The tables below present a view of the decommissioned ships of the Colombian Navy.[1]
The Colombian Navy was first formed in 1810 during the war of independence, exiled during the Spanish reconquest in 1815 and returned in 1819 during the successful rebellion of Simon Bolivar. Many major units were lost in 1830 on the separation of Venezuela and Ecuador, including her frigates and corvettes. In 1843 the navy was ordered to be suppressed,[2] what ships remained came under the command of the army until 1860-67 when a formal navy returned during and after the 1860-62 Colombian Civil War. In 1867 the navy was decreed to be sold again,[3] standing naval forces consisting only of the coastguard and steamers for interior work, with armies of both sides expropriating or seizing ships during the numerous civil wars of 1860, 1876, 1885, and 1895. The few ships that were bought were quickly sold after conflict had ended and contract steamers were operated for short periods sometimes by individual states. The navy was reformed around the cruiser Cordoba acquired in 1896 and had a major role in the 1899-1902 civil war.[4] With the last of the cruisers sold in 1916[5] the navy reverted to a coastguard and river service until it saw a rapid expansion for the 1932-33 Peru-Colombia War.
Cruisers
These vessels were all rated as crucero in Colombian government records, but with the exception of Cartagena are often given as gunboats in European records.
Type
Name
Construction
Year Built
Commission
Retirement
Notes
Screw
Cruiser
General José Maria Córdoba
Osbourne Graham, Sunderland
1871
1896
1903
ex-Neptuno. British-built iron steamer rebuilt as cruiser at New Jersey in 1895-96, with shielded guns, searchlights and fighting top.[8] Sold, 1 May 1903[9]
ex-Ban Righ. Bought and lent to Venezuelan rebels as Libertador. Fitted with guns and protection to engine, steering and bridge. Returned September 1902. Later served as training ship. Sold, 14 November 1916[11]
Torpedo Cruiser
Cartagena (ex-Almirante Lezo)
Orlando, Livorno, Italy
1894
1902
1916
ex-Moroccan El Bashir et Telam Bekanefekel-Zalam, delivered July 1902. Refitted in Havana, 1912.[12] Sold, 14 November 1916[13]
ex-yacht Cutch, ex-Jessie Banning. Purchased 2 August 1902, and fitted as cruiser at Risdon Works, San Francisco. Later served as transport, sold 1914.[14]
Cruiser
21 de Noviembre (ex-Almirante Padilla)
Charles J. Bigger, Foyle, Londonderry
1888
1902
1903
ex-Ivy. Cargo coaster purchased by rebels by September 1901, and heavily armed as the Almirante Padilla. Surrendered, October 1902. To Panama, 6 November 1903[15]
Gunboats
Type
Name
Construction
Year Built
Commission
Retirement
Notes
Paddle
Iron war steamer
Cuaspud
J. & G. Rennie, Greenwich, England
1864
1866
1867
ex-Witch iron paddle-steamer built 1864 by Rennie,[17] and bought June 1866.[18] Foundered off Trinidad & Tobago, 23 September 1867[19]
Steel river gunboat
Hércules
United States
1884
1884
1928
Built as government tug and dredger. Converted to gunboat and armed 1895, then armoured in 1898. Served until exploded at Sitionuevo, 16 June 1928[20]
Steel river gunboat
General Nariño
Hugh Ramsay, Perth Amboy, New Jersey
1896
1896
1898
Built in sections, shipped and rebuilt at Barranquilla. Not a success and dismantled 1898[21]
Steel river gunboat
Esperanza
Hugh Ramsay, Perth Amboy, New Jersey
1897
1897
1897
Sister of General Nariño,[22] but not recorded in any Colombian source, may never have been delivered
Steel river gunboat
Presidente Mosquera (ex-Colombia)
-
1912
1912
1957
Became school for mechanics and boys by 1955, sunk at moorings 28 November 1957[23]
Screw
Iron war steamer
Colombia
C. & W. Earle, Hull, England
1865
1866
1868
ex-Sirius, bought January 1866. Also given as "corvette".[24] Sold as Scandinavian to Anchor Line on 12 December 1868[25]
