List of Spanish sail frigates

Last updated

This is a list of Spanish sail frigates built or acquired during the period 1700-1854

Contents

Spanish frigates generally had religious names, often the names of saints or "our Lady". Those with primarily secular names (such as royal, geographical or adjectival names) usually had additionally a religious name (Avocación or alias), which is listed below in the second column where known.

An asterisk (*) in the "Launch date" column indicates the date of acquisition (purchase or capture) for vessels not built for the Spanish Navy.

The Habsburg Era - pre 1700

During the 17th century, and for much of the first half of the 18th century, the term 'frigate' (or 'fragata' in Spanish) encompassed ships with two complete gundecks rated at about 50 guns as well as smaller single-decked vessels. The smaller frigates evolved from the fast and lightly-armed vessels built chiefly on the coast of (Spanish) Flanders, and employed in the English Channel and southern North Sea, as well as escorting the trade routes from the Spanish Netherlands to the north coast of Spain.

The Early Bourbon Era - 1700 to 1750

NameAvocación
(alias)
Built atLaunch
date
No of
Guns
Fate/notes
Nuestra Señora
de Gracia
1710*40
San Miguel1712*24
Águila de Nantes1713*20
Esperanza28
Sorpresa1714*36
Juno1714*30
Tigre1714*30
San Fernando el ChicoSan Fernando
el Pequeño
/ Fernandillo
1714*24
Principe de Asturias
(despues Ynfante)
1714*30
Santa IsabelReina Santa Isabel1714*22
San FelipeFelipillo/El Chico1715*24
San Juan el ChicoSan Juanico1715*30
Santa AnaVolante24
Perla de España40
San FranciscoSan Antonio de Padua22
San Marcos24
Galera de España36
Victoria40
Conde de Tolosa40
Pingue Pintado40
Águila Volante30
Andalucia Baja22
Iris26
Júpiter20
Peregrina36
Tolosilla30
Providencia24
Sán JoseEl Real Jorge30
Rebeca20
San Francisco JavierHermiona30
San Jorge36
Selerais30
Unicornio24
Galera Victoria40
Galgo de Andalucia24ex-HMS Greyhound (1712)
Fidela30
Santa RitaGalera de Neptuno30
Gusana24
Pingue Volante22
San Andrés30
Santa Susana24
Santa Teresa20
Júpiter20
Nuestra Señora
de Atocha
Guarnizo172330Galley-frigate
GriegaGuarnizo172330Galley-frigate
Nuestra Señora
de la Concepción
Guarnizo172330Galley-frigate
San Esteban Apedreado 172440
CatalinaSanta Catalina24ex-Dutch
Jardín de Tritón30
SantiagoNeptuno26
BurlandínEl Burlando44
Gusana24
Nuestra Señora
de Aránzazu
Pasajes172630
Nuestra Señora
del Rosario
169644
Santa Susana26
Neptuno26
Santa BárbaraLa Chata172822
La Señora Sara22
San Francisco Javier172740
Victoria172940
Galera Victoria14 February 172940wrecked 27 February 1729
Galera Victoria12 June 173040replacement for 1729 vessel;
wrecked 16 December 1738
San Cayetano1734 *24
Concepción20
Hermiona14 July 173350
Flora173434
TriunfoSan GristóbalHavana173524Galley-frigate; captured 4 December 1739.
AstreaSanta BárbaraHavana173724Galley-frigate; captured 4 December 1739.
Santa BárbaraEstrella173724
Águila Carraca August 173728Galley-frigate; wrecked 1744.
AuroraCarraca20 April 173828Galley-frigate; broken up 6 January 1769.
Concepción1738?
FloraSanta RosalíaHavana31 August 174724The only Spanish 'frigate' built in the 1740s was the first vessel for Spain with no apertures (e.g. oar or gun ports) along the lower deck.
Wrecked 26 January 1768.

