Of the Espora-class steel hulled torpedo gunboats with as sister ship the Rosales. She was laid down in 1889 (Conways; Naval Annual 1890) at the yard of Laird, Birkenhead, England, launched 1890 and completed in December the same year (Conways; Naval Annual 1890 launched, completed 1891), 1905 rearmed (2x1-3” guns, 5x1-3pdr guns) and 1x1-18” torpedo tube in the bow) and rebuilt and around 1920 broken up. With a displacement of 520 tons (normal) were her dimensions according to Conways All the world fighting ships 1860-1905) 200’ (between perpendiculars) x 25 x8’3” or 60,06 x 7,62 x 2,51 metres (The Naval Annual 1913 210’ x 25‘ x 8‘). The2-shaft triple expansion engines and the 4 loco boilers (replaced later by 6 Yarrow boilers) supplied 3,420 ihp allowing a speed of 19,4 knots (Conways; Naval Annual 20 knots) and coal bunker capacity of 180 tons. Her crew numbered 47 men (Conways; Naval Annual 124). The armament consisted pf 2x1-3” guns, 1-8pdr gun, 2x1-3pdr guns and 1x1+2x2-18” torpedo tubes.
An item in the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1890-1891 no. 8 reported that the the British shipyard Laird, Birkenhead built the destroyers Rosales and Espera for the Argentinean government.(1) They were similar to the British HMS Rattlesnake although slightly improved with a poop and a raised forecastle. Their trials were performed in November and December. Displacement 520 tons and as dimensions 200’x 25’x 8’x 13.5’ (hold). Coal bunker capacity 100 (standard)-130 (maximum) the first allowing with a speed of 10 miles a range of 3.000 nautical miles. Fitted out with 4 locomotive boilers and 5.415 square feet heating surface and 140 square feet grate surface and twin triple expansion engines. The Rosales achieved during her trial an average speed of 19,76 miles with 3.432 ihp at 334 rpm in a strong sea with a strong breeze. For the Espera were the figures respectively 3.448 ihp, 312 rpm and 19.823 miles.
Note
1. The Espera is stricken in the twenties of the 20th century while her sister ship foundered in 1892.
New details added on 31 January 2014 19:00 o'clock
