View source for Chilean cruiser O'Higgins (1897)

{{other ships|Chilean ship O'Higgins}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
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{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = CruceroOHiggins.jpg
| Ship image size = 300px
| Ship caption = Cruiser ''O'Higgins'' of the Chilean Navy, painting by Álvaro Casanova Zenteno (1857-1935).
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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| Ship country = Chile
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Chile|navy}}
| Ship name = ''O{{'}} Higgins''
| Ship namesake = [[Bernardo O'Higgins]]
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| Ship builder = [[Armstrong Whitworth]], [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear|Elswick]], [[United Kingdom]]
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| Ship laid down = 4 April 1896
| Ship launched = 17 May 1897
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| Ship completed = 2 April 1898
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| Ship fate = Discarded 1946
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}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = <ref name="Conways60 p413">Chesneau and Kolesnik 1979, p. 413.</ref>
| Ship class = 
| Ship type = [[Armoured cruiser]]
| Ship displacement = *{{convert|7796|LT|t|0|abbr=on|lk=in}} standard<ref name="Whitley p25">Whitley 1999, p. 25.</ref>
*{{convert|8500|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full load
| Ship length = {{convert|412|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|62|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|22|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| Ship draft = 
| Ship power = {{convert|16250|ihp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| Ship propulsion = *Two vertical triple expansion steam engines
*30 Belleville boilers
*2 shafts
| Ship speed = {{convert|21.6|kn|abbr=on}}
| Ship range = {{convert|4580|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}}<ref name="Whitley p25"/>
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship complement = 500
| Ship sensors = 
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| Ship armament = *4 × [[EOC 8 inch 40 caliber|{{convert|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}]]/40-calibre guns (4 × 1)
*10 × [[QF 6 inch /40 naval gun|{{convert|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}]]/40-calibre guns
*4 × [[QF 4.7 inch Mk V naval gun|{{convert|4.7|in|mm|-1|abbr=on}}]]/45-calibre guns
*10 × [[QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun|12-pounder guns]]
*10 × [[QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss|6-pounder guns]]
*2 × machine guns
*3 × {{convert|18|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes
| Ship armour = *Harvey Nickel steel
*Belt: {{convert|7|-|5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*Deck:
*{{convert|3|-|1.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} slopes
*{{convert|2|-|1.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} flats
*Main turrets {{convert|7|-|5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*Secondary turrets and casemates {{convert|6|-|5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*Conning tower {{convert|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
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|}
'''''O{{'}}Higgins'''''{{#tag:ref|Sometimes written as ''General O{{'}}Higgins''<ref name="Whitley p25"/><ref name="jfs31 p120">Parkes 1931, p. 120.</ref> or erroneously ''Almirante O{{'}}Higgins'' in the US media.,<ref name="nytimes 26-7-1898"/> for O'Higgins was never an ''Almirante''.|group=nb}} was a Chilean [[armoured cruiser]]. ''O{{'}}Higgins'' was built by the British shipbuilder Armstrong to the design of [[Philip Watts (naval architect)|Philip Watts]], and served with the [[Chilean Navy]] between 1898 and 1933.

==Construction==
In April 1896, the Chilean government ordered an armoured cruiser, to be called ''O{{'}}Higgins'', from [[Armstrong Whitworth|Armstrong, Whitworth & Co]] to the design of Sir [[Philip Watts (naval architect)|Philip Watts]] at a cost of £700,000. The ship was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at Armstrong's [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear|Elswick]], [[Newcastle-on-Tyne]] shipyard on 4 April 1896, [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 17 May 1897 and completed on 2 April 1898.<ref name="Conways60 p413"/><ref name="Chile navy">[http://www.armada.cl/armada/tradicion-e-historia/unidades-historicas/o/crucero-acorazado-o-higgins-3/2014-02-14/173931.html "Crucero acorazado "O´Higgins" 3°"] ''Armarda de Chile''. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2016.</ref>

==Design==
[[File:O Higgins 8 inch gun house right elevation.jpg|thumb|left]]
''O{{'}}Higgins'' main armament consisted of four [[EOC 8 inch 40 caliber|{{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}}]] 40 [[Caliber (artillery)|calibre]] guns in single [[Gun turret|turrets]], with two on the ship's centreline fore and aft and two port and starboard in line with the forward funnel. Ten [[QF 6 inch /40 naval gun|{{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}}]] 40 calibre guns were fitted, with six in [[Casemate#Single casemates (1889 onwards)|casemates]] and the remaining four in single turrets. Four [[QF 4.7 inch Mk V naval gun|{{convert|4.7|in|mm|0|adj=on}}]] guns, ten [[QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun|12-pounder guns]] and ten [[QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss|6-pounder guns]] completed ''O{{'}}Higgins''{{'}}s gun armament. All guns were designed and built by Armstrongs. Three {{convert|18|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s were fitted, with two submerged tubes on the ship's beam and one above the waterline right aft.<ref name="Conways60 p413"/><ref name="Whitley p25"/>

The main protection was a [[Belt armor|belt]] of armour along the side of the ship, {{convert|260|ft|m}} long and {{convert|7|ft|m}} deep, which was {{convert|7|in|mm|0}} thick around the ship's machinery, reducing to {{convert|6|in|mm|0}} fore and aft. An armoured [[Deck (ship)|deck]] protected the whole length and beam of the ship, with between {{convert|3|in|mm|0}} and {{convert|1.5|in|mm|0}} thick armour. The ship's hull was clad in copper and wood to reduce fouling.<ref name="Conways60 p413"/><ref name="Whitley p25"/>

