The Princesa de Asturias class was a class of armoured cruisers of the Spanish Navy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The class comprised three ships, Princesa de Asturias, Cataluña and Cardenal Cisneros. With construction beginning on the lead ship of the class in 1890, it was considered to be essentially a repeat of the three Infanta Maria Teresa-class cruisers but with more modern and balanced armament. Cardenal Cisneros was wrecked in 1905 but the fate of the other two ships of the Princesa de Asturias class is unknown.
Cataluña in 1914
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Class overview | |
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Name | Princesa de Asturias class |
Builders | |
Operators | Spanish Navy |
Built | 1890–1904 |
In commission | 1902–1929 |
Completed | 3 |
Lost | 1 |
Retired | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Armoured cruiser |
Displacement | 6,888 tons |
Length | 110.97 m (364 ft 1 in) |
Beam | 18.59 m (61 ft 0 in) |
Draught | 6.61 m (21 ft 8 in) |
Propulsion | 14,800 hp (11,000 kW), two shafts |
Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Complement | 542 |
Armament |
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Armour |
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The ships of the class were 110.97 metres (364 ft 1 in) long, had a beam of 18.59 metres (61 ft 0 in), a draught of 6.61 metres (21 ft 8 in), and had a displacement of 6,888 ton. The ships were equipped with two-shaft reciprocating engines, which were rated at 14,800 ihp (11,000 kW) and produced a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[1]
The ships had belt armour of 11.88 in (30.2 cm), conning tower and barbette armour of 7.88 in (20.0 cm), 3.88 in (9.9 cm) turret armour and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) deck armour. However, as these ships were fundamentally modernized Infanta Maria Teresa-class cruisers, the armour coverage was not comprehensive, and thus the ships were poorly armoured by standards of the day.[1]
The main armament of the ships were two 9.4 in (24 cm) single turret guns. Secondary armament included eight single 5.5 in (14 cm) guns.[1]