Armoured Cruiser (1886)ARA Patagonia was an Argentinian armoured cruiser built by the Austro-Hungarians at Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino in Trieste. She was laid down and launched in 1886, Commissioned 1887 and departing by late January for Buneos Aires. She had been ordered with controversy as part of the growing naval rivalry and tension with Chile. She remained active until decommissioned in 1927, albeit she had been converted already in 1918 as a transport ship completely disarmed. Apparently she was not a successful design. Landlocked Austro-Hungary (apart its small coastaline mainly in Croatia), which still purchased ships in Britain in the 1880s, very rarely exported any vessel.
Development & Design
In 1884 the Argentinian Navy was weary of its unpreparedness to any war with Chile, only having steam frigates to deploy, and knowing Chile was about to procure modern armoured vessels. A commission was sent to Europe to look after a shipyard to build a modern protected cruiser. Tenders were sent. The commission looked at the proposals for the best cost-effective solution for Argentinian needs. The cruiser was to have a heavy gun acting as a deterrence, and be well protected. Eventually Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard (STT) in San Rocco, Muggia, Austria-Hungary, near Trieste, was selected as bringing the best guarantees.
Jane’s depiction of the Patagonia
STT was indeed the best Imperial Yard by far, and later one of the best of Italy. Still, at the time, the Paerliament, which discussed the proposal before voting it out, criticized the choice.
The Purchase contract was drafted by the Argentine Government. The acquisition was voted for but between its cost of £ 100,000 and the fact Austro-Hungarian navy was still purchasing its ships in Britain rather than locally was not reassuring. The press also fuelled that debate. But eventually the sale was approved. The name ARA Patagonia after the famous Argentinian “wild west”, cold and spectacular region to the South was chosen.
Patagonia started construction by O.G. yard, STT, San Rocco, Austria-Hungary, on April 3, 1885 under inspection by Coronel de Marina D. Augusto Lasserre. From 29 commander he was replaced by Sargento Mayor D. Juan Page. In 1886, construction proceeded confirming the schedule on November 19, 1886. After completing trials in the Adriatic she left Trieste on January 20, 1887 and crossed the Atlantic via Gibraltar and other stops underway to Buenos Aires, arriving on February 28.
Hull and general design
Patagonia profile 1887
The cruiser Patagonia is considered by some authors as an armoured cruiser, and by others as a protected one. She was two-masted and a schooner rigging was planned for long crossings. She was not large for a cruiser also, even for 1880s standards, displacing 1,450 tons standard and 1,530 tons fully loaded for an overall length of 67 m (219.8 ft) overall, 64.9 meters between perpendiculars, a beam of 10 m (32.8 ft) and a draft of 4 meters (12 ft) mean, or 3.91 m in outher sources, for a hgull height to the freeboard top of 7 meters (28 ft) and a hull ratio of 1/6. She had a steel hull with traditional wooden planking, and an armoured conning tower (see protection). She was wood and copper sheathed and had a ram bow, a flush deck and a low freeboard.
It seems she was tailored mostly to stick to the maze of islands and inlets, bays of the Tierra del Fuego, where she was likely to meet Chilean ships. Locally there were shallow waters, and the low freeboard was less of an issue. provided she did not attemped to cross Cape Norn… The fact she is class most often as a protected cruiser stemmed from the fact she had a classic turtleback protected deck, but not a ful belt and deck plus bulkheads creating a citadel as on common armoured cruisers. The term coined by the Argentinians for her was “crucero blindata”, making no difference between a protected and armoured cruiser to the more common sense before 1914. She carried 2 steam launches and 5 rowing boats for landing parties, and had a full crew of 140 men.
Powerplant
Patagonia was powered by two horizontal engines, compound system (HC), fed by five Cylindrical boilers spread over five separate compartments for a total of 2,400 ihp (1,800 kW), passed onto two 4-bladed propellers. Top speedwas 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h). Based on a Capacity of 350 tons coal, her range reached 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) at 10 knots but thanks to her brig rig, it was unlimited.
This was not the only power source on board as she also had full electric lighting (80 Edison lamps/8-16 Kw) and generators for two Barbier searchlight.
Protection
The protection was limited to:
-Steel deck 32 mm (1.2 in) thick, likely with sloped sides, but thickness is not precised. That Protective deck ran the length of the ship.
