Chilean coastal patrol vessel Alacalufe LSG-1603 1989-

Puerto Williams, Navarino Island, capital city of Antártica Chilena Province 21 February 2024

Chile-flagged, IMO 8706698, MMSI 725002700 and call sign CCAF. British Protector-class-Chilean Alacalufe-class. Officially classified as lanchas de servicio general (LSG) since 1993, earlier as Lancha de Estación de Prácticos (LEP). Ordered in 1987 for the Customs Service. Built by ASMAR, Punta Arenas, Chili in 1989, commissioned on 26 April 1989, baptized in July 1989 added to the Chilean Navy List officially on 20 May 1993. Displacement 107 ton and dimensions 29.0 (waterline)-32.7 (over all) x 6.70 x 2.10 metres. Maximum speed 20-22 knots. Horsepower 2,610 hp delivered by 2 MTU diesels via 2 shafts. Armament 1-2cm/70 Mk4 machine gun. Crew numbers 14 men.

Chilean fishing vessel Alejandra Maria III PAR848

Puerto Williams, Navarino Island, capital city of Antártica Chilena Province 21 February 2024

Anonymous wreck in Beagle Channel, Antártica Chilena Province 20 February 2024

Chilean large patrol vessel Piloto Sibbald PSG-78 1996-

Puerto Williams, Navarino Island, capital city of Antártica Chilena Province 21 February 2024

Chile-flagged, IMO 914558. Design project Taitao-class developed with the assistance of NEVESBU, Netherlands, Micalvi-class, launched by ASMAR, Talcahuno, Chile on 5 June 1996 and commissioned on 29 August 1996. Displacement 483 (standard)-525 tons (full load) and as dimensions 42.5 x 8.5 x 2.9 metres or 139.4 x 27.9 x 9.5 feet. Horsepower 2,560hp. Maximum speed 16 knots. Armament 1- Bofors 40/56mm gun and 2-2cm Oerlikons. Crew numbers 23 men+10 spare.

Chilean large patrol vessel Aspirante Isaza PSG-73 1994-

Puerto Williams, Navarino Island, capital city of Antártica Chilena Province 20 February 2024

Chile-flagged, IMO 9043550. Design project Taitao-class developed with the assistance of NEVESBU, Netherlands, Micalvi-class, laid down on 28 September 1992, launched by ASMAR, Talcahuno, Chile on 7 January 1994 and commissioned on 31 May 1994. Displacement 483 (standard)-525 tons (full load) and as dimensions 42.5 x 8.5 x 2.9 metres or 139.4 x 27.9 x 9.5 feet. Horsepower 2,560hp. Maximum speed 16 knots. Armament 1- Bofors 40/56mm gun and 2-2cm Oerlikons. Crew numbers 23 men+10 spare.

Harbour of Puerto Williams with Chilean fishing vessels

Puerto William, Navarino Island, capital city of Antártica Chilena Province 21 February 2024

British cruiser HMS Nigeria sent to the Falkland Islands according to the Dutch newspaper Het nieuws dated 24 February 1948

Crown Colony/Fiji-class cruiser©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item dated London, England 23rd reported that the British premier Attlee declined friendly the offer from Australia to sent a warship to the Antarctic to support the United Kingdom in the difficulties with Argentina (1) and Chile (2). Attlee expected the arrival of the British cruiser HMS Nigeria on short notice at the Falkland Islands.

Notes

1. The Argentine Antarctica is part of the province of Teiira del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands. Argentina claims the Falklands (part of her Islas del Atlantico Sur department).

2. The Chilean president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla opened the Base General Bernardo O’Higgins as part of claiming sovereignty of what is nowadays known as the Chilean Antarctic Territory or Chilean Antarctica. Chile claimed for instance the South Shetland Islands.

3. Of the Crown Colony or Fiji-class light cruisers, preceded by Dido-class, succeeded by Minotaur-class, building ordered on 20 December 1937, laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Walker, Newcastle on Tyne, England on 8 February 1938, launched on 18 July 1939, commissioned on 23 September 1940, sold India on 29 August 1957, renamed INS Mysore (C60), decommissioned on 20 August 1985 and broken up.

