ESMERALDA armoured cruiser 1896

[aukepalmhof]

Mr. Mario Rosner from Argentine confirms that the vessel depict on the Chilean stamp issued in 2010 of the Chilean Naval Review 14 September 1910 is the Chilean armoured cruiser ESMERALDA.

Built as an armoured cruiser under yard No 639 by Armstrong Mitchell & Co., Elswick, U.K. for the Chilean Navy. She was designed by Phillip Watts.
15 May 1895 order placed.
04 July 1895 laid down.
14 April 1896 launched as the ESMERALDA.
Displacement 7,032 tons, dim. 142.7 x 15.9 x 6.24m, length bpp. 132.9m.
Powered by 2 triple expansion 4 cylinder steam engines, 16,000 ihp, twin shafts, speed 22.25 knots.
Bunker capacity coal, 550 tons normal, maximum 1,374 tons.
Range by a speed of 10 knots, 7680 miles.
Armament: 2 – 8 inch, 16 – 6 inch QF, 8 – 12 pdr.QF, 10 – 6 pdr QF guns and 4 machine guns. 3 -18 inch torpedo tubes above water.
Crew 513.
04 September 1896 completed.
September 1896 she made her final trials.

At the time of her commission in the Chilean Navy was she one of the most powerful cruisers in the world.
March 1897 she sailed from Plymouth bound for Chile.
After arrival a unit of the Evolucions Squadron.
02 May 1910 she together with the O’HIGGINS left Chile to attend the Naval Review at Buenos Aires for the Celebration of the Centenary of the Republic Argentina.
14 September 1910 participated in the Naval Review at Valparaiso for the Celebration of the Chilean Centennial.
Also this year she underwent a modernisation, got new boilers and removal of 4 – 6 inch guns.
1929 Stricken.
1930 Sold for scrap.
1933 Her hull was scrapped.

Chile 2010 $430 sg?, scott?

Source: Warships for Export, Armstrong Warships 1867-1927 by Peter Brook. http://www.armada.cl/prontus_armada/sit ... 92942.html