Oldest? and most active war ship?

[dieseltaylor]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu%C3%A1scar_%28ship%29

[Huáscar was ordered by the government of Peru from the Laird Brothers shipyards in 1864 for the war against Spain. Lairds had extensive experience of these advanced ships, designing and building the Laird Rams. She was launched in Birkenhead on 7 October 1865.

Commanded by Chilean Captain José María Salcedo, who had supervised construction on behalf of the Peruvian Navy, she left for Peru on 20 January 1866 on a trip that saw some trouble: a month-long wait at Brest, a minor collision with the ironclad Independencia on 28 February, refusal of service by neutral countries, a month of repairs at Rio de Janeiro, insubordination by Independencia's commander and the capture and sinking of the Spanish brigantine Manuel. When she finally arrived in port at Ancud in allied Chile to join the rest of the combined fleet on 7 June, it was too late for her to participate in the conflict.

Under Captain Lizardo Montero, Huáscar prepared at Valparaíso to participate in a late 1866 expedition to fight the Spanish fleet at the Philippines. However Montero, with several other Peruvian officers, objected to plans for Rear Admiral John R. Tucker –formerly a commander of Confederate warships during the American civil war – to be in command of the fleet, and requested to be relieved. Captain Salcedo took back command of Huáscar, but the expedition was eventually cancelled.

On February 1868, Captain Miguel Grau took command of Huáscar and would remain until 1876, becoming her longest-serving commander. His long years aboard the ironclad would prove very valuable later and he would also become Peru's most renowned naval officer.

[edit] Peruvian Civil War (1877)

Huáscar participated in the Peruvian Civil War of 1877. Seized in port in Callao by rebels led by retired Captain Germán Astete, she was used to harass, sabotage and disrupt government forces and shipping lanes. During these actions foreign shipping was also affected, leading to British intervention.

On 29 May 1877, she fought the inconclusive Battle of Pacocha against two British vessels, the frigate HMS Shah and the corvette HMS Amethyst, commanded by Admiral de Horsey. This battle saw the first use in anger of the newly-invented self-propelled torpedo which, at the time, had just entered limited service with the Royal Navy.

Huáscar surrendered to the government after almost one month in rebel hands. Although controlled by rebels at the time, popular and press pressure on the Peruvian government resulted in a formal diplomatic protest to the British government for its attack on the Huáscar; on another hand the British Parliament came close to censuring Admiral de Horsey for his failure to capture her.

Huáscar gained fame in Peru, and would later reach legendary status.

[edit] War of the Pacific (1879-1884)

Huáscar participated in the War of the Pacific, initially in the service of Peru. Once again under the command of Captain Miguel Grau, she became famous for daring harassment raids on Chilean ports and transports. As a result, during the opening months of the war, the ground invasion was delayed for almost six months until the Chilean fleet could find and stop Huáscar.

The Battle of Iquique

On 21 May 1879, Huáscar led the lifting of the Chilean blockade of Iquique. During the battle, Chilean Captain Arturo Prat was killed on Huáscar's deck while leading a boarding party from the corvette Esmeralda. Notably, after sinking the corvette by repeated ramming, Huáscar then rescued the survivors before continuing pursuit of a fleeing enemy ship.

Huáscar went on with her mission and in the following months accomplished the following:

• Damaged ports of Cobija, Tocopilla, Patillos and Mejillones, Huanillos, Punta de Lobo, Chañaral, Huasco, Caldera, Coquimbo and Taltal
  
• Sank 16 Chilean vessels, including ships and boats
  
• Damaged the Chilean ships Blanco Encalada, Abtao, Magallanes and Matías Cousiño
  
• Captured the Chilean vessels Emilia, Adelaida Rojas, E. Saucy Jack, Adriana Lucía, Rímac and Coquimbo
  
• Aboard Rímac, captured 260 men from an elite Chilean cavalry regiment, along with horses, weapons, munitions and supplies
  
• Recovered the Peruvian vessels Clorinda and Caquetá
  
• Destroyed the artillery batteries of Antofagasta
  
• Cut the Antofagasta-Valparaíso communications cable

Collectively, these actions became known as "Las correrías del Huáscar" ("Huáscar's exploits") and held up a Chilean ground invasion for almost six months. As a result, the Peruvian Navy promoted Captain Grau to Rear Admiral while the Chilean Navy replaced its own chief of staff.

On 8 October 1879, Huáscar was captured by the Chilean Navy at the Battle of Angamos, during which most of Huáscar's crew were killed, including Rear Admiral Grau.

Huáscar then entered the service of the Chilean Navy. At Arica she fought an inconclusive duel with the Peruvian monitor Manco Cápac (formerly USS Oneota) while participating in the bombardment of the city –where her new commander Manuel Thomson was killed– and she also aided in the blockade of Callao.

