Destructor

In the second half of the nineteenth century the development of torpedoes and a new type of ship, the torpedo-boat, forcing the main navies to find ways to protect your capital ships. In Spain, lieutenant Fernando Villamil conceived in 1885 the idea of a new type of ship anti-torpedo action. Commissioner to the UK by the Minister of Marine, developed the project of a ship of 350 tons, able to reach 23 knots, as fast as any torpedo-boat, best armed and most seafaring conditions. The new unit was called Destructor (Destroyer) and her keel was laid down at the shipyards of Glasgow Thompson in late 1885. The Destructor was a boat ahead of its time, and after being put into service in 1887 or even the Royal Navy would have similar units until 1892, with the HMS Havoc and the HMS Hornet. On 30/08/1890 she survived in a fierce storm off Cape Machichaco. She was not involved in War with the U.S.

Structure : Displacement: 360/458 tons, Length: 58.74 m, Beam: 7,63 m, Draft: 1,10 m
Armament : 1x90 mm, 4x57 mm 2x37 mm guns. 3x381 mm torpedo tubes.
Propulsion : Two triple-expansion engines, fed by four boilers type locomotive, which supplied two axes 3800 hp
Speed : 23 knots.
Range : At 10 knots was 5500 miles.