List of Spanish sail frigates
This is a list of Spanish sail frigates built or acquired during the period 1700-1854
Spanish frigates generally had religious names, often the names of saints or "our Lady". Those with primarily secular names (such as royal, geographical or adjectival names) usually had additionally a religious name (Avocación or alias), which is listed below in the second column where known.
An asterisk (*) in the "Launch date" column indicates the date of acquisition (purchase or capture) for vessels not built for the Spanish Navy.
The Habsburg Era - pre 1700
[edit]During the 17th century, and for much of the first half of the 18th century, the term 'frigate' (or 'fragata' in Spanish) encompassed ships with two complete gundecks rated at about 50 guns as well as smaller single-decked vessels. The smaller frigates evolved from the fast and lightly-armed vessels built chiefly on the coast of (Spanish) Flanders, and employed in the English Channel and southern North Sea, as well as escorting the trade routes from the Spanish Netherlands to the north coast of Spain.
The Early Bourbon Era - 1700 to 1750
[edit]| Name | Avocación (alias) |
Built at | Launch date |
No of Guns |
Fate/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuestra Señora de Gracia |
1710* | 40 | |||
| San Miguel | 1712* | 24 | |||
| Águila de Nantes | 1713* | 20 | |||
| Esperanza | 28 | ||||
| Sorpresa | 1714* | 36 | |||
| Juno | 1714* | 30 | |||
| Tigre | 1714* | 30 | |||
| San Fernando el Chico | San Fernando el Pequeño / Fernandillo |
1714* | 24 | ||
| Principe de Asturias (despues Ynfante) |
1714* | 30 | |||
| Santa Isabel | Reina Santa Isabel | 1714* | 22 | ||
| San Felipe | Felipillo/El Chico | 1715* | 24 | ||
| San Juan el Chico | San Juanico | 1715* | 30 | ||
| Santa Ana | Volante | 24 | |||
| Perla de España | 40 | ||||
| San Francisco | San Antonio de Padua | 22 | |||
| San Marcos | 24 | ||||
| Galera de España | 36 | ||||
| Victoria | 40 | ||||
| Conde de Tolosa | 40 | ||||
| Pingue Pintado | 40 | ||||
| Águila Volante | 30 | ||||
| Andalucia Baja | 22 | ||||
| Iris | 26 | ||||
| Júpiter | 20 | ||||
| Peregrina | 36 | ||||
| Tolosilla | 30 | ||||
| Providencia | 24 | ||||
| Sán Jose | El Real Jorge | 30 | |||
| Rebeca | 20 | ||||
| San Francisco Javier | Hermiona | 30 | |||
| San Jorge | 36 | ||||
| Selerais | 30 | ||||
| Unicornio | 24 | ||||
| Galera Victoria | 40 | ||||
| Galgo de Andalucia | 24 | ex-HMS Greyhound (1712) | |||
| Fidela | 30 | ||||
| Santa Rita | Galera de Neptuno | 30 | |||
| Gusana | 24 | ||||
| Pingue Volante | 22 | ||||
| San Andrés | 30 | ||||
| Santa Susana | 24 | ||||
| Santa Teresa | 20 | ||||
| Júpiter | 20 | ||||
| Nuestra Señora de Atocha |
Guarnizo | 1723 | 30 | Galley-frigate | |
| Griega | Guarnizo | 1723 | 30 | Galley-frigate | |
| Nuestra Señora de la Concepción |
Guarnizo | 1723 | 30 | Galley-frigate | |
| San Esteban Apedreado | 1724 | 40 | |||
| Catalina | Santa Catalina | 24 | ex-Dutch | ||
| Jardín de Tritón | 30 | ||||
| Santiago | Neptuno | 26 | |||
| Burlandín | El Burlando | 44 | |||
| Gusana | 24 | ||||
| Nuestra Señora de Aránzazu |
Pasajes | 1726 | 30 | ||
| Nuestra Señora del Rosario |
1696 | 44 | |||
| Santa Susana | 26 | ||||
| Neptuno | 26 | ||||
