Spanish ship Conde de Regla (1786) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Spain |
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| Name | Conde de Regla |
| Builder | Havanna |
| Launched | 4 November 1786 |
| Fate | Broken up Arsenal de la Carraca, 1811 |
| Notes |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Santa Ana-class ship of the line |
| Tonnage | 2,112 tonnes |
| Length | 56.14 m |
| Beam | 15.5 m |
| Draught | 7.37 m |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 801 |
| Armament |
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| Armour | None |
The Conde de Regla was a huge warship built for the Spanish Navy in 1786. It was a 112-gun ship of the line, which means it was a very powerful warship with three decks of cannons. It was built in Havana, a city now in Cuba.
This ship was part of a group of eight very large warships called the Santa Ana class. These ships were also known as los Meregildos. The Conde de Regla served in the Spanish Navy for about 30 years. It was active during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. Even though it was a strong part of the Spanish fleet, it only took part in one major battle: the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797. The ship was eventually taken apart in 1811.
Contents
Building a Giant Warship
The Santa Ana class ships were built in the 1780s and 1790s. They were designed to be very strong warships, similar to the largest ships used by the Royal Navy (the British navy). These ships were called "first-rate" ships.
Other ships in the Santa Ana class included the Santa Ana, Mejicano, Salvador del Mundo, Real Carlos, San Hermenegildo, Reina María Luisa, and Príncipe de Asturias. Some of these ships were captured or destroyed during the wars.
The Conde de Regla was built in Havana. Its construction was paid for by a rich person named Pedro Romero de Terreros, who was also known as the Count of Regla. The ship was named after him.
Life at Sea: The Ship's Journey
In 1787, the Conde de Regla went through its first tests at sea. A commander named Juan de Lángara y Huarte was in charge. He reported that the ship sailed smoothly and its many cannons worked well.
Battle of Cape St Vincent
In 1797, the Conde de Regla was part of the Spanish fleet that fought against the British navy. This battle was called the Battle of Cape St Vincent. The Spanish fleet lost the battle, and four of their ships were captured or sunk.
However, the Conde de Regla survived. Nine people on board were killed, including a high-ranking officer named Count Amblimont. Sixteen other people were seriously hurt, including the ship's commander, Jerónimo Bravo.
Later Years
Between 1799 and 1801, the Conde de Regla was stationed with a combined French and Spanish fleet in Brest, a port in France. It had taken part in a naval operation called the Croisière de Bruix before that.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the Conde de Regla was kept in a port called Arsenal de la Carraca in Spain. In 1811, the ship was taken apart. Its wood was used to repair other Spanish and British ships that were in the port.