The Middle Bourbon Era - 1750 to 1808

NameAvocación
(alias)
Built atLaunch
date
No of
Guns
Fate/notes
(La) GalgaFerrol1 March 175230First 'true' frigate built under Jorge Juan concepts.
Sold 27 June 1764
PenaCarraca175326
JúpiterCarraca175322Despatch vessel
MercurioCarraca175322Despatch vessel
PerlaSanta Isabel ReinaCartagena24 February 175222Broken up 1777.
DoradaSanta AnaCartagena14 February 175322Fireship 1780, deleted 1783.
EsmeraldaSanta Lucía MártirCartagena12 May 175330Enlarged from Perla Class;
fireship 1780, deleted later.
VenganzaSanta Inés Carraca 4 June 175326
ÁguilaSanta Maria MagdalenaCarraca15 August 175322
VictoriaSanta GertrudisCarraca26 September 175324
FlechaSanta SaturninaCarraca28 October 175322
HermionaSanta MónicaCarraca24 November 175324
IndustriaSanta CristinaCarraca13 June 175526
LiebreSanta CatalinaCarraca26 July 175526
VenusSanta BrígidaCarraca5 September 175526
VenturaSanta ClaraCarraca21 October 175526
JunoSanta CeciliaCartagena30 August 175526
PalasSanta IreneCartagena29 November 175526
AstreaSanta Catalina
Virgen y Mártir
Cartagena29 March 175626
Concepción22
TetisGuadalupeHavana29 January 176122
FénixSanta Bárbara175822
Nuestra Señora
de la Soledad
Guarnizo1 July 176130
Santa RosaJuly 1767 *22ex-French Aguila
Santa RosalíaCartagena1 April 176730
Santa CatalinaGuarnizo12 July 176734
Santa TeresaGuarnizo18 February 176834
Santa BárbaraGuarnizo15 June 176834
Santa GertrudisGuarnizo12 August 176824
Santa LucíaHavana31 March 177034
Nuestra Señora
del Rosario
Ferrol4 April 177034
Nuestra Señora
del Carmen
Ferrol24 November 177034
Santa DoroteaCartagena177226
Nuestra Señora
de la Asunción
Ferrol4 April 177234
Santa PerpetuaFerrol31 July 177234
Santa María
de la Cabeza
Ferrol2 July 177234
Santa María MagdalenaFerrol7 July 177334
Esmeralda177326
Santa ClaraCartagena23 April 177334
Santa MargaritaFerrol23 June 177434captured 11 November 1779
Santa MartaFerrol5 July 177434
Santa DoroteaFerrol21 December 177534captured 15 July 1798
Santa ClaraFerrol18 May 177634
Santa ÁguedaHavana24 July 177630
Santa RufinaCartagena18 February 177734
Santa LeocadiaFerrol24 March 177734
Santa CeciliaHavana28 June 177734
Santa MónicaCartagena23 October 177734
GranaNuestra Señora
de la Paz
Ferrol18 July 177828
Santa MatildeHavanaMarch 177834
Nuestra Señora
de la O
Havana9 November 177834
Santa EscolásticaFerrol31 March 177834
Winchcomb1779 *26
Santa Balbina1780 *34ex-Helbrech
Santa Bibiana1780 *34ex-Monstraut
Santa Paula1780 *34ex-Geoffrey
Héroe1780 *26broken up 1783
Real JorgeSan Jorge1780 *30ex-Royal George
Santa ClaraHavana10 July 178034captured 5 October 1804
Santa María
de la Cabeza
Havana178134
Santa SabinaFerrol1 September 1781401st Spanish 18pdr frigate;
broken up 1828
Nuestra Señora
de Loreto
Ferrol15 December 1781402nd Spanish 18pdr frigate;
wrecked 29 May 1792
Santa RosaFerrol20 May 178234
Nuestra Señora
del Pilar
Ferrol7 December 1782403rd Spanish 18pdr frigate;
broken up 1817
Colón30ex-British mercantile Gaton
Santa ElenaFerrol7 October 1783404th Spanish 18pdr frigate;
sunk in action 26 March 1797
Santa TeclaFerrol5 May 178446
Santa CasildaCartagena12 March 178434
Santa Brígida Cartagena5 March 178534
Santa MaríaFerrol178534
Nuestra Señora
de la Paz
Ferrol2 August 178534
Nuestra Señora
de Guadalupe
Havana4 November 178634
Santa Florentina Cartagena21 December 178634
Santa TeresaFerrol3 March 178734
Santa LeocadiaFerrol2 June 178734
Santa CatalinaFerrol9 December 178734
Nuestra Señora
de la Soledad
Cartagena3 May 178834
Nuestra Señora
de las Mercedes
Havana18 November 178834
PerlaSanta MónicaCartagena31 July 178934
Nuestra Señora de AtochaHavana14 October 178940
MahonesaSanta MónicaMahón2 October 178934
PalasSanta MargaretaFerrol14 November 178934
JunoNuestra Señora
de los Dolores
Ferrol31 December 178934
PerlaSanta MónicaCartagena31 July 178934
MinervaSanta MartaHavana14 October 179044
CeresNuestra Señora
de la Almudeda
Havana22 October 179040
PreciosaDivina PastoraCarraca18 January 179134
EsmeraldaSanta PetronilaMahón30 May 179134
DianaSanta AnaMahón10 March 179234
TetisSanta AmaliaFerrol6 August 179344
GloriaSanta MónicaHavana179244
CalypsoRochefort18 January 1793 *34ex-French Calypso
(launched 1785)
SirenaSanta GenovevaRochefort19 February 1793 *34ex-French Heléne
(launched 1791)
VenganzaSanta PetronilaMahón16 May 179334
PomonaSanta QuiteriaFerrol25 October 179440
NinfaNuestra Señora
del Rosario
Mahón19 December 179434
IfigeniaLorientFebruary 1795 *34ex-French Iphigénie
(launched 1777)
FamaSanta VictoriaCartagena30 May 179534
FloraSanta María Magdalena
de Pacís
Ferrol19 December 179544
AnfítriteSanta ÚrsulaHavana179640
Medea Santa BárbaraFerrol27 December 179740
ProserpinaMahón16 May 179734
HermionaBristol27 September 1797 *34ex-British Hermione,
(launched 1782)
PruebaFerrol9 December 180144
CorneliaBrest14 June 1808 *40ex-French Cornelie

