Spanish ship San Hermenegildo (1789) facts for kids
Ships of the line Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo explode, 12 July 1801
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} Spain |
|
| Name | San Hermenegildo |
| Builder | Havanna |
| Launched | 20 January 1789 |
| Fate | Burned and exploded 13 July 1801 |
| Notes |
|
| 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 |
|
| Armour | None |
San Hermenegildo was a huge warship called a ship of the line. It had 112 cannons and three decks! It was built in Havanna for the Spanish Navy in 1789. This ship was part of the Santa Ana class, which included eight very large warships. San Hermenegildo served Spain during the French Revolutionary Wars. Sadly, it was destroyed in a big explosion during the Second Battle of Algeciras. Many lives were lost in this event.
Contents
Building a Giant Warship
The Santa Ana class ships were built for the Spanish fleet in the 1780s and 1790s. These were heavy ships of the line. They were similar to the largest warships in the Royal Navy, known as first rate ships.
Other Ships in the Santa Ana Class
There were eight ships in this powerful class:
- Santa Ana
- Mexicano
- Salvador del Mundo
- Conde de Regla
- Real Carlos
- Reina María Luisa
- Príncipe de Asturias
- And, of course, San Hermenegildo
During the French Revolutionary Wars, three of these mighty ships were either captured or destroyed.
San Hermenegildo in Action
San Hermenegildo took part in several important events during its time. It was a flagship and helped defend Spain's interests at sea.
Early Missions and Repairs
In 1793, during the War of the Pyrenees, San Hermenegildo was the main ship for a group of Spanish warships. This group was led by Federico Gravina. They operated near Catalonia in the Mediterranean Sea. Later, the squadron helped evacuate people from Toulon. This happened during the final part of the siege, working with the British fleet.
In 1800, San Hermenegildo went through a major repair in Ferrol. Workers fixed problems that had been there since the ship was built. They also made changes so the ship could carry heavier cannons. Later that year, San Hermenegildo helped defend against the Ferrol Expedition. This was an attempt by British forces to attack Ferrol.
The Final Battle and Explosion
By July 1801, San Hermenegildo was in Cádiz. A French group of ships had just fought off a British force. This was during the First Battle of Algeciras on July 6. San Hermenegildo joined other ships to escort the French fleet from Algeciras back to Cádiz.
On the night of July 12, the combined Spanish and French ships were sailing through the Straits of Gibraltar. A British group of ships attacked them. This was the start of the Second Battle of Algeciras. It was a very confusing fight in the dark.
The British ship HMS Superb sailed quickly between two large Spanish ships, Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo. The Spanish ships started firing their cannons. But in the darkness, they accidentally hit each other! A fire quickly spread across the decks of Real Carlos.
Then, the two huge Spanish ships crashed into each other. The fire grew completely out of control. Both ships exploded in a massive fireball that could be seen from the shore. 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.
Images for kids
-
Ships of the line Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo explode, 12 July 1801
See also
In Spanish: San Hermenegildo (1789) para niños