British cruiser HMS Sheffield (C24) apparently bound towards the Falkland Islands according to the Dutch newspaper De locomotief dated 17 February 1948

An tiding from Cape Town, South Africa reported that the British cruiser HMS Sheffield (1) left with unknown destination although it was believed that her destination was the Falkland Islands. (2) The British minister Hector McNeill (3) claimed that Argentinean and Chilean naval units were cruising in the waters of those islands even dissembled military on land. An Argentinean squadron (4)  left for the Southern Ocean and at the same time was the Chilean president on board of a Chilean cruiser to claim formally the Chilean sovereignty.(5) 

Notes

1. Part of the Town-class Southampton sub-class cruisers, preceded by Arethusa-class and succeeded by Crown Colony or Fiji and Dido-class, laid down by Vickers Armstrong on 31 January 1935, launched on 23 July 1936, commissioned on 25 August 1937 and finally broken up at Faslane, Scotland in 1967.

2. A British proposal to ask the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Netherlands for mediation in the Falkland Islands Dependencies dispute was declined by Argentine, just like in 1947 and in 1955.

3. 3. Hector McNeil (10 March 1907-11 October 1955), Scottish Labour politician, Member of Parliament for Greenock between 10 July 1941-11 October 1955, became Minister of State at the Foreign Office in October 1946 de facto Deputy Foreign Secretary.

4. The Argentine Antarctica is part of the province of Teira del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands. Argentina claims the Falklands (part of her Islas del Atlantico Sur department).

5. The Chilean president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla opened the Base General Bernardo O’Higgins as part of claiming sovereignty of what is nowadays known as the Chilean Antarctic Territory or Chilean Antarctica. Chile claimed for instance the South Shetland Islands.

The Chilean navy in 1872 according to the magazine Mitteilungen aus dem Gebiete des Seewesens 1873 No. 7-8

An item reported that at the end of 1872 the Chilean navy consisted of the corvettes O’Higgins, 200hp, 4-40pd and 3-115pd Armstrong guns (1), Chacabuco, 200hp, 4-40pd and 3-115pd Armstrong guns !) and Esmeralda, 200hp, 8-40pd Armstrong guns (3), goelette Covadonga, 140hp, 2-70pd Armstrong guns 41), steamships Ancud (120hp), Independencia (120hp), Valdivia (300hp) and pontoon Thalabe. The Chilean minister of navy Anibal Pinto (5) stated that the cabinet was interested in purchasing in England two armoured ships (6) and 1 steamship for service in the Magellan colony.(7)

Notes
1. Launched by Ravenhill, London, England in 1866, commissioned in 1868, decommissioned in 1895 and used as a pontoon until 1905. Her horsepower was 1.200 hp and the armament consisted of 3-7” Armstrong guns, 2-70pd guns and 4-40pd guns.
2. Launched by Ravenhill, London, England in 1866, commissioned in 1868, and broken up in 1895. Her horsepower was 1.200 hp and the armament consisted of 3-7” Armstrong guns, 2-70pd guns and 4-40pd guns.
3. Building ordered on 30 June 1853, awarded on 23 October 1854, laid down by William Pitcher, Northfleet, England in December 1854, launched on 26 June 1855, commissioned on 18 September 1855 and sunk in the Battle of Iquique by the Peruvian ironclad Huascar on 21 May 1879. Her original armament of 20-32pd long guns and 2-12pd guns was by 1868 replaced by 12-40pd rifled Armstrong guns 4-40pd smoothbore Whitworth guns.
4. Ordered on 10 June 1857, laid down by the Arsenal de la Carrara shipyard, Cadiz, Spain as the steam schooner Virgen de Covadonga for the Spanish navy on 13 February 1858, launched on 28 November 1859, commissioned on 8 October 1859, captured by the Chilean navy in the Battle of Papudo on 26 November 1865, commissioned as the Covadonga in the Chilean navy and lost when striking a mine in Chancay, Peru on 13 September 1880.
5. Anibal Pinto Garmenia (15 March 1825 Santiago, Chile-9 June 1884 Valparaiso, Chile), president of Chine 1876-1881, became in 1871 minister of war and navy.
6. The armoured frigates Almirante Cochrane and Almirante Blanco Encalada (laid down as Valparaiso), both laid down in 1873 by Earle’s Shipbuilding Co., Hull, England).
7. The Magallanes Regio or officially the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region. Probably the composite steam gunboat Magallanes bought in England.