The Final phase - 1815 to 1854

The post-Napoleonic era began with the acquisition of six frigates from Russia in 1818. These proved of poor quality and were soon disposed of.

NameBuilt atLaunch
date
No of
Guns
Fate/notes
AstrolabioSt Petersburg17 September 181144ex-Russian Avtroil, acquired 21 February 1818
MercurioSt Petersburg13 July 181544ex-Russian Merkurii, acquired 21 February 1818
PatricioArkangelsk21 June 181644ex-Russian Patrikii, acquired 21 February 1818;
renamed María Isabel soon after acquisition.
Captured by Chileans 20 September 1819.
LigeraSt Petersburg16 August 181644ex-Russian Legkii, acquired 12 October 1818
VivaArkangelsk26 May 181640ex-Russian Provornyi, acquired 12 October 1818
ProntaSt Petersburg16 August 181640ex-Russian Pospeshnyi, acquired 12 October 1818
AretusaBordeaux29 April 181940Stricken 1829
IberiaFerrol3 March 182550Stricken in December 1830
LealtadFerrol19 March 182550Wrecked 13 January 1834 at Santander
RestauraciónFerrol14 October 182650Renamed Ville de Bilbao in 1837;
hulked in 1840
EsperanzaCavite29 November 183448
CortesFerrol27 July 183644Stricken 21 March 1863
Isabel IIFerrol23 September 183644Hulked in May 1860
Reina María CristinaFerrol6 February 183752Stricken 25 October 1852
BailénFerrol29 March 185440Stricken 21 August 1865

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frigate</span> Type of warship

A frigate is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceremonial ship launching</span> Ceremonial process of transferring a newly built vessel to the water

Ceremonial ship launching involves the performance of ceremonies associated with the process of transferring a vessel to the water. It is a nautical tradition in many cultures, dating back thousands of years, to accompany the physical process with ceremonies which have been observed as public celebration and a solemn blessing, usually but not always, in association with the launch itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship of the line</span> Warship of 17th–19th centuries

A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed during the Age of Sail from the 17th century to the mid-19th century. The ship of the line was designed for the naval tactic known as the line of battle, which depended on the two columns of opposing warships maneuvering to volley fire with the cannons along their broadsides. In conflicts where opposing ships were both able to fire from their broadsides, the opponent with more cannons firing – and therefore more firepower – typically had an advantage. Since these engagements were almost invariably won by the heaviest ships carrying more of the most powerful guns, the natural progression was to build sailing vessels that were the largest and most powerful of their time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corvette</span> Small warship

A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloop-of-war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of Spains military

The Spanish Navy or officially, the Armada, is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Spanish Navy was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation, the most famous being the discovery of America and the first global circumnavigation by Elcano. For several centuries, it played a crucial logistical role in the expansion and consolidation of the Spanish Empire, and defended a vast trade network across the Atlantic Ocean between the Americas and Europe, and the Manila Galleon across the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barque</span> Type of sailing vessel

