View source for Spanish frigate Reina Blanca

{{short description|Spanish Navy screw frigate of 1859–1893}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:Naval Battle of Abtao (1866).jpg
|Ship caption=The Spanish [[screw frigate]]s ''Reina&nbsp;Blanca'' and {{nowrap|{{ship|Spanish frigate|Villa&nbsp;de&nbsp;Madrid||2}}}} during the [[Battle of Abtao]] on 7&nbsp;February&nbsp;1866.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=Spain
|Ship flag=[[Image:Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg|48px|Armada Española Ensign]] [[Image:Flag of the First Spanish Republic.svg|50px|First Spanish Republic]]
|Ship name=''Reina Blanca''
|Ship namesake=[[Blanche I of Navarre]] 
|Ship ordered=8 October 1853
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Reales Astilleros de Esteiro]], [[Ferrol, Spain|Ferrol]],&nbsp;[[Spain]]
|Ship original cost=3,082,909 [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]]
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=16 October 1854 or 4&nbsp;April&nbsp;1855 (see&nbsp;text)
|Ship launched=19 February 1859
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship commissioned=1859
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=[[Ship breaking|Scrapped]] 1893
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Screw frigate]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|2,600|or|3,800|t|LT|lk=on}}<!--3,800 tons is per translation from the Spanish Wikipedia article-->
|Ship length={{convert|64|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|13|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height={{convert|7.22|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth={{convert|6.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft=
|Ship power={{cvt|360|hp|0|lk=on}} (nominal)
|Ship propulsion=
*Mixed [[Sailing  ship|sail]] and steam
*One [[steam engine]], one&nbsp;shaft, {{nowrap|234 t (230 lt; 258 st) [[coal]]}}
|Ship speed={{convert|8|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship complement=*'''As built:''' 408 [[Commissioned officer|officers]] and [[Enlisted personnel|enlisted&nbsp;men]]
*'''1886:''' {{nowrap|8 officers,}} {{nowrap|290–330 enlisted men,}} {{nowrap|30–40 [[Midshipman|midshipmen]]}}
|Ship armament=*'''As built:'''
*10 × {{cvt|200|mm|in|1}} 68-pounder [[smoothbore]] guns
*26 × {{cvt|160|mm|in|1}} 32-pounder [[Rifling|rifled]] guns
*6 × [[bronze]] guns (for boats)
*'''1872:'''
*21 × {{cvt|200|mm|in|1}} smoothbore guns
*4 × {{cvt|160|mm|in|1}} rifled guns
*'''1884:'''
*4 × {{cvt|120|mm|in|1}} guns
*2 × {{cvt|90|mm|in|1}} guns
*2 × {{cvt|70|mm|in|1}} guns
*1 x [[machine gun]]
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''''Reina Blanca''''' (English: ''Queen Blanche''), sometimes referred to as '''''Blanca''''' (English: ''Blanche''), was a [[screw frigate]] of the [[Spanish Navy]] [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] in 1859. She took part in the [[Hispano–Moroccan War (1859–1860)|Hispano–Moroccan War]] of 1859–1860, the [[Second French intervention in Mexico#Background|mulitnational intervention]] in [[Mexico]] in 1861–1862, several actions during the [[Chincha Islands War]] of 1865–1866, and the [[Third Carlist War]] in 1874. After service as a [[training ship]] during the 1870s and 1880s, she was [[Ship breaking|scrapped]] in 1893.

'''''Reina Blanca''''' was named for [[Blanche I of  Navarre]] (1387–1441), who was [[queen regnant]] of the [[Kingdom of Navarre]] from 1425 to 1441. She also was [[List of Sicilian consorts|Queen of Sicily]] from 1402 to 1409 and [[regent]] of the [[Kingdom of Sicily]] from 1404 to 1405 and from 1408 to 1415.

==Construction and commissioning==

''Reina Blanca''′s construction was authorized along with that of the screw frigates {{ship|Spanish frigate|Berenguela||2}} and {{ship|Spanish frigate|Petronila||2}} by a [[royal order]] of either 8&nbsp;August<ref name=nombre>''Ministerio de Fomento'', 1853, p. 140.</ref> or 8&nbsp;October<ref name=todoavanteblanca>{{Cite web |url=https://todoavante.es/index.php?title=Blanca_(1859)|title=Blanca (1859) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=11 April 2022 |website=todoavante.es |publisher= |access-date=21 December 2024 |language=es}}</ref> 1853 (sources disagree). She was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] at the {{nowrap|[[Reales Astilleros de Esteiro]]}} in [[Ferrol, Spain|Ferrol]], [[Spain]], on either 16&nbsp;October 1854<ref>González-Llanos.</ref> or 4&nbsp;April 1855<ref>Lledó Calabuig.</ref> (sources disagree) as a wooden-[[Hull (watercraft)|hulled]] [[screw frigate]] with mixed [[Sailing ship|sail]] and [[Steam engine|steam propulsion]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 19&nbsp;February 1859,<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> and after [[Fitting-out|fitting out]] she was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] later in 1859. Her total construction cost was 3,082,909 [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