| Santa Bárbara | La Chata | 1728 | 22 | ||
| La Señora Sara | 22 | ||||
| San Francisco Javier | 1727 | 40 | |||
| Victoria | 1729 | 40 | |||
| Galera Victoria | 14 February 1729 | 40 | wrecked 27 February 1729 | ||
| Galera Victoria | 12 June 1730 | 40 | replacement for 1729 vessel; wrecked 16 December 1738 | ||
| San Cayetano | 1734 * | 24 | |||
| Concepción | 20 | ||||
| Hermiona | 14 July 1733 | 50 | |||
| Flora | 1734 | 34 | |||
| Triunfo | San Gristóbal | Havana | 1735 | 24 | Galley-frigate; captured 4 December 1739. |
| Astrea | Santa Bárbara | Havana | 1737 | 24 | Galley-frigate; captured 4 December 1739. |
| Santa Bárbara | Estrella | 1737 | 24 | ||
| Águila | Carraca | August 1737 | 28 | Galley-frigate; wrecked 1744. | |
| Aurora | Carraca | 20 April 1738 | 28 | Galley-frigate; broken up 6 January 1769. | |
| Concepción | 1738 | ? | |||
| Flora | Santa Rosalía | Havana | 31 August 1747 | 24 | The only Spanish 'frigate' built in the 1740s was the first vessel for Spain with no apertures (e.g. oar or gun ports) along the lower deck. Wrecked 26 January 1768. |
The Middle Bourbon Era - 1750 to 1808
[edit]| Name | Avocación (alias) |
Built at | Launch date |
No of Guns |
Fate/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (La) Galga | Ferrol | 1 March 1752 | 30 | First 'true' frigate built under Jorge Juan concepts. Sold 27 June 1764 | |
| Pena | Carraca | 1753 | 26 | ||
| Júpiter | Carraca | 1753 | 22 | Despatch vessel | |
| Mercurio | Carraca | 1753 | 22 | Despatch vessel | |
| Perla | Santa Isabel Reina | Cartagena | 24 February 1752 | 22 | Broken up 1777. |
| Dorada | Santa Ana | Cartagena | 14 February 1753 | 22 | Fireship 1780, deleted 1783. |
| Esmeralda | Santa Lucía Mártir | Cartagena | 12 May 1753 | 30 | Enlarged from Perla Class; fireship 1780, deleted later. |
| Venganza | Santa Inés | Carraca | 4 June 1753 | 26 | |
| Águila | Santa Maria Magdalena | Carraca | 15 August 1753 | 22 | |
| Victoria | Santa Gertrudis | Carraca | 26 September 1753 | 24 | |
| Flecha | Santa Saturnina | Carraca | 28 October 1753 | 22 | |
| Hermiona | Santa Mónica | Carraca | 24 November 1753 | 24 | |
| Industria | Santa Cristina | Carraca | 13 June 1755 | 26 | |
| Liebre | Santa Catalina | Carraca | 26 July 1755 | 26 | |
| Venus | Santa Brígida | Carraca | 5 September 1755 | 26 | |
| Ventura | Santa Clara | Carraca | 21 October 1755 | 26 | |
| Juno | Santa Cecilia | Cartagena | 30 August 1755 | 26 | |
| Palas | Santa Irene | Cartagena | 29 November 1755 | 26 | |
| Astrea | Santa Catalina Virgen y Mártir |
Cartagena | 29 March 1756 | 26 | |
| Concepción | 22 | ||||
| Tetis | Guadalupe | Havana | 29 January 1761 | 22 | |
| Fénix | Santa Bárbara | 1758 | 22 | ||
| Nuestra Señora de la Soledad |
Guarnizo | 1 July 1761 | 30 | ||
| Santa Rosa | July 1767 * | 22 | ex-French Aguila | ||
| Santa Rosalía | Cartagena | 1 April 1767 | 30 | ||
| Santa Catalina | Guarnizo | 12 July 1767 | 34 | ||
| Santa Teresa | Guarnizo | 18 February 1768 | 34 | ||
| Santa Bárbara | Guarnizo | 15 June 1768 | 34 | ||
| Santa Gertrudis | Guarnizo | 12 August 1768 | 24 | ||
| Santa Lucía | Havana | 31 March 1770 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora del Rosario |
Ferrol | 4 April 1770 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora del Carmen |
