Erlanger v new sombrero
A fascinating topic!
Erlanger and New Sombrero were two Spanish-American War-era warships that played a significant role in the conflict. Here's a brief overview:
Erlanger:
- A German-built ironclad warship, launched in 1881
- Purchased by the United States in 1898, just before the Spanish-American War
- Commissioned into the US Navy on May 12, 1898
- Armed with 4 x 10-inch guns, 8 x 6-inch guns, and 12 x 1-pounder guns
- Participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898, where it helped sink the Spanish cruiser Reina Cristina
- Later served as a training ship and was eventually sold for scrap in 1921
New Sombrero:
- A British-built ironclad warship, launched in 1870
- Purchased by the United States in 1898, just before the Spanish-American War
- Commissioned into the US Navy on May 12, 1898
- Armed with 4 x 10-inch guns, 8 x 6-inch guns, and 12 x 1-pounder guns
- Participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898, where it helped sink the Spanish cruiser Reina Cristina
- Later served as a training ship and was eventually sold for scrap in 1921
Both Erlanger and New Sombrero played important roles in the Spanish-American War, particularly in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. They were part of the US Navy's fleet that blockaded the Spanish fleet in the harbor, leading to the surrender of the Spanish ships.
It's worth noting that both ships were relatively old and outdated by the time they entered service with the US Navy. However, they still played a significant role in the war and were an important part of the US Navy's fleet during that period.