The ship was powered by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, supplied by 30 [[Belleville boiler|Belleville]] [[water-tube boilers]], driving two shafts. These engines generated {{convert|16500|ihp|kW|lk=on}} and propelled the ship to {{convert|21.6|kn}}.<ref name="Conways60 p413"/> Up to {{convert|1253|LT|t}} of coal could be carried, giving a range of {{convert|4580|nmi|lk=on}} at {{convert|8|kn}}.<ref name="Whitley p25"/>

==Operational history==
While ''O{{'}}Higgins'' was nearing completion at Elswick in the winter of 1897, tensions were growing between Spain and the United States of America over the ongoing [[Cuban War of Independence|rebellion in Cuba]]. Rumours circulated that Spain was trying to strengthen its navy in case of war with the United States by purchasing warships from other countries. The rumoured targets for Spain included ''O{{'}}Higgins'', the newly completed Chilean armoured cruiser {{ship|Chilean cruiser|Esmeralda|1895|2}} and the protected cruiser {{ship|Chilean cruiser|Ministro Zenteno|1896|2}} also nearing completion for Chile at Elswicks.<ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/11/03/102065114.pdf "Spain and New Warships"]. ''The New York Times''. 3 November 1897.</ref> As the outbreak of the [[Spanish–American War]] became more likely, the United States also attempted to supplement its fleet by purchasing, amongst other ships, ''O{{'}}Higgins'',<ref>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1898/04/16/102070913.pdf "Two Warships May Be Ours: Chile May Sell the O'Higgins and Argentina the Garibaldi or San Martin, besides Torpedo Boats"]. ''The New York Times'', 16 April 1898.</ref> but the negotiations did not result in the sale of the Chilean warship, and ''O{{'}}Higgins'' arrived at [[Valparaiso]] on 25 July 1898.<ref name="nytimes 26-7-1898">[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1898/07/26/102075571.pdf "The Almirante O'Higgins, Recently Built, Arrives at Valpariso"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. 26 July 1898.</ref>{{#tag:ref|The United States did manage to purchase two Armstrong-built protected cruisers from Brazil, which served as {{USS|New Orleans|CL-22|6}} and {{USS|Albany|CL-23|6}}, the former serving in the Spanish–American War.<ref name="Conways60 p154">Chesneau and Kolesnik 1979, p. 154.</ref><ref name="export p86-8">Brooke 1999, pp. 86–88.</ref>|group=nb}}

[[File:Abrazo del Estrecho B&N.jpg|thumb|200px|left|In the foreground, Federico Errázuriz (right) and Julio Roca (left) on the deck of the cruiser ''O'Higgins'']]
The ship hosted a meeting between the [[President of Chile]], [[Federico Errázuriz Echaurren]] and the [[Argentina|Argentine]] [[President of Argentina|President]] [[Julio Argentino Roca]] at [[Punta Arenas]] on 15 February 1899, to normalise relations between the two countries. This meeting became known as the "Embrace of the Straits" (''El Abrazo del Estrecho''). The ship was sent to [[Panama]] in 1903 as a result of the confrontation between the United States and Columbia that was ended by the [[separation of Panama from Colombia]].<ref name="Chile navy"/>

In 1919, ''O{{'}}Higgins'' was fitted with a [[floatplane]] that could be lowered to and from the sea for operations by crane. On 12 March 1920, ''O{{'}}Higgins'' collided with the Chilean [[cargo ship]] [[USS Sterling (1898)|SS ''Llai Llai'']] at [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]; ''Llai Llai'' sank.<ref name=Times170320a>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty reports |date=17 March 1920 |page=27 |issue=42361 |column=D }}</ref> An aircraft crashed into ''O{{'}}Higgins'' on 24 August 1920, killing the pilot.<ref name="Chile navy"/> The ship was refitted twice, in 1919–1920 and 1928–29.<ref name="export p107">Brooke 1999, p. 107.</ref>

In 1931, ''O{{'}}Higgins'' was involved in the [[Chilean naval mutiny of 1931|large scale mutiny]] that swept the Chilean fleet, being seized by its crew on 1 September 1931.<ref>Urrutia
, Carlos López. [http://www.historicaltextarchive.com/books.php?action=nextchapter&bid=16&cid=5 "A Century of Peace"]. ''Chile: A Brief Naval History''. Historical Text Archive. Retrieved 6 May 2012.</ref>

''O{{'}}Higgins'' was decommissioned in 1933<ref name="Chile navy"/> and scrapped in 1958.<ref name="Chile navy"/>{{#tag:ref|Sources differ as to when ''O{{'}}Higgins'' was disposed of. Chesneau and Kolesnik<ref name="Conways60 p413"/> and Brooke<ref name="export p107"/> say the ship was discarded in 1946, while Whitley<ref name="Whitley p25"/> states 1954.|group=nb}}

==See also==
* [[List of decommissioned ships of the Chilean Navy]]

==Notes and references==
;Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

;Citations
{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography
* Brooke, Peter. ''Warships for Export: Armstrong Warships 1867–1927''. Gravesend, UK: World Ship Society, 1999. {{ISBN|0-905617-89-4}}.
*Chesneau, Roger and Eugene M. Kolesnik. ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905''. London: Conway's Maritime Press, 1979. {{ISBN|0-85177-133-5}}.
*Whitley, M.J. ''Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia''. London: Brockhamton Press, 1999. {{ISBN|1-86019-8740}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chilean cruiser O'Higgins (1897)}}

{{Chilean cruisers}}
{{1920 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Higgins (1897)}}
[[Category:Cruisers of the Chilean Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built by Armstrong Whitworth]]
[[Category:1897 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1920]]