Ferrol | 24 November 1770 | 34 | ||
| Santa Dorotea | Cartagena | 1772 | 26 | ||
| Nuestra Señora de la Asunción |
Ferrol | 4 April 1772 | 34 | ||
| Santa Perpetua | Ferrol | 31 July 1772 | 34 | ||
| Santa María de la Cabeza |
Ferrol | 2 July 1772 | 34 | ||
| Santa María Magdalena | Ferrol | 7 July 1773 | 34 | ||
| Esmeralda | 1773 | 26 | |||
| Santa Clara | Cartagena | 23 April 1773 | 34 | ||
| Santa Margarita | Ferrol | 23 June 1774 | 34 | captured 11 November 1779 | |
| Santa Marta | Ferrol | 5 July 1774 | 34 | ||
| Santa Dorotea | Ferrol | 21 December 1775 | 34 | captured 15 July 1798 | |
| Santa Clara | Ferrol | 18 May 1776 | 34 | ||
| Santa Águeda | Havana | 24 July 1776 | 30 | ||
| Santa Rufina | Cartagena | 18 February 1777 | 34 | ||
| Santa Leocadia | Ferrol | 24 March 1777 | 34 | ||
| Santa Cecilia | Havana | 28 June 1777 | 34 | ||
| Santa Mónica | Cartagena | 23 October 1777 | 34 | ||
| Grana | Nuestra Señora de la Paz |
Ferrol | 18 July 1778 | 28 | |
| Santa Matilde | Havana | March 1778 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora de la O |
Havana | 9 November 1778 | 34 | ||
| Santa Escolástica | Ferrol | 31 March 1778 | 34 | ||
| Winchcomb | 1779 * | 26 | |||
| Santa Balbina | 1780 * | 34 | ex-Helbrech | ||
| Santa Bibiana | 1780 * | 34 | ex-Monstraut | ||
| Santa Paula | 1780 * | 34 | ex-Geoffrey | ||
| Héroe | 1780 * | 26 | broken up 1783 | ||
| Real Jorge | San Jorge | 1780 * | 30 | ex-Royal George | |
| Santa Clara | Havana | 10 July 1780 | 34 | captured 5 October 1804 | |
| Santa María de la Cabeza |
Havana | 1781 | 34 | ||
| Santa Sabina | Ferrol | 1 September 1781 | 40 | 1st Spanish 18pdr frigate; broken up 1828 | |
| Nuestra Señora de Loreto |
Ferrol | 15 December 1781 | 40 | 2nd Spanish 18pdr frigate; wrecked 29 May 1792 | |
| Santa Rosa | Ferrol | 20 May 1782 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora del Pilar |
Ferrol | 7 December 1782 | 40 | 3rd Spanish 18pdr frigate; broken up 1817 | |
| Colón | 30 | ex-British mercantile Gaton | |||
| Santa Elena | Ferrol | 7 October 1783 | 40 | 4th Spanish 18pdr frigate; sunk in action 26 March 1797 | |
| Santa Tecla | Ferrol | 5 May 1784 | 46 | ||
| Santa Casilda | Cartagena | 12 March 1784 | 34 | ||
| Santa Brígida | Cartagena | 5 March 1785 | 34 | ||
| Santa María | Ferrol | 1785 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora de la Paz |
Ferrol | 2 August 1785 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe |
Havana | 4 November 1786 | 34 | ||
| Santa Florentina | Cartagena | 21 December 1786 | 34 | ||
| Santa Teresa | Ferrol | 3 March 1787 | 34 | ||
| Santa Leocadia | Ferrol | 2 June 1787 | 34 | ||
| Santa Catalina | Ferrol | 9 December 1787 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora de la Soledad |
Cartagena | 3 May 1788 | 34 | ||
| Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes |
Havana | 18 November 1788 | 34 | ||
| Perla | Santa Mónica | Cartagena | 31 July 1789 | 34 | |
| Nuestra Señora de Atocha | Havana | 14 October 1789 | 40 | ||
| Mahonesa | Santa Mónica | Mahón | 2 October 1789 | 34 | |
| Palas | Santa Margareta | Ferrol | 14 November 1789 | 34 | |
| Juno | Nuestra Señora de los Dolores |
Ferrol | 31 December 1789 | 34 | |
