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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images
Ships of the Spanish-American War--
Spanish Navy Battleships and Larger Cruisers

In early 1898, the Spanish Navy's relatively modern ships included one battleship, Pelayo, five armored cruisers and eight protected and unprotected cruisers of relatively larger types. Two of the latter, Reina Cristina and Castilla, were stationed in the Philippine Islands. Another, Reina Mercedes, was in Cuba, while most of the other ships were in European waters. These ships were generally somewhat smaller and older than their U.S. Navy counterparts, and many of them suffered from deficiencies in machinery, armament, ammunition and crew training.

This page features Spanish Navy battleships and larger cruisers.

If better quality reproductions than these digital images are desired, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

In all cases, clicking on the small photograph will prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 46861

Pelayo
(Spanish Battleship, 1887-1926)

Photographed during the 1890s. This French-built battleship was reboilered and partially rearmed in 1897.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 52,046 bytes; 590 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 63229

Cristobal Colon
(Spanish Armored Cruiser, 1896-1898)

Photographed in 1897-98. Built in Italy, this ship's two ten-inch main battery guns had still not been installed when she was lost in the Battle of Santiago, Cuba, 3 July 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 51,491 bytes; 740 x 460 pixels

 
Photo #: NR&L(O) 17299

Cristobal Colon
(Spanish Armored Cruiser, 1896-1898)

Ship's officers, photographed in 1897-98. Note empty gun shield in the right background, intended for one of her never-installed ten-inch main battery guns.

Courtesy of Mrs. Harry Goddard, Hayward, CA, 1942.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 63,948 bytes; 740 x 545 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88603

Infanta Maria Teresa
(Spanish Armored Cruiser, 1890-1898)

Probably photographed in 1895, at opening ceremonies in Germany for the Kiel Canal. This ship was lost in the Battle of Santiago, Cuba, 3 July 1898.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 54,362 bytes; 740 x 556 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88738

Almirante Oquendo
(Spanish Armored Cruiser, 1891-1898)

Photographed circa 1893-97. She was lost in the Battle of Santiago, Cuba, 3 July 1898.

Copied from Office of Naval Intelligence Album of Foreign Warships.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 53,606 bytes; 740 x 586 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 57996

Viscaya
(Spanish Armored Cruiser, 1891-1898)

Photographed prior to her loss in the Battle of Santiago, Cuba, 3 July 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 52,708 bytes; 740 x 467 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 61231

Reina Mercedes
(Spanish Cruiser, 1887-1898)

Photographed prior to 1898. She was scuttled at Santiago, Cuba, in July 1898. Later raised by the U.S. Navy, she served as an accommodation ship at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, until scrapped in 1957.
Her sister ship, Reina Cristina, was the Spanish flagship in the Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898, and was lost in that action.

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Academy, 1941.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 72,342 bytes; 740 x 622 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 46854

Spanish Cruiser of the Aragon Class

Photographed circa the 1880s or 1890s. The three ships of this class were Aragon (1879-1900), Navarra (1881-1899) and Castilla (1881-1898). The latter ship was sunk in the Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 52,446 bytes; 740 x 491 pixels

 

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21 February 1998