After the war, Huáscar was renovated in 1885 and 1887, including renewal of boilers, new screw design, and all-new steam engines to move gun and artillery turrets.

On May 1888, as part of a ceremonial division commanded by Rear Admiral Luis Uribe, Huáscar brought the bodies of the officers from Esmeralda from their graves at Iquique to a new burial place at Valparaíso. Notably, these were the same officers killed on Huáscar's deck at the Battle of Iquique; Rear Admiral Uribe had been the Executive Officer aboard Esmeralda and a survivor of the battle.

[edit] Chilean Civil War (1891)

Huáscar participated in the Chilean Civil War of 1891 between government and congress. Undergoing major maintenance work at the onset of the war, she was seized and towed out of Valparaíso by the rebel-leaning Navy, and readied for action within three days.

Commanded by Captain José María Santa Cruz, she participated in the takeover of the port city of Taltal by the rebels, ran escort duty for convoys and protected rebel-held ports. She returned once more to the port of Iquique, this time to bombard the port city held by government forces.

After almost eight months of fighting, the war ended with the government's surrender.

[edit] Peacetime

Huáscar went on serving the Chilean Navy until a boiler explosion in 1897 at the Talcahuano military harbour resulted in her decommissioning. Partially repaired, she later served as the first submarine tender in the Chilean Navy from 1917 to 1930.

In the early 1930s Huáscar was taken in hand for reconditioning as a heritage ship. Recommissioned in 1934, Huáscar was now armed with two 8-inch guns, three 4.7 inch guns and four 47mm guns. The 1,870-ton ironclad now wore the flag of the Port Admiral at Talcahuano. As late as 1949 she was listed in Jane's Fighting Ships as a coast defense ship; the photograph of Huáscar in that year's edition dated from 1938.[2]

/QUOTE]

[bitchen frizzy]

That's impressive. A good history lesson too. Peru had a civil war in 1877? Didn't know that.

The oldest currently-commissioned warship is the Constitution, launched 1797. The Huascar has the Constitution beat for length of service as a combatant, though.

[Elmar Bijlsma]

The oldest currently-commissioned warship is the Constitution, launched 1797. The Huascar has the Constitution beat for length of service as a combatant, though.

Objection! HMS Victory, launched 1765 and commissioned in 1778.

[bitchen frizzy]

Ah, yes, true. Victory is the oldest - but she's not seaworthy. Does that count vs. the Constitution, which is afloat and theoretically able to sortie? I'm not learned enough in nautical groggery to answer that.

[Michael Emrys]

Ah, yes, true. Victory is the oldest - but she's not seaworthy. Does that count vs. the Constitution, which is afloat and theoretically able to sortie? I'm not learned enough in nautical groggery to answer that.

It's been restored a number of times, most recently a few years ago, after which it took a celebratory voyage around Boston Harbor. Given its historical value, I doubt doubt that it would be risked on the open seas, even in fine weather though.

Michael

[bitchen frizzy]

I double doubt it, too. But she could sortie, is the point.

Her guns work, too.

[Actually, at this very moment, the deck is being resurfaced (replanked? re-?), according to Wiki, so maybe she couldn't leave dock.]

[Affentitten]

Constitution, IIRC was not in commission throughout its history anyway. It's kind of a moot point. Both Victory (which does get the prize as the oldest commissioned warship and still serves as the 2nd Sea Lord's flagship) and Constitution are just sentimental relics.

The Chilean ship certainly beats both of them in terms of active service. But where would they have been without Cochrane?!

[Stalins Organ]

Huascar was launched in 1865, and decommisioned in 1897, then served as a sub tender foranother 13 years 1917-1930, and was refitted for service again. Conversion to a Memorial ship was in 1951-52, after 87-88 years of intermittant service.

Victory was launched in 1865, fought at Trafalager 40 years later, used as a depot ship in 1812, reclassed as a 1st rate in 1817 52 years after launch, and was a telegraphy school as late as 1904 - that's 139 years after launch!

Huascar has only just passed that in terms of total life.......

[Affentitten]

Yes but they are quibbling over the fact that it is not still afloat.

[Stalins Organ]

It was until January 1922 - 156 1/2 years after launch!

Huascar will reach that in 2021 - which of course I'm sure we all fully expect it to do so short of a "World after Humans" scenario ......and maybe even then!

[dieseltaylor]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Warrior_%281860%29

Probably the oldest floating British ship and in actual service for a long time - as a coal bunker for 50 years!!

[Stalins Organ]

Warrior was an oil hulk - it was Agincourt was a coal bunker

Amazing how long some of those hulks could last - although it does mention Warrior was actually dry docked for maintenance every now & then while serving as an oil hulk.

Launched 1861, so it's 156 1/2 years will be March 2017!

[Affentitten]

They knew how to build them back then.