Iron war steamer
Bolívar
Palmers, Jarrow, England
1866
1866
1872
Launched 14 July 1866. Sold to S. McNider, 2 July 1872[26]
Seized by rebels 21 July 1875, and armed and armoured as Jeneral Riascos. Government Magdalena flotilla 1876-77, purchased early 1877 as Jeneral Santos Gutiérrez. Sold 13 June 1878[46]
Armed river dredger
Cristobal Colón
Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
1879
1882
1899
Dredging steamer bought by government in 1882. Captured and armed by rebels January to August 1885. Captured again by rebels October 1899 and armoured as a ram. Sunk 24 October 1899[47]
Armed river dredger
Magdalena
Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
1880
1882
1898
Small dredging steamer bought by government in 1882. Captured by rebels 19 January 1885, retaken armed and armoured by August 1885.[48] Possibly the same Magdalena serving as warship in 1895-98[49]
River steamer
Simón Bolívar
-
1892
1892
1916
Government dredger. Served to at least August 1916[50]
River steamer
Vigilante
-
1896
1898
1904
Government police steamer. Served to at least December 1904[51]
River steamer
Ayacucho
-
1897
1898
1904
Government dredger. Taken and scuttled by rebels 18 October 1899, raised the next day.[52] Served to at least December 1904[53]
River steamer
Concordia
-
1906
1906
1922
Government river dredger. Served to at least 1922 when described as a part of the navy[54]
River steamer
Magdalena
-
1907
1907
1922
Government river dredger. Served to at least 1922 when described as a part of the navy[55]
River steamer
Girardot
-
-
1914
1922
Government river steamer. Served to at least 1922 when described as a part of the navy[56]
River steamer
Nariño
-
-
1916
1922
Government river steamer. Served to at least 1922 when described as a part of the navy[57]
Screw
Screw tug
General Nariño
Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
1877
1877
1887
Revenue service steamer. Captured by rebels February 1885 until at least May 1885. Extant 1887[58]
Screw tug
General Maza
Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
1877
1877
1877
Revenue service steamer. Sank on delivery voyage Nassau, 3 Oct 1877[59]
Screw tug
General Padilla
Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
1878
1878
1885
Armed government tug. Captured by rebels February 1885 until at least May 1885[60]
Screw tug
General José María Córdoba
Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware
1880
1878
1887
Armed government tug, ex-Meteor. Captured by rebels February 1885 until at least April 1885. Extant 1887[61]
Reported purchased by Colombia 19 August 1885, but returned to owners after rebel surrender[62]
Armed steamer
Cauca
-
-
1885
1886
Bought by July 1885, possibly the Arran. Given away 6 September 1886,[63] and renamed Soledad
Armed steamer
Ocho de Mayo
-
-
1885
1886
Coast guard steamer. Acquired by December 1885, possibly the ex-Rebel Aden. Given away 22 September 1886[64]
Screw tug
Miguel Antonio Caro
-
-
1892
1899
First recorded 1892 as owned by the nation, and listed as part of the navy in 1898. Extant until at least August 1899.[65] Presumed a screw tug
Screw tug
Nelly Gazán
Philadelphia, United States
1899
1899
1907
Government service since October 1899, armed by 1902. Sold 22 Feb 1907[66]
Armed steel steamer
Medellín
Laird Bros., Birkenhead
1878
1902
1903
Variously described as transport and cruiser.[67] Likely the ex-Poas, ex-Casma purchased from Costa Rica in September 1902. To Panama 6 November 1903,[68] and sold 3 November 1904
Contract & Impressed Steamers
These vessels were not owned by the Colombian government, but were contract steamers, expropriated by government, or seized or acquired by revolutionary forces during the numerous Colombian civil wars of the mid and late 19th century.
