MONARCA 1794

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aukepalmhof
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MONARCA 1794

Post by aukepalmhof » Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:32 pm

Built as a third Rate ship-of-the-line- by Reales Astilleros de Esteiro, Bilbao for the Spanish Navy.
21 September 1791 ordered.
17 March 1794 launched as the MONARCA.
Tonnage 1,640 tons (bm), dim. 54.40 x 14.94 x 8.14m, length of keel 48.90m, draught 7.18m.
Armament: Lower deck 28 – 24 pdrs, upper deck 30 – 18 pdrs, quarter deck 10 – 8 pdrs, fo’c’sle 6 – 8 pdrs.
Crew 672 in 1805.
17 March 1794 commissioned.

1794 Sailed from l Ferrol for Cadez.

The MONARCA was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Spanish Navy. She was ordered by a royal order of 28 September 1791, built in the Reales Astilleros de Esteiro shipyard and launched on 17 March 1794. Designed by Romero Landa and belonging to the Montañés-class (a subset or modification of the San Ildefonsino class), her main guns were distributed along two complete decks, with 28 - 24-pounder in her first battery (lower deck) and 30 -18-pounders in her second battery (upper deck). Additionally she had 12 - 8-pounders on her quarterdeck and four 8-pounders on her forecastle.
History
She underwent proving trials between September and November 1794 alongside the MONTAÑÉS, also launched in 1794, aiming to work out whose method of construction was best. The trials were overseen by José Justo Salceno and the results favoured the MONTAÑÉS The MONARCA was assigned to Juan de Lángara's squadron, taking part in the defence of Roses.
She took part in the battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 under the command of Captain Teodoro Argumosa. She was attacked at close range by MARS and TONNANT as they first cut the Franco-Spanish line. The ship behind the TONNANT, the BELLEROPHON, slipped under her stern at 12:30 and fired two broadsides into her. She was heavily damaged, with 100 men killed and 150 wounded. A party of 55 Royal Marines captured the ship, but the night after the battle the surviving Spanish crew overpowered them and cast them adrift, leaving them to the mercy of the storm that night.
On 24 October the survivors decided to try to repair the ship's rudder and return to Cadiz, as the weather was improving, but an hour later they were pursued by LEVIATHAN, which also picked up the marines and some Spanish survivors of the storm. On 28 October the ship ran aground on the Arenas Gordas coast near Huelva, between Torre de la Higuera and Torre del Asperillo, leaving it lying on its side. On 31 October she was destroyed by the guns of the frigate NAIAS to avoid her being reused or refloated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_ship_MONARCA_(1794
St Helena 2005 10p sg 939 Scott? ((the ship on the right is the AIGLE and on the left of the BELLEROPHON is the Spanish MONARCA, who got a broadside in her stern from the BELLEROPHON as seen on stamp)
Attachments
2005  MONARCA AND AIGLE in action against Bellerophon-.jpg

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