Peruvian cruiser Lima
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.jpg) Sister ship Diogenes as USS Topeka in 1898 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Peru | |
| Name | Lima |
| Launched | December 1880 |
| Completed | 1885 |
| In service | 1889 |
| Out of service | 1937 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Lima-class cruiser |
| Displacement | 1,700 long tons (1,700 t) (normal) |
| Length | 77.7 m (254 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 10.67 m (35 ft) |
| Draught | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Installed power | 4 x coal-fired Scotch boilers, 1,800 ihp (1,300 kW) |
| Propulsion | 2 x compound engines driving 2 shafts |
| Speed | 16.2 kn (30.0 km/h; 18.6 mph) |
| Complement | 150 |
| Armament |
|
Lima was the lead ship of what was to be a two-ship class of unprotected cruisers for the Peruvian Navy, but ended up being the sole member of the class. Originally to be named Socrates and constructed as a merchant ship in Germany, the ship was purchased by Peru during the War of the Pacific and converted to a warship in England. The sale was complex, involving subterfuge to get around embargoes on the purchase of armed vessels by belligerent countries, and was only completed after the war's conclusion. On commissioning, the cruiser was the largest vessel in the Peruvian fleet. Initially armed with two 6 in (152 mm) guns, the ship's main armament was replaced in 1901 with 4 in (102 mm) guns. The ship was mobilised in 1910 in response to the threat of war with Ecuador. In 1920, the ship was refitted in Panama and subsequently operated as a transport and submarine depot. The vessel briefly saw service in the Colombia–Peru War in 1933 as a floating battery and was discarded in 1937.
On 14 February 1879, the Chilean ironclads Almirante Cochrane and Blanco Encalada entered Antofagasta and initiated the War of the Pacific, between Chile and a Bolivian–Peruvian alliance.[1] As the war ensued, the Peruvian government attempted to source new warships from Europe and discovered two suitable merchant vessels under construction in Germany for a Portuguese client. It was claimed that the ships were ordered by the Greek government but under suspicion that the order may have come from Peru, which was a belligerent country, and that the ships were to be armed, the German government detained the ships. The Peruvian authorities then attempted to get the ships sold to the firm of Henry Lambert in London, under the subterfuge that the client was the French government. Once again, Peruvian influence was suspected and the ships were again retained.[2] At the end of the war, the bankrupt Peruvian government could no longer afford two large vessels. One, the planned Diogenes, was sold to finance the other, which was completed as Lima.[3] Diogenes was to have been named Callao in Peruvian service but eventually, in 1898, became the US Navy gunboat Topeka.[4]
As completed. Lima was a unprotected cruiser built of iron with a straight bow. Displacing 1,700 tonnes (1,700 long tons; 1,900 short tons), the vessel had an overall length of 77.7 m (254 ft 11 in) and a beam of 10.67 m (35 ft) at the waterline. Draught was 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) forward and 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) aft.[5] Mean draught was 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) at deep load. Power was provided by compound marine steam engines with horizontally mounted cylinders that drove two propeller shafts. The engine was rated at 1,800 indicated horsepower (1,300 kW).[6] Steam was provided by two double-ended and two single-ended Scotch boilers.[7] They vented through two funnels and were powered by coal, with 335 tonnes (330 long tons; 369 short tons) of fuel carried. The engines gave a design speed of 16.2 knots (30.0 km/h; 18.6 mph). This was complemented by a two-masted schooner rig.[6][8] As originally envisaged, the vessel would have been rigged as a brig.[4]
Lima was completed as a cruiser with an armament of two single 6 in (152 mm) Armstrong rifled breech loading guns and three single 47 mm (1.9 in) Nordenfelt 3-pounder guns. The main armament was mounted in single mounts fore and aft behind shields.[6] The vessel was later rearmed in 1901. The main armament was replaced by Vickers 4 in (102 mm) quick-firing guns and an additional five 3-pounder guns were mounted.[5] Each main gun weighed 1.7 tonnes (1.7 long tons; 1.9 short tons) and could propel a 31 lb (14 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,950 ft/s (900 m/s).[9] The cruiser had a complement of 150 sailors of all ranks.[8]