Type
Name
Construction
Year Built
Commission
Retirement
Notes
Paddle
Armed iron river steamer
Unión
James & William Napier, Glasgow
1839
1841
1841
Launched 22 January 1839. Taken up and armed by government 11 June 1841, destroyed by rebel bongos 20 November 1841[69]
Armed river steamer
Calamar
Hudson River, New York
1852
1854
1854
Stern paddle. Built 1851-52. Taken up and armed by rebels June, 1854[70]
Armed river steamer
Antioquia
-
1856
1865
1885
First seized by Magdalena State 1865-66, then rebels 1867, government 1877, rebels again January to July 1885 then armed and armoured Government July to August 1885[71]
Armed river steamer
Vencedor
-
1856
1867
1867
Taken up by government as a warship from May to August 1867[72]
Armed wooden river steamer
Confianza
-
1865
1867
1885
First taken up 1867. Armed as part of the Magdalena flotilla 1875-77, and again in 1883. Taken and armed by rebels January to August 1885.[73]
Armed wooden river steamer
Colombia
-
1873
1875
1879
Armed in Magdalena flotilla, August 1875. Armoured by August 1876, and still in use June 1879[74]
Armed river steamer
Murillo (ex-Veintiseis de Julio)
-
1870
1875
1877
Seized by rebels 21 July 1875, and armed and armoured as 26 de Julio. Served government 1876-77 as a warship[75]
Armed wooden river steamer
Simón Bolívar
-
1865
1875
1877
First taken up and armed by government August 1875, and again 1876-77.[76] Lost Magdalena River, 3 July 1879
Armed iron river steamer
Tenerife (ex-Isabel)
-
1870
1875
1885
Seized by rebels 21 July 1875, and armed and armoured as Tenerife. Served government 1877. Taken by rebels in January 1885 and returned 21 August 1885[77]
Armed river steamer
Jeneral Nieto (ex-Vijilante, ex-Vengoechea)
-
1864
1875
1876
Seized by rebels 21 July 1875, and armed and armoured as Vijilante. Government service as Jeneral Nieto, August to December 1876[78]
Armed steamer
Constitución
-
-
1877
1877
Government service as warship in 1877,[79] presumably a river steamer
Armed steel river steamer
Stephenson Clarke
-
1877
1879
1885
Government service as warship in 1879 and armed again 1883. Seized by rebels in January 1885 for a short period[80]
Armed iron river steamer
Once de Febrero (ex-Luciano Restrepo, ex-Maria Emma, ex-Medellin)
-
1875
1877
1885
First taken up 1877 as Francia Elena. Captured and armed by rebels January 1885, renamed Luciano Restrepo then Once de Febrero, destroyed by fire 17 June 1885[81]
Armed river steamer
José Maria Pino
-
-
1879
1885
Ex-Santa Catalina. Armed in war by national government 1879. Seized by rebels January 1885 to July 1885.[82] May have been the ex-Vengoechea
Armed river steamer
Rafael Nùñez
-
-
1882
1889
Armed by Bolivar State 1882. Government flotilla from March 1885 to as late as 1889 as aviso, tug and yacht[83]
Armed river steamer
Victoria
James Rees and Sons, Pittsburgh
1880
1882
1885
Armed by Bolivar State 1882. Government flotilla from January 1885 and returned 3 December 1885[84]
Armed river steamer
Lebrija
James Rees and Sons, Pittsburgh
1885
1885
1885
Built 1884-85. In government flotilla and armed March 1885,[85] and operated until at least August 1885
Armed wooden river steamer
Unión
-
-
1885
1885
In government flotilla and March 1885. Captured by rebels 19 April 1885,[86] and operated until scuttled at El Banco on 15 September 1885.
Armed iron river steamer
Bismarck
-
-
1885
1901
Taken by rebels in January 1885 and armed.[87] Returned 28 August 1885. Taken up by government in 1895 and 1901
Armed steel river steamer
América (ex-General Trujillo)
-
1877
1885
1897
As General Trujillo taken by rebels in January 1885 and armed, and recovered by government. Served as government warship again as América in 1895 and 1897[88]
Armed steel river steamer
Libertador
-
1878
1885
1885
Armed by government June to August 1885, and extensively damaged in collision with the Confianza[89]
Armed river steamer
Mariscal Sucre
