The Almirante Latorre-class consisted of two super-dreadnought battleships designed by the British company Armstrong Whitworth for the Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile). They were intended to be Chile's entiries to the South American dreadnought race, but both were purchased by the Royal Navy prior to completion for use in the First World War. Only one, Almirante Latorre (HMS Canada), was finished as a battleship; Almirante Cochrane (HMS Eagle), was converted to an aircraft carrier. Under their Chilean names, they honored the Admirals (Almirantes) Juan José Latorre and Thomas Cochrane. They took their British names from the dominion and a traditional ship name in the Royal Navy.
After the war, Britain would offer Chile HMS Canada at a discount. At Chile's insistence however, the deal changed to getting a pair of modernized Almirante Latorre-class battleships which incorporated the latest in warship design and state of the art 14-inch main guns. The two ships would be commissioned into the Chilean Navy in 1924.
Specifications[]
Original Configuration[]
- Type: Battleship
- Service Period: 1915-1920
- Characteristics:
- Length: 661 feet (201.47 meters)
- Beam: 92 feet (28.04 meters)
- Draught: 29 feet (8.84 meters)
- Displacement: 28,100 tons (Standard); 31,610 tons (Full Load)
- Crew: 1,167
- Propulsion: 21 Coal and oil-fired Yarrow boilers, Low pressure Parsons and High pressure Brown-Curtis/Parsons steam turbines, 37,000 shp
- Range: 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilometers) at 10 knots (18.52 km/h)
- Speed: 22.75 knots (42.13 km/h)
- Armament:
- 10 × BL 14"/45 caliber Mk.I guns
- 16 × BL 6"/50-caliber Mk.XI guns
- 2 × QF 3"/45-caliber anti-aircraft guns
- 4 × 3-pounder guns
- 4 × 21 inch torpedo tubes (submerged)
- Armour:
- Main Belt: 9 inches (230 to 100 mm)
- Deck: 4 inches (102 to 25 mm)
- Barbettes: 10 inches (250 to 100 mm)
- Turret face: 10 inches (250 mm)
- Conning tower: 11 inches (280 mm)
1920 Configuration[]
- Type: Battleship
- Service Period: 1924-1958
- Characteristics:
- Length: 671 feet (204.52 meters)
- Beam: 92.5 feet (28.19 meters)
- Draught: 23 feet (7.01 meters)
- Displacement: 27,932 tons (standard); 29,854 tons (Full Load)
- Crew: 1,277
- Propulsion: Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 4 x shafts, 66,394 shp (49,530 kW)
- Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 kilometers) at 12 knots (22.22 km/h)
- Speed: 25.5 knots (47.23 km/h)
- Armament:
- 10 x BL 14"/50-caliber Mk.II naval guns (5x2)
- 16 x BL 6"/50-caliber Mk.XI naval guns (16x1)
- 4 x QF 3"/45-caliber anti-aircraft guns (4x1)
- 28 x 0.303-caliber machine guns
- Armour:
- Main Belt: 9 inches (228.6mm)
- Deck: 6.5 inches (165.1mm)
- Turret Face: 10 inches (254mm)
- Barbettes: 10 inches (254mm)
- Conning Tower: 8 inches (203.2mm)
1940 Rebuild[]
- Type: Battleship
- Service Period: 1924-1958
- Characteristics:
- Length: 671 feet (204.52 meters)
- Beam: 92.5 feet (28.19 meters)
- Draught: 23 feet (7.01 meters)
- Displacement: 27,932 tons (standard); 29,854 tons (Full Load)
- Crew: 1,277
- Propulsion: Oil fired boilers, steam turbines, 4 x shafts, 66,394 shp (49,530 kW)
- Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 kilometers) at 12 knots (22.22 km/h)
- Speed: 25.5 knots (47.23 km/h)
- Armament:
- 10 x BL 14"/45-caliber Mk.VII naval guns (5x2)
- 24 x QF 4.5"/45-caliber Mk.III dual purpose naval guns (12x2)
- 32 x Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns (8x4)
- Armour:
- Main Belt: 9 inches (228.6mm)
- Deck: 6.5 inches (165.1mm)
- Turret Face: 10 inches (254mm)
- Barbettes: 10 inches (254mm)
- Conning Tower: 8 inches (203.2mm)
Unit Run[]
Original Configuration[]
- BAC Almirante Latorre - completed as HMS Canada, sold for scrap after World War I
- BAC Almirante Cochrane - converted into aircraft HMS Eagle
1920 Configuration[]
- BAC Almirante Latorre
- BAC Almirante Cochrane