-30 mm (1.2 in) for the glacis over the engines
-Gun shield forward 102 mm (3.9 inches) and for secondary guns.
-The Conning Tower (CT) had walls 38 mm thick (1.5 inches)
Armament
It varied greatly during her service.
As completed in 1886:
-1 × 10 in Armstrong (254mm/30 cal.) 27.5 tonnes BLR, shielded fwd.
-3 × 5.9 in (152mm/31 cal.) Armstrong K guns, shielded, sponsons.
-4 × 87.5 mm (3.44 in) Armstrong guns*
-2 × 62.5 mm (2.46 in) Armstrong guns*
-8 Nordenfelt machine guns
-6 Gardner machine guns
*Another source states she had instead four 3-in or 76mm/26 9pdr Armstrong BL guns.
10 inches/33 Armstrong
A 254 mm and four 150mm guns was a pretty hefty armament for a 1,500 tonnes ship. By her proportions and speed she was more a large gunboat than a proper cruiser. Anyway, the single 30 caliber (other sources 33 caliber) BL 10 inch was likely the Mark I (32 tons) as it entered service in 1885. Barrel length was 317.5 inches (8,064 mm) (31.75 calibres).
It fired a Shell of 500 pounds (226.8 kg) at 2,040 feet per second (622 m/s).
Maximum firing range was 10,000 yards (9,100 m). This was a good deterrent, albeit the rate of fire was reduced.
Histamar states the following:
-One 250 mm gun weighing 27.5 tons, mounted on a central-pivot carriage amidships, 30-caliber barrel, hydraulic recoil and ammunition handling forward.
-One 150 mm Armstrong breech-loading gun, 5 tons on carriage at the stern.
-Two 150 mm Armstrong breech-loading guns 5 tons, in projecting sponsons on each beam.
-Four 87.5 mm Armstrong guns, two 62.5 mm Armstrong guns, four Nordenfeldt machine guns (four-barrel type), six Gardner machine guns (two-barrel type).
All artillery pieces were fitted with steel shields for protection. All gun carriages were of the Vavasseur system.
1899 Refit
The 250mm gun and two 150mm guns were removed.
The remainder of the artillery was redistributed.
1909 Survey Vessel
-One 152mm(6-in)/40 Main gun fwd
-One 120mm(4.7-in)/40
-Eight 76(3-in)/40 or 12-pdr Vickers QF guns.
1919 Transport Vessel
The armament was completely removed. She received a 500 hp oil-fired machinery, and for it carried 263t of oil for 10kts maximum. The space freed was used for cargo.
⚙ specifications |
|
| Displacement | 1,530 tons |
| Dimensions | 67 x 10 x 7 m (219.8 x 32.8 x 23 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2-shaft Horizontal Compound Engines, 2,400 ihp (1,800 kW), 5 cylindrical boilers |
| Speed | 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
| Range | 350t coal, 3500 nm/10 kts, +Brig Rig. |
| Armament | 1× 250 mm, 3× 150 mm, 4× 87.5 mm, 2 × 62.5 mm, 8 Nordenfelt MGs, 6 Gardner MGs |
| Protection | Deck 30 mm (1.2 in), Gun shields 100 mm (3.9 in), CT 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Crew | 140 |
Career of ARA Patagonia
Under command of Captain Augusto Lasserre, she left Trieste on January 20, 1887, bound for Gibraltar. Next she went via Tenerife, São Vicente, Rio de Janeiro, Maldonado over 101 days. She arrived in Buenos Aires on February 28, 1887. Lasserre was promoted to Commodore, so instead Juan Cabassa assumed command in March. She joined the squadron for maneuvers to Bahía Blanca, and live-fire tests in July. She returned to Buenos Aires in November, anchored at Los Pozos. In 1888 sje joined the 1st Naval Division deployed to the Montevideo station and under shared Command, Cabassa then Captain Lázaro Iturrieta. In January to March, she remained in the outer roadstead of Buenos Aires. From September to December she sailed to Montevideo, and received maintenance.
In 1889 she became flagship for Admiral Bartolomé Cordero, captain Lázaro Iturrieta was in charge. She made patrols between Buenos Aires and Montevideo and on February 6, rendered honors in Montevideo to the Argentine President for his official visit to Uruguay. In March, she carried back the remains of the Argentine Ambassador, Pedro A. Pardo. She spent the winter at the outer roadstead of Buenos Aires.