-
1882
1885
1885
Taken by rebels January to July 1885. Armed by government August 1885, and later lost on Juana Sanchez Point 16 March 1889[90]
Armed steel river steamer
Argentina (ex-Cometa)
-
1880
1885
1895
As Cometa taken by rebels January 1885, armed and operated until 23 August 1885.[91] Served as warship again as Argentina in 1895
Armed steel river steamer
Francisco Montoya
James Rees and Sons, Pittsburgh
1879
1885
1896
Taken by rebels March 1885, armed and operated until 31 August 1885. Served government as a warship in 1896. Lost in fire October 1899[92]
Armed river steamer
Cartagena
-
-
1885
1885
Seized by rebels 1 January 1885 and armed, and returned 7 December 1885[93]
Armed river steamer
Enrique
-
1891
1895
1902
Served as warship 1895,[94] and armed again by September 1902
Armed river steamer
Nechí
-
-
1895
1902
First served as warship February 1895, and served again from 1899 until wrecked on military operations, 16 February 1902[95]
Served as government warship in 1895 civil war[97]
Armed river steamer
Eloísa (ex-Once de Noviembre)
-
1896
1899
1900
Served as government warship, returned 31 December 1900[98]
Armed river steamer
Colombia
-
-
1899
1902
Armed in government flotilla, October 1899.[99] May have been the Colombia that served until 1902
Armed river steamer
General Sarmiento (ex-María Hanabergh)
Nixon Bethlehem Steel Company, Elizabethport, New Jersey
1896
1900
1900
Armed and armoured by government. Captured by rebels June 1900 and renamed General Sarmiento. Wrecked Tucacos Lagoon, July 1900[100]
Screw
Armed Steamer
Montijo
United States
-
1868
1871
Taken up by Panama State for revolution of 1868 and armed, then returned. Seized by rebels 6 April 1871[101]
Iron armed steamer
Morro
Scott & Co., Greenock
1881
1884
1895
Successively taken by rebels and government in October 1884 and armed. May have also been the Morro armed in Cauca in 1895[102]
Iron armed steamer
Alajuela
San Francisco
1878
1884
1884
ex-Thomas Whitelaw. Costa Rican steamer captured by rebels 15 October 1884. Later destroyed in Ecuador 6 December 1884[103]
Armed iron tug
General Gaitan (ex-Gamecock)
John Softley & Sons, South Shields
1880
1885
1885
Seized by rebels in February 1885 and armed and shielded. Captured by the US 6 August 1885[104]
Armed tug
Salvador Camacho Roldán
-
-
1885
1885
Acquired by rebels in February 1885. Active until at least May 1885 when arrested by the British[105]
Armed steamer
General Antonio B. Cuervo
-
-
1897
1898
Armed merchant ship,[106] last recorded September 1898
Gunboat
General Gaitan
-
1894
1900
1900
ex-tug Augusto. Rebel gunboat acquired by May 1900, interned 12 July 1900. Became Venezuelan Zumbador[107]
Gunboat
Peralonso
-
-
1900
1900
ex-Rayo. Rebel gunboat acquired by May 1900, interned 12 July 1900. Became Venezuelan Margarita[108]
Iron armed tug
Ancón
-
-
1900
1900
Taken up by government by May 1900, fought the rebel Ricardo Gaitán on 16 May 1900. Later returned to owners[109]
Steel armed steamer
Taboga
Wigham Richardson & Co, Newcastle
1896
1900
1900
Sister to the Chucuito. Taken up by government at least May to December 1900 as armed transport. Reported purchased in November 1900, appeared in nascent Panamanian navy November 1903[110]
Wooden armed steamer
Telégrafo
-
Before 1895
1900
1901
Small schooner-rigged steamer. Part of government Pacific flotilla by May 1900 to at least November 1901 when briefly captured by rebels[111]
^Note that the roles Offshore patrol vs. Coastal patrol are not standardized across different navies. For the purposes of this article, the OP vessel is considered the heavier and more oceanic role, with significantly more range or endurance, drawing the line arbitrarily at a displacement of roughly 200 tonnes vs. the CP. Nevertheless, many CP vessels are capable of oceanic navigation within reason, and OP vessels are also routinely used in coastal patrol missions.
