) (about 4,445 kilometers) at a slower speed. Even with its powerful engine, it also had three tall masts with sails, like a traditional sailing ship.
What weapons did Vitoria carry?
When it was first built, Vitoria had a mix of powerful cannons. It had four large nine-inch (229 mm) rifled guns and three slightly smaller eight-inch (203 mm) rifled guns. Rifled guns were more accurate than older smoothbore cannons. It also carried fourteen 160-millimeter (6.3 in) smoothbore cannons. Most of these guns were on the sides of the ship, allowing it to fire a "broadside" (all guns on one side at once).
Over time, the ship's weapons were updated. By 1883, more of the larger 9-inch guns were added. Later, in the late 1890s, during a major upgrade in France, its cannons were changed again to more modern breech-loading guns. These guns were loaded from the back, making them faster to fire. It also gained two torpedo tubes, which could launch underwater weapons.
How was Vitoria protected?
To protect it from enemy fire, Vitoria had a strong wrought iron armor belt around its waterline, which was 140 mm (5.5 in) thick. This belt protected the most important parts of the ship where it met the water. The areas where the main guns were located also had armor, about 130 millimeters (5.1 in) thick. However, the front and back ends of the ship and the main deck did not have armor.
Building and Service of Vitoria
Vitoria was named after a famous Spanish victory in the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. The ship was ordered in December 1862 from a company called Thames Iron Works in London, England. It was started in January 1862, launched into the water on November 4, 1865, and finished in May 1867. The ship officially joined the Spanish Navy in February 1868.
Vitoria in the Cantonal Rebellion
The Vitoria played a surprising role in the Cantonal rebellion, a time when different parts of Spain wanted to govern themselves. At first, the ship joined the rebels. After the rebels took control of the city of Cartagena and its navy ships, Vitoria sailed to Alicante to try and convince that city to join the rebellion too.
However, other countries like Britain and Germany got involved. Their warships, including the German armored frigate SMS Friedrich Carl and the British ironclad HMS Swiftsure, stopped Vitoria and another rebel ship. They forced the Spanish ships to surrender. These ships were then given back to the Spanish government. Vitoria then became the main ship for the government's admiral, Admiral Lobo.
Battle off Cartagena (1873)
On October 11, 1873, Vitoria fought in the Battle off Cartagena against the rebel ships. Vitoria was blocking Cartagena when rebel ships tried to break through. Vitoria fought the main rebel ship, the ironclad Numancia, at close range. The rebel ship eventually turned and fled. Vitoria then chased another rebel ship, Méndez Núñez, but a French warship blocked its path. Vitoria then exchanged fire with a third rebel ironclad, Tetuán. Neither ship was badly damaged, and the rebels failed to break the blockade.
A few days later, on January 1, 1874, Vitoria accidentally sank a British merchant ship called Ellen Constance while it was leaving Cartagena. Three of the British crew members were lost. This was believed to be an accident due to poor sailing skills, not on purpose.
End of the Rebellion and Later Years
When Cartagena was about to surrender, the rebel ship Numancia escaped and went to Oran in French North Africa. Vitoria and another Spanish ship chased it. The French authorities then gave the rebel ship back to the Spanish government.
After the rebellion, Vitoria continued to serve Spain. It helped bombard towns controlled by rebels during the later parts of the Third Carlist War (1872–1876).
In 1896–1898, Vitoria went through a major upgrade in France. Its sailing masts were replaced with simpler pole masts. In 1899, it was reclassified as a coast-defense ship, meaning it was meant to protect the coast. It then served as a training ship for new sailors until it was taken apart in 1912.
Images for kids
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Vitoria in Mahón, around 1885
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A drawing of Vitoria, showing its design and armor
See also
In Spanish: Vitoria (1867) para niños