In 1890 she took part in the Inauguration of Puerto Madero and Puerto La Plata and took part in the Revolution that year as flagship of the 1st Division, with ARA El Plata, Los Andes, Uruguay, Constitución, and Resguardo. She was under command of Lázaro Iturrieta, alternating between Lieutenant Commander Hipólito Oliva and Commander Pedro Latorre and by January, was in Montevideo for station duty. Later thay year she assumed the role of flagship. With the 1890 Revolution, she joined the revolutionaries under Lieutenant Commander Ramón Lira, part of the Revolutionary Division at Villarino, shelling the Government House on July 27-28. Foreign warships anchored in Buenos Aires offered their servive to the rebels to obtain a ceasefire. The armistice was ratified on July 29. In October she was back in squadron maneuvers and also hosted Argentine ministers Dr. Luis Sáenz Peña and Dr. Enrique Moreno.
In Jan-May 1891 she was a station vessel at the entrance to the Río de la Plata under sanitary quarantine duties. Due to the poor condition of her hull (Her wooden sheating and backing was rotten), she was sent to Montevideo for repairs at Cibils drydock by March/April. On July 15, she carried back from Montevideo the remains of Brigadier General Martín Rodríguez, General Félix de Olazábal, General Elías Galván, and Colonel Juan J. Quesada (War of Independence) which died in exile. Captain Manuel Icaza was in command.
In 1892 Captain Lázaro Iturrieta took command and until February, she was in Cibils drydock, Montevideo. In March she returned to Buenos Aires, South Basin (Dársena Sur) and outer roadstead. She sails for operations in the Río de la Plata and reached Maldonado, back to Buenos Aires in October. By December she had a refit: Her brig rig was removed and instead she gained military masts with fighting tops.
On 1893 January 18, 1893, with her hull still a subject of worries, she became a static Schoolship for Gun Captains. Captain Edelmiro Correa was in command in January, then Diego Laure from March to December and she made two voyages to Montevideo on August 17-20, and 24-27th. She also was a quarantine vessel in the roadstead in January-May and September-December. During the 1893 revolution, she remains loyal to the government.
In 1894 Captain Lázaro Irigaray took command and she saw maneuvers near Maldonado (Uruguay). From August to October she took parft in maneuvers of the 2nd Division, with new cruisers 25 de Mayo and 9 de Julio. She monitored Brazilian warships which mutinied while in Argentine waters. Later they sailed to Martín García. The cruiser had an overhaul for her artillery at Zárate, recommissioned in December. 1895
It is designated a “Training Ship” and placed in “Reserve – 2nd Category” status. Its commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Teófilo de Loqui. In October, General Order 171 assigns it to the training squadron with a reduced armament complement. The School for Gunners’ Mates operates on board. It is stationed at Zárate from January to July, at Concepción del Uruguay in February and March (conducting training voyages), and at Martín García from November to December.
In Jan 1896, Lorenzo Irigaray took command and she as still part of the 2nd Naval Division, making a trip to Rio de Janeiro from August 24 and October 23. Later Captain Teófilo de Loqui took command in September and she continued her instruction role for artillery captains with a crew of 100. She visited La Plata in January, San Pedro in February, Colastiné in March and remained at anchor the rest of the year. In 1897 she remained a the Buenos Aires roadstead, except for a brief trip to Puerto Madero in July for national holiday celebrations.
In 1898 under Daniel Rojas Torres she remained at Punta de Indio and received extra accomodation for the Artillery School HQ. She made a single coastal trip in Río de la Plata. In 1899she was drydock and modernized while under command of Diego Rojas Torres. In 1900 she alternated between the outer roadstead of Buenos Aires, and Río Santiago to refuel. Commander Teófilo de Loqui assumed command in December.
From January to August 1901 she remained in Río de la Plata, working for the Artillery School apart a short trip to the Paraná River. She entered the Bahía Blanca Naval Division from August under Mariano Saracho. The Artillery School was transferred to ARA Almirante Brown. In 1902 she wa smoved to Puerto Belgrano, 3rd Division for that year’s major naval maneuvers. In May, she returned to the Bahía Blanca Naval Division as auxiliary vessel. She made a cruise with the National Naval School from Puerto Belgrano to Zárate and Rosario. She was placed in reserve in December under Lieutenant Guillermo Wells.