^Diario Oficial, Año XL. N. 12,293. 26, Diciembre 1904. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1904)
^Pedro Sicard Briceño, Geografia Militar de Colombia, Luis Villamarine (2016)
^Pedro Sicard Briceño, Geografia Militar de Colombia, Luis Villamarine (2016)
^Pedro Sicard Briceño, Geografia Militar de Colombia, Luis Villamarine (2016)
^Pedro Sicard Briceño, Geografia Militar de Colombia, Luis Villamarine (2016)
^Diario Oficial, Año X. N. 6951. 11, Febrero 1887. Bogota, República de Colombia (1887)
^United States Congressional Serial Set, U.S. Government Printing Office (1879), p408
^Jose Maria Samper, El Sitio de Cartagena de 1885, Narraciones Historicas y Descriptivas en Prosa y Verso, Bogota (1885), p153
^Diario Oficial, Año X. N. 6951. 11, Febrero 1887. Bogota, República de Colombia (1887)
^New York Journal, Summer Resorts and Summer Sports, August 8, 1897, p31
^Diario Oficial, Año X. N. 10,639. 30, Abril, 1898. Bogota, República de Colombia (1898)
^Diario Oficial, Año X. N. 10,639. 30, Abril, 1898. Bogota, República de Colombia (1898)
^Reminiscencias historicas: Recuerdos de un soldado liberal, Imprenta Departamental (1933), p51 & 274
^Diario Oficial, Año XLIII. N. 12, 888. 27, Febrero, 1907. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1907)
^C.A. Starke, Nouvel Almanach du Corps Diplomatique : ancien Almanach de Gotha (1904), p718
^Carlos Humberto Cuestas Gomez, Panama y Costa Rica, entre la diplomacia y la guerra, Litho Editorial Chen (1999), p127
^Salvador Camacho Roldan, Notas de viaje : (Colombia y Estados Unidos de America), Bogota (1897), p192
^Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, Resumen histórico de los acontecimientos que han tenido lugar en la republica, Imprenta del Neo-granadino (1855), p111
^La Rebelion, Noticias de la Guerra, Imprenta de la Luz (1885), pp124-125
^Diario Oficial, Año III. N. 981. 20, Julio 1867. Bogota, Estados Unidos de Colombia (1867)
^Diario Oficial, Año XXXIII. N. 7114. 23, Julio 1887. Bogota, República de Colombia (1887)
^Diario Oficial, Año XV. N. 4453. 3, Julio 1879. Bogota, Estados Unidos de Colombia (1879)
^Diario Oficial, Año XXXVII. N. 11,582. 2, Noviembre 1901. Bogota, República de Colombia (1901)
^Diario Oficial, Año XIII. N. 4017. 13, Septiembre 1877. Bogota, Estados Unidos de Colombia (1877)
^La Rebelion, Noticias de la Guerra, Imprenta de la Luz (1885), pp124-125
^Diario Oficial, Año XXXVII. N. 11,582. 5, Noviembre 1901. Bogota, República de Colombia (1901)
^Diario Oficial, Año XIII. N. 4,047. 6, Noviembre 1877. Bogota, Estados Unidos de Colombia (1877)
^Historia Militar de Colombia, Guerra Civil de 1885, Colombia (1920)
^Jose Maria Samper, El Sitio de Cartagena de 1885, Narraciones Historicas y Descriptivas en Prosa y Verso, Bogota (1885), p153
^Diario Oficial, Año XXIII. N. 7,114. 23, Julio 1887. Bogota, República de Colombia (1887)
^Thomas Savage, Manual de las relaciones industriales y comerciales entre los Estados Unidos y la America Española, La Compania Bancroft (1889), p471D
^Diario Oficial, Año XXIII. N. 7,114. 23, Julio 1887. Bogota, República de Colombia (1887)
^La Rebelion, Noticias de la Guerra, Imprenta de la Luz (1885), pp145-147
^Páginas para la historia militar de Colombia, Guerra Civil de 1885 (1885), p189
^Robert L Schenia, Latin America's Wars, Volume 1, Potomac Books (2003)
^Diario Oficial, Año XXXVII. N. 11,392. 4, Enero 1901. Bogota, República de Colombia (1901)
^Diario Oficial, Año XXIV. N. 7,443. 7, Julio 1888. Bogota, República de Colombia (1888)
^Diario Oficial, Año XXV. N. 7,767-7,768. 21, Abril 1889. Bogota, República de Colombia (1889)
^La Rebelion, Noticias de la Guerra, Imprenta de la Luz (1885), pp124-125
^The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, October 9, 1899
^Diario Oficial, Año XXIV. N. 7,447. 10, Julio 1888. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1889)
^Informe del Ministro de Guerra de Colombia al Congreso Constitucional de 1896, Casa Editorial de J.J. Perez (1896), pp18-19, 256
^Diario Oficial, Año XL. N. 12,033. 17, Marzo 1904. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1904)
^A. Perez Mutis La Guerra Civil de 1895: contexto internacional, legislaciones y combates en Cartagena y el Departamento de Bolívar. Un primer acercamiento, p19
^Informe del Ministro de Guerra de Colombia al Congreso Constitucional de 1896, Casa Editorial de J.J. Perez (1896), pp18-19, 256
^Diario Oficial, Año XL. N. 12,320. 6, ABRIL 1905. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1905)
^Guillermo Plazas Olarte, Guerra de mil Dias : Estudio Militar, Academia Boyacense de Historia (1985), p38-43
^Joaquin Viloria de la Hoz, Tabaco del Carmen: Producccion y exportacion de tabaco de los Montes de Maria 1848-1893, Banco de la Republica Cartagena de Indias (1999), p11