CS Capitan Prat (1890)

History

In 1887, the Chilean government, mindful of South American tensions and the need to defend its coastline, initiated the modernization of naval facilities. This led to the construction of the unique ironclad battleship Capitán Prat, completed in 1890. The ship, named after Chilean Navy Lieutenant Arturo Prat, was notable for being the world's first battleship equipped with an integrated electrical system.

Capitán Prat, designed by Amable Lagane in France, had a length of 100 meters, a width of 18.5 meters, and a draft of 7 meters. It displaced 6,901 metric tons and had a top speed of just over 18 knots. The ship's armament included a main battery of four 9.4-inch guns in single turrets and a secondary battery of eight 4.7-inch guns in twin turrets. It also featured a mix of smaller guns and torpedo tubes.

The ship's armor consisted of Creusot steel, with an 11.8-inch thick belt amidships and varying thickness elsewhere. Capitán Prat served in the Chilean fleet for about a decade until disarmed in accordance with a treaty with Argentina. The naval arms race between Chile and Argentina ultimately led to demilitarization and later rearming of the ship.

Foreign navies, including the U.S. and Japan, attempted to purchase Capitán Prat in 1898 and 1903, respectively, but these attempts were unsuccessful. The ship underwent modernization in 1909–1910, enhancing its speed and capabilities. In 1916, it survived a magazine explosion in port, and by 1926, it was reduced to a coast defense ship. Capitán Prat served various roles, including as a submarine tender, until its final disarmament in 1935. It was eventually sold for scrap in 1942.

Specification

BASICS

Origins: Chile

Complement: 480

Operator: Chilean Navy

Ordered: 18 April 1889

Builder: La Seyne

Laid down: 1889

Launched: 20 December 1890

Acquired: May 1893

Type: Ironclad battleship

Characters

Sea Bombing

Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Offshore Operations

Nearshore activities in support of Allied activities.

Land Assault

Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence

Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Flagship/Capital Ship

Take on the role of fleet flagship or capital ship in old battleship design/terminology.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 328.0 feet (99.97 m)

Ray: 61.0 feet (18.59 m)

Draft: 23.0 feet (7.01 m)

Shift: 6,900 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power: 5 boilers feed a 12,000 hp horizontal triple expansion steam engine and drive 2 shafts.

Surface Velocity: 18.0 nodes (20.7 km/h)

Area: 4,652nm (5,353 miles | 8,615 kilometers)

Armament

4 × 9.4 in (240 mm) guns

8 × 4.7 in (120 mm) guns

6 × 6-pounder guns

4 × 3-pounder guns

10 × 1-pounder guns

4 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes

Armor

Belt: 11.8 in (300 mm)

Deck: 2 to 3.1 in (51 to 79 mm)

Conning tower: 10.5 in (270 mm)

Barbettes: 10.8 in (270 mm)