A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts having the fore- and mainmasts rigged square and only the mizzen rigged fore and aft. Sometimes, the mizzen is only partly fore-and-aft rigged, bearing a square-rigged sail above.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Netherlands Navy</span> Navy of the Netherlands

The Royal Netherlands Navy is the naval force of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shipyard</span> Place where ships are built and repaired

A shipyard, also called a dockyard or boatyard, is a place where ships are built and repaired. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial construction. The terms are routinely used interchangeably, in part because the evolution of dockyards and shipyards has often caused them to change or merge roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warship</span> Ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare

A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships. Unlike a merchant ship, which carries cargo, a warship typically carries only weapons, ammunition and supplies for its crew. Warships usually belong to a navy, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunboat</span> Naval watercraft designed with the sole purpose of carrying and utilizing firepower

A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sloop-of-war</span> Type of warship

In the 18th century and most of the 19th, a sloop-of-war in the Royal Navy was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. The rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above; thus, the term sloop-of-war encompassed all the unrated combat vessels, including the very small gun-brigs and cutters. In technical terms, even the more specialised bomb vessels and fireships were classed as sloops-of-war, and in practice these were employed in the sloop role when not carrying out their specialised functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rating system of the Royal Navy</span> Historical category for Royal Navy vessels, based on number of guns

The rating system of the Royal Navy and its predecessors was used by the Royal Navy between the beginning of the 17th century and the middle of the 19th century to categorise sailing warships, initially classing them according to their assigned complement of men, and later according to the number of their carriage-mounted guns. The rating system of the Royal Navy formally came to an end in the late 19th century by declaration of the Admiralty. The main cause behind this declaration focused on new types of gun, the introduction of steam propulsion and the use of iron and steel armour which made rating ships by the number of guns obsolete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portuguese Navy</span> Naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces

The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defense of Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval history of Iran</span> Historical overview of the naval forces of Iran in all their incarnations

The Iranian Navy traditionally located in the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf, has always been the smallest of the country's military forces. An Iranian navy in one form or another has existed since Achaemenid times in 500 BC. The Phoenician navy played an important role in the military efforts of the Persians in late antiquity in protecting and expanding trade routes along the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. With the Pahlavi dynasty in the 20th century that Iran began to consider building a strong navy to project its strength into the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. In more recent years, the country has engaged in domestic ship building industries in response to the western-backed Iraqi invasion of Iran, which left it without suppliers during an invasion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombian Navy</span> Maritime branch of Colombias military

The Colombian Navy, officially the Colombian National Navy, also known as the "Armada Nacional" or just the "Armada" in Spanish, is the naval branch of the military forces of Colombia. The Navy is responsible for security and defence in the Colombian zones of both the Atlantic (Caribbean) and Pacific oceans, the extensive network of rivers inside the country, and a few small land areas under its direct jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish expeditions to the Pacific Northwest</span> Research expedition

During the Age of Exploration, the Spanish Empire undertook several expeditions to the Pacific Northwest of North America. Spanish claims to the region date to the papal bull of 1493, and the Treaty of Tordesillas signed in 1494. In 1513, this claim was reinforced by Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean, when he claimed all lands adjoining this ocean for the Spanish Crown. Spain only started to colonize the claimed territory north of present-day Mexico in the 18th century, when it settled the northern coast of Las Californias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemmema</span> Type of warship built for the Swedish archipelago fleet and the Russian Baltic navy

A hemmema was a type of warship built for the Swedish archipelago fleet and the Russian Baltic Fleet in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The hemmema was initially developed for use against the Imperial Russian Navy in the Archipelago Sea and along the coasts of Svealand and Finland. It was designed by the prolific and innovative Swedish naval architect Fredrik Henrik af Chapman (1721–1808) in collaboration with Augustin Ehrensvärd (1710–1772), an artillery officer and later commander of the Swedish archipelago fleet. The hemmema was a specialized vessel for use in the shallow waters and narrow passages that surround the thousands of islands and islets extending from the Swedish capital of Stockholm into the Gulf of Finland.

HMS <i>Emerald</i> (1795) Frigate of the Royal Navy, in service 1795-1836

HMSEmerald was a 36-gun Amazon-class fifth rate frigate that Sir William Rule designed in 1794 for the Royal Navy. The Admiralty ordered her construction towards the end of May 1794 and work began the following month at Northfleet dockyard. She was completed on 12 October 1795 and joined Admiral John Jervis's fleet in the Mediterranean.