Modernized Patagonia in 1899
In 1903 the Bahía Blanca Division was disbanded and sje entered the Training Division in the Río de la Plata)as an “annex” under command of Frigate Captains Manuel Lagos and Mariano Beascoechea as well as Lieutenant Adolfo Archel. In January 1904 under Captain Manuel J. Lagos, acting as director of the Gunnery School aboard until transfer to the Almirante Brown. She was refitted at Río Santiago. Under Lt. José V. Pereyra, then Captain Julián Irizar takes by October she returned in active commission for defense maneuvers in the Río de la Plata. In 1905 under command of Lieutenant Novillo she is partly disarmed and by February, under Captain Ismael Galíndez she is assigned to the Hydrographic Service, departing for Bahía Blanca for buoyage operations. For this, all original guns were removed (see notes) and she received as engine the one from the former corvette La Argentina, living quarters were modified. In 1906 under Captain Galíndez she continued her hydrographic service with a reduced crew on the Bahía Blanca estuary. Same in 1907, 1908 but later under the authority of the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base, decommissioned with a care crew.
In 1909 she received a continuous deck, bow and stern raised,e masts replaced, artillery overhauled and she had a shakedown and maneuvers under Lieutenant Teodoro Caillet Bois. She became a personnel depot and mothership for torpedo boats and later formed a division with the gunboats Rosario and Paraná, touring Rosario, Paraná, and Santa Fe. She herself was reclassified as a gunboat. In 1910 under Cdt. Enrique Fliess she took part in the major Centennial naval maneuvers and joined the 3rd Division cruising to San Blas, San Juan de Salvamento, Cape Horn, Ushuaia, the Fuegian channels, Punta Arenas, Santa Cruz, Deseado, and back to La Plata roadstead. She was present for the grand naval review in May in active commission (still working for Artillery School but now also the Radiotelegraphy School).
In 1911 she took charge of the Apprentice Seamen School. She was also tasked with sanitary policing duties at Río de la Plata for 7 months. She was present at Concepción del Uruguay for the anniversary celebrations.
In 1912 she navigated the Paraná and Uruguay rivers on training voyages with the Apprentice Seamen School and returned to Concepción del Uruguay for three months. In 1913, same story (i will not specify the command changes, they were many). The local Sub-prefecture and others along the Uruguay River acted as recruiting agents and sending trainees aboard for instruction. In 1914 she was sitll assigned to the Apprentice Seamen and Sailor Trainees School but started to transport Argentine Army troops for major Litoral maneuvers, based at Río Santiago. She had maneuvers and exercises in the Río de la Plata.
In 1915 she was reclassified as a “Cruiser” deployed to the Río de la Plata estuary as station ship to enforce neutrality in World War I. She made a rivering trip to Diamante, Santa Fe, and Rosario, Martín García Island, and still hosting the Apprentice Helmsmen and Signalmen School on board.
In 1916 she was not included for duty stations and on December 21, 1916 she is stricken from the naval register. In 1917 she is dismantled and converted into a transport at the Río Santiago Base, fitted out for this at Dársena Norte. She was transferred to the Naval Transport Service, in 1918 with new engines, no armament and making round-trip voyages between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia through 1925. Her new aspect recalled a cargo ship, apart the ram. In March 1936, she arrived under tow in Concepción del Uruguay, loaned to the Club de Regatas Uruguay as a floating clubhouse, moored there permanently by 1944 and remaining there until March 1973, when the club sold her for scrap.
Read More/Src
Books
Conway’s all the world’s fighting ships 1865-1905
Las maniobras Navales de 1902. La evolución de las tácticas de la Armada Argentina ante el conflicto con Chile, 1881-1902. Jorge Rafael Bóveda 2009.
Arguindeguy, Pablo (1972). Apuntes sobre los buques de la Armada Argentina (1810-1970). Comando en Jefe de la Armada.
Arguindeguy, Pablo E.; Rodríguez, Horacio (1999). Buques de la Armada Argentina 1852-1899 sus comandos y operaciones: Instituto Nacional Browniano.
Burzio, Humberto (1960). Armada Nacional. Secretaria de Estado de Marina.
Caillet-Bois, Teodoro (1944). Historia Naval Argentina. Buenos Aires: Imprenta López.
Piccirilli, Ricardo; Gianello, Leoncio (1963). Biografías navales (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: Secretaría de Estado de Marin
Links
On navypedia
histarmar.com.ar
es.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org