Return
to Online Library listing Return
to Online Library listing
Reina Mercedes, a 3042-ton Alfonso XII class cruiser, was launched at Cartagena, Spain, in September 1887. By 1898, she had become nearly inoperational and was stationed in Cuban waters. During the Spanish-American War, she acted as guardship at Santiago. Partially disarmed to provide guns for coast-defense batteries, she was scuttled to block the Santiago harbor entrance following the great naval battle of 3 July 1898. Raised by the U.S. Navy following the war, she became the USS Reina Mercedes. Never restored to operational condition, the ship was converted to a barracks ship. From 1912 until she was scrapped in 1957, she served as station ship at the U.S. Naval Academy.
This page features views of, or related to, the Reina Merecedes.
If higher resolution reproductions than these digital images are desired, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
|
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 |
 |
The following photograph shows guns that were probably removed
from Reina Mercedes for use in shore batteries as Santiago,
Cuba:
|
Photo #: NH 2265 Socapa Batteries, Santiago, Cuba A pair of "6-in Rapid Firing Guns" in the Socapa Batteries, on the west side of the entrance to Santiago Harbor. Photographed soon after U.S. forces occupied Santiago in mid-July 1898. USS Brooklyn (CA-3) is offshore, at the extreme left. These guns are probably 16cm (6.3") Hontoria guns, removed from the cruiser Reina Mercedes. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 70,751 bytes; 740 x 590 pixels |
 |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.21 October 1998