Spanish ship Real Carlos (1787) facts for kids
Real Carlos was a huge warship with 112 cannons. It was built in Havanna, Cuba, for the Spanish Navy in 1787. This ship was designed by Romero Landa. Real Carlos was one of eight very large ships of its kind, called the Santa Ana class. These ships were also known as los Meregildos. Real Carlos served during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was destroyed in a big explosion during the Second Battle of Algeciras, causing many lives to be lost.
Real Carlos, painted by Alejo Berlinguero, now at the Museo Naval de Madrid.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Spain |
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| Name | Real Carlos |
| Builder | Havanna |
| Launched | 4 November 1787 |
| Fate | Burned and exploded 13 July 1801 |
| 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 |
Contents
Building a Giant Warship: The Santa Ana Class
The Santa Ana class ships were built for the Spanish fleet. This happened in the 1780s and 1790s. They were very large warships, similar to the biggest ships of the Royal Navy in Britain.
Other Ships in the Santa Ana Class
There were eight ships in this class. Besides Real Carlos, the others were:
- Santa Ana
- Mexicano
- Salvador del Mundo
- Conde de Regla
- San Hermenegildo
- Reina María Luisa
- Príncipe de Asturias
During the French Revolutionary Wars, three of these powerful ships were either captured or destroyed.
Real Carlos took part in several important events during its service. It was a flagship, meaning it carried the admiral and led other ships.
Early Missions and Expeditions
In 1793, Real Carlos was the flagship for Admiral Francisco de Borja. The ship was commanded by Baltasar Sesma y Zaylorda. Admiral Borja led a trip to Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. During this expedition, Spanish forces captured San Pietro Island. They also took Sant'Antioco for France.
Joining the Ferrol Squadron
On April 8, 1799, Real Carlos became the flagship of the Ferrol squadron. This group of ships was led by Francisco Melgarejo. Other ships in the squadron included Argonauta, Monarca, San Agustín, and Castilla. There were also three smaller ships.
The squadron tried to meet up with the French Atlantic Fleet. However, they missed their meeting. They spent much of that year anchored in Rochefort, France. They returned to Spain on September 11. The next year, Real Carlos helped defend Ferrol from a British attack. This event is known as the Ferrol Expedition.
The Final Battle and Loss of Real Carlos
By July 1801, Real Carlos was in Cádiz, a port city in Spain. A French squadron had just fought off a British force in the First Battle of Algeciras. Real Carlos joined other Spanish ships to help escort the French ships from Algeciras back to Cádiz.
The Second Battle of Algeciras
On the night of July 12, the combined Spanish and French fleet was sailing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Suddenly, a British squadron attacked them. This battle is known as the Second Battle of Algeciras. It was a very confusing fight because it happened in the dark.
During the battle, a British ship, HMS Superb, sailed between Real Carlos and another Spanish ship, San Hermenegildo. The Spanish ships started firing their cannons. But in the darkness, they accidentally hit each other. A fire quickly started spreading on the decks of Real Carlos.
A Tragic Explosion
In the chaos, the two huge Spanish ships, Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo, crashed into each other. The fire on Real Carlos grew completely out of control. Then, both ships exploded in a massive fireball. The explosion was so big that people on shore could see it.
More than 1,700 sailors died in this terrible blast. It was one of the biggest losses of life at sea up to that time. This defeat and the heavy Spanish casualties weakened the alliance between France and Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Real Carlos (1787) para niños