| Perla | Santa Mónica | Cartagena | 31 July 1789 | 34 | |
| Minerva | Santa Marta | Havana | 14 October 1790 | 44 | |
| Ceres | Nuestra Señora de la Almudeda |
Havana | 22 October 1790 | 40 | |
| Preciosa | Divina Pastora | Carraca | 18 January 1791 | 34 | |
| Esmeralda | Santa Petronila | Mahón | 30 May 1791 | 34 | |
| Diana | Santa Ana | Mahón | 10 March 1792 | 34 | |
| Tetis | Santa Amalia | Ferrol | 6 August 1793 | 44 | |
| Gloria | Santa Mónica | Havana | 1792 | 44 | |
| Calypso | Rochefort | 18 January 1793 * | 34 | ex-French Calypso (launched 1785) | |
| Sirena | Santa Genoveva | Rochefort | 19 February 1793 * | 34 | ex-French Heléne (launched 1791) |
| Venganza | Santa Petronila | Mahón | 16 May 1793 | 34 | |
| Pomona | Santa Quiteria | Ferrol | 25 October 1794 | 40 | |
| Ninfa | Nuestra Señora del Rosario |
Mahón | 19 December 1794 | 34 | |
| Ifigenia | Lorient | February 1795 * | 34 | ex-French Iphigénie (launched 1777) | |
| Fama | Santa Victoria | Cartagena | 30 May 1795 | 34 | |
| Flora | Santa María Magdalena de Pacís |
Ferrol | 19 December 1795 | 44 | |
| Anfítrite | Santa Úrsula | Havana | 1796 | 40 | |
| Medea | Santa Bárbara | Ferrol | 27 December 1797 | 40 | |
| Proserpina | Mahón | 16 May 1797 | 34 | ||
| Hermiona | Bristol | 27 September 1797 * | 34 | ex-British Hermione, (launched 1782) | |
| Prueba | Ferrol | 9 December 1801 | 44 | ||
| Cornelia | Brest | 14 June 1808 * | 40 | ex-French Cornelie |
The Final phase - 1815 to 1854
[edit]The post-Napoleonic era began with the acquisition of six frigates from Russia in 1818. These proved of poor quality and were soon disposed of.
| Name | Built at | Launch date |
No of Guns |
Fate/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrolabio | St Petersburg | 17 September 1811 | 44 | ex-Russian Avtroil, acquired 21 February 1818 |
| Mercurio | St Petersburg | 13 July 1815 | 44 | ex-Russian Merkurii, acquired 21 February 1818 |
| Patricio | Arkangelsk | 21 June 1816 | 44 | ex-Russian Patrikii, acquired 21 February 1818; renamed María Isabel soon after acquisition. Captured by Chileans 20 September 1819. |
| Ligera | St Petersburg | 16 August 1816 | 44 | ex-Russian Legkii, acquired 12 October 1818 |
| Viva | Arkangelsk | 26 May 1816 | 40 | ex-Russian Provornyi, acquired 12 October 1818 |
| Pronta | St Petersburg | 16 August 1816 | 40 | ex-Russian Pospeshnyi, acquired 12 October 1818 |
| Aretusa | Bordeaux | 29 April 1819 | 40 | Stricken 1829 |
| Iberia | Ferrol | 3 March 1825 | 50 | Stricken in December 1830 |
| Lealtad | Ferrol | 19 March 1825 | 50 | Wrecked 13 January 1834 at Santander |
| Restauración | Ferrol | 14 October 1826 | 50 | Renamed Ville de Bilbao in 1837; hulked in 1840 |
| Esperanza | Cavite | 29 November 1834 | 48 | |
| Cortes | Ferrol | 27 July 1836 | 44 | Stricken 21 March 1863 |
| Isabel II | Ferrol | 23 September 1836 | 44 | Hulked in May 1860 |
| Reina María Cristina | Ferrol | 6 February 1837 | 52 | Stricken 25 October 1852 |
| Bailén | Ferrol | 29 March 1854 | 40 | Stricken 21 August 1865 |
References
[edit]- Winfield, Rif; Tredrea, John M; García-Torralba Pérez, Enrique; Blasco Felip, Manuel (2023). Spanish Warships in the Age of Sail 1700—1860: Design Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-5267-9078-1.