ABDON CALDERON

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shipstamps
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ABDON CALDERON

Post by shipstamps » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:43 pm



"ABDON CALDERON", named after an Ecuadorian patriot, in use as a lighthouse tender and coastguard patrol vessel, built in 1884 as an iron merchant vessel, under the name "CHAIHUIN" by the yard of D.J.Dunlop & Co. at Inchgree, Port Glasgow England, ordered by Lloyd, Son & Co. London for Kendall & Co., Valparaiso, Chile.
Tonnage 186 gross, 114 net, dim. 135 x 22.1 x 9.8 ft., between pp 124 ½ ft. Powered by two inverted steam engines 300 ihp., speed 10 knots. She was fitted out with a special crane for grapping purposes and towing gear. Between 1884/85 master given as Sproul, 1887/88 master M. Sabagu, Lloyds Register 1886 gives classed as A 1 at Valparaiso. Lloyds Register of 1887 gives as owner Lyon & Bros, Valparaiso. Lloyds Register 1887/8 gives as owner Government of Ecuador. Lloyds Register 1888/89, she is given as "COTOPAXI" owned by the Gov't of Ecuador. Around 1917 acquired by the Ecuadorian Navy, as gunboat "COTOPAXI" (she first appears in Jane's in 1919) Armament 2 - 76mm and 2 - 20mm Breda AA guns. Around 1932 reported as discarded but she was actually transferred to the Coast Guard as a lighthouse tender, and most probably renamed at that time in "ABDON CALDERON". 1960/62 Decommissioned, the last time she is listed in Almanacio Navale is 1962/63. Preserved as a museum ship in the marine park Guayaquil, and from a photo now on dry land.
The person depict on the stamp is Capt. Rafael M.Valverde ( the commander of the vessel at that time.) Took part in the Battle of Jambeli. When on 23 July 1941 the Peruvian paratroopers attacked Ecuador war broke out between the two countries. The war was based primarily on a continuing territorial dispute extant since the two countries gained independence from Spain. The primary disputed area is a vast rain forest between the Putumayo and the Amazon rivers. During the hostilities, the Peruvian Navy established a blockade of the Gulf of Guayaquil with 14 warships and gunboats, and in this way cutting of the sea route between Puerto Bolivar and Guayaquil. On 25 July 1941 there was a naval battle, now known as the Battle of Jambeli, in the approach channel to the Jambeli River.
From a website comes the following info: Kindly translated by Mr. Rosner. He gives also that the warship depict on the page is not the "ABDON CALDERON" but most probably the "LIBERTADOR BOLIVAR".
http: //www.fuerzasarmadasecuador.org/espanol/h ... ambeli.htm
At 11.15 (25 July 1941) when we were sailing to the North, approximately three miles distance from Jambeli lighthouse, the lookout reported a ship on our port beam heading in our directions. Also the smoke of several ships was seen, most probably from the rest of the Peruvian squadron.
The crew of the ("ABDON CALDERÓN") at that moment were preparing for gunnery practices. The approaching vessel increased her speed, altering many times her course with the apparent intention to prevent our retreat.
When she was approaching she was identified as a destroyer from the Peruvian Navy ( "ALMIRANTE VILLAR" 1585 tons.) I ordered starboard wheel and altered course 180 degrees in an opposite direction.
The same time the enemy altered also his course to starboard, and was soon on a parallel course with us.
At 11.25 I ordered ready for battle stations, 11.30 the enemy opened fire with his forward gun. When we saw the gunflash of the first salvo, I ordered fire, and returned a devastating fire with our guns. The battle extended until 11.45, when we were hiding our vessel behind the mouth of the Jambeli.
The fight was unequally, we could use only 1 - 3 inch gun and 2 - 20mm anti aircraft guns, the gun on our stern failed after the first shot and could not be used again. The only shot that gun fired most probably got an impact on the stern of the enemy vessel. Also it is thought that the anti aircraft gun on our stern many times hit the superstructure of the enemy vessel. We got not any damage during the battle, although the enemies shots were correct in deflection and barely 20 meter long or short. We anchored at Puerto Bolivar at 12.11 (p.m.). While at anchor at 13.42 we opened fire against enemy airplanes, which were attacking our ship. The attack was repelled after 15 minutes by our anti aircraft guns. Heaved in our anchor, and steamed up and down the river opposite the port, waiting for the next attack. Anchored again at 16.00 hours. An Peruvian source gives: The "ALMIRANTE VILLAR" was not damaged and did not have any damage after the battle. Altogether she fired 41 shots.
Sources: NAVICULA, Marhst List. Mr John D. Stevenson. Mr Andreas von Mach.

CLAUDE BENAY
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Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:49 am

Re: MARIUS MOUTET

Post by CLAUDE BENAY » Sun Apr 21, 2019 9:22 am

About this buoy lighthouse : On 1954, the french government sent her to install a meteorological station on TROMELIN ISLAND (15°53 S -54°31 E) in the east of MADAGASCAR, a part of THE EPARSES ISLANDS district, now united with the French Austral and Antarctic Territory.

aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: ABDON CALDERON

Post by aukepalmhof » Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:44 am

1957 Out of service.
1960 Preserved as a museum ship in the Navy Park in Guayaquil.
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