Skip to main content
USNI Logo USNI Logo USNI Logo
Donate
  • Cart
  • Join or Log In
  • Search

Main navigation

  • About Us
  • Membership
  • Books & Press
  • USNI News
  • Proceedings
  • Naval History
  • Archives
  • Events
  • Donate
USNI Logo USNI Logo USNI Logo
Donate
  • Cart
  • Join or Log In
  • Search

Main navigation (Sticky)

  • About Us
  • Membership
  • Books & Press
  • USNI News
  • Proceedings
  • Naval History
  • Archives
  • Events
  • Donate

Sub Menu

  • Essay Contests
    • About Essay Contests
  • Current Issue
  • Subscribe to Naval History
    • Naval History Digital Subscription
    • Renew Your Subscription
  • Naval History Blog
  • Submisison Guidelines
  • Contact Naval History
    • Media Inquiries
  • All Issues
Reina Mercedes 1898
The Reina Mercedes as she was built for the Spanish Navy, prior to her sinking in 1898.
U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive

Sub Menu

  • Essay Contests
    • About Essay Contests
  • Current Issue
  • Subscribe to Naval History
    • Naval History Digital Subscription
    • Renew Your Subscription
  • Naval History Blog
  • Submisison Guidelines
  • Contact Naval History
    • Media Inquiries
  • All Issues

'The Fastest Ship in the Navy'

The Reina Mercedes's life in the U.S. Navy tied "fast" to her berth in Annapolis.
By Jon Hoppe
October 2020
Naval History Magazine
Article
View Issue
Comments

On 29 April 1898, Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete of the Spanish Navy steamed out of the Cape Verde Islands with a fleet of four armored cruisers and three destroyers. His destination: the West Indies, to defend Spain's empire there against the United States. Hampered by a number of deficiencies, the fleet struggled into the harbor at Santiago de Cuba. Already there was the the Reina Mercedes, an unarmored cruiser capable of propulsion under sail and steam. Built in Cartagena, in 1887, she became the station ship at Santiago in 1892. By 1898, she was in such a poor state of repair that her armament was largely removed for use as shore batteries.

Premium
Subscriber-Only Content

Don't miss out.
Subscribe to
Naval History today.

Subscribe Today

Already subscribed?
Sign in to continue reading.

Jon Hoppe

Jonathan L. Hoppe was the Digital Assets Administrator at the U.S. Naval Institute from 2015-2019. Before he started with USNI, he worked in historical research and archives. He has a background in art conservation from the University of Delaware and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. You can visit his personal site at hoppejl.wordpress.com.

More Stories From This Author View Biography

Related Articles

P Article

Battles and Capitulation of Santiago De Cuba (Completed)

Lieutenant José Müller y Tejeiro, Second in Command of Naval Forces of the Province of Santiago de Cuba
January 1899
Translated from the SpanishINTRODUCTORY.The publication by this office of the partial translation of "Battles and Capitulation of Santiago de Cuba," by Lieutenant Müller y Tejeiro, was received with so much ...
Reina Mercedes 1912-1957 Annapolis
P Article

A Cruiser, A Trophy, A. Legend

By Commander W. L. Marshall, USN
September 1959
It isn’t often that a warship unsuccessful from the time of her launching can look forward to an abnormally long and useful career. Yet the old Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes ...
P Article

Naval Academy Practice Ships

By P. H. Magruder
May 1934
The Era of Sail and the “Square-rigger” at the Naval Academy—1845 to 1909One ship drives East, and one drives West,By the selfsame wind that blows;It’s the set of the sails ...

Quicklinks

Footer menu

  • About the Naval Institute
  • Books & Press
  • Naval History Magazine
  • USNI News
  • Proceedings
  • Oral Histories
  • Events
  • Naval Institute Foundation
  • Photos & Historical Prints
  • Naval Institute Archives

Receive the Newsletter

Sign up to get updates about new releases and event invitations.

Sign Up Now
Example NewsletterPrivacy Policy
USNI Logo White
Copyright © 2022 U.S. Naval Institute Privacy PolicyTerms of UseContact UsAdvertise With UsFAQContent LicenseMedia Inquiries
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
Powered by Unleashed Technologies