Chilean corvette O'Higgins

In 1864 the Chilean government ordered the construction of two corvettes in Ravenhill, the O'Higgins and the Chacabuco. Both corvettes were seized by the British authorities in order to enforce a neutrality provision in the impending state of war between Chile and Spain (Chincha Islands War, 1864-1866). In 1866 the countries reached an agreement in which Chile received the corvettes and Spain the ships Arapiles and Victoria.

Corvette O'Higgins
History
Naval Jack of Chile
NameO'Higgins
NamesakeBernardo O'Higgins
BuilderRavenhill, London, United Kingdom
Cost$ 285.000 ($1 = 48pennies)
Launched1866
Commissioned1868
Decommissioned1895
FatePontoon until 1905
General characteristics
Class and typeCorvette
Displacement1101
Length216 ft 6 in (66.0 m)
Beam33 ft 4 in (10.2 m)
Draught18 ft 0 in (5.5 m)
Installed power1.200 HP
PropulsionMaudsley return connecting rod engine[1]
Speed9 kn
Complement200
Armament3 Armstrong guns 7 in, 2 guns 70 lb, 4 guns 40 lb

In 1869, under the command of Manuel Blanco Encalada, the remains of Bernardo O'Higgins, first buried in Peru, were repatriated to Chile on board of the frigate that bore his name.

In 1870, the O'Higgins went to Easter Island and performed the first topographic survey and scientific description of the island[2] and acquired Rongorongo text I, the Santiago Staff.

The ship had an active role in the Naval Campaign of the War of the Pacific under the command of Jorge Montt and participated in the Capture of the Huáscar off Punta de Angamos.

During the 1891 Chilean Civil War the O'Higgins sided with the congress.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lambert (1 October 1989). Warship. Naval Institute Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-85177-449-7. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  2. ^ David Hatcher Childress (1988). Lost Cities of Lemuria & Pacific. Adventures Unlimited Press. p. 288. ISBN 978-0-932813-04-6. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
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