==Service history==
===Early service===
''Reina Blanca'' put to sea for the first time on 30&nbsp;November 1859 and operated under the command of either ''Capitán de navío'' ([[Ship-of-the-line captain|Ship-of-the-Line Captain]]) Manuel Sibila<ref>Balaguer, p. 132.</ref> or ''Capitán de navío'' Don Tomás <ref name=todoavanteblanca/> (sources disagree) as part of a Spanish [[Squadron (naval)|squadron]] off [[Morocco]] during the [[Hispano–Moroccan War (1859–1860)|Hispano–Moroccan War]], taking part in [[blockade]] operations and [[shore bombardment]]s.<ref>de Alarcón, p. 260.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.todoababor.es/datos_docum/ord_ba_afr1859.htm |title=Ordenes de batalla y listados de escuadras ("Battle orders and squadron lists"): ''Listado de buques de la Armada española en la Guerra de África de 1859-1860'' ("List of ships of the Spanish Navy in the African War of 1859-1860") |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2003 |website= |publisher=Todo a Babor |access-date=21 December 2024 |language=es}}</ref><ref>Ventosa, p. 931.</ref> After the war ended in 1860, the squadron disbanded, and ''Reina Blanca'' joined the escort of a [[convoy]] conveying a [[Spanish Army]] force under the command of ''Generale'' ([[General officer|General]]) [[Juan Prim]] to the naval base at [[Havana]] in the [[Captaincy General of Cuba]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> Subsequently operating in the [[Caribbean]] under the command of ''Capitán de fragata'' ([[Frigate captain|Frigate Captain]]) [[José Morgado e Iñel]], she took part in a naval demonstration off [[Port-au-Prince]], [[Haiti]], by a squadron under the command of [[Joaquín Gutierrez de Rubalcava]] in 1861.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

''Reina Blanca'' next participated in a [[Second French intervention in Mexico#Background|mulitnational intervention]] in [[Mexico]] to settle damage claims in 1861–1862, again as part of a squadron under Gutierrez de Rubalcava. The Spanish ships seized [[Veracruz (city)|Veracruz]] on 14&nbsp;December 1861<ref>{{harvp|Bancroft|1888|p=29}}</ref> and French and British forces arrived in January 1862. Spanish and British forces withdrew from Mexico in 1862  when it became apparent that [[Second French Empire|France]] intended to seize control of Mexico,<ref>{{harvp|Bancroft|1888|p=35}}</ref> and ''Reina Blanca'' returned to [[Cuba]]. She soon headed home to Spain, where she became a unit of the Training Squadron. When that squadron disbanded in mid-1862, she moved to [[Cádiz]], embarked ''Generale'' [[Felipe Ribero y Lemoine]], and returned to the Caribbean, disembarking Ribero at the [[Captaincy General of Santo Domingo]], where he took up his appointment as governor. She then continued on to Havana, which became her base.

===Chincha Islands War===
Amid tensions between Spain, [[Chile]], and [[Peru]], ''Reina Blanca'' was reassigned to the Pacific [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]] in 1864. Getting underway from Havana under the command of ''Capitán de navío'' (Ship-of-the-Line Captain) [[Juan Bautista Topete]],<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> she moved to [[Montevideo]], [[Uruguay]], where she and the screw frigate {{ship|Spanish frigate|Berenguela||2}} rendezvoused with the screw frigate {{ship|Spanish frigate|Villa de Madrid||2}}. The three ships passed through the [[Strait of Magellan]] into the [[Pacific Ocean]] and reached [[Pisco, Peru|Pisco]], Peru, on 19&nbsp;December 1864,<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> then joined the Pacific Squadron in the [[Chincha Islands]] on 30&nbsp;December 1864.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> ''Villa de Madrid'' became the [[flagship]] of the squadron's commander, ''Vicealmirante'' ([[Vice admiral|Vice Admiral]]) [[José Manuel Pareja]], whose predecessor [[Luis Hernández-Pinzón Álvarez]] had seized the Chincha Islands from Peru in April 1864. On 27&nbsp;January 1865 Pareja and a Peruvian government representative, [[Manuel Ignacio de Vivanco]], signed the Preliminary Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Spain and Peru, known informally as the [[Vivanco–Pareja Treaty]], aboard ''Villa de Madrid'' in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to settle claims between the two countries that instead sparked the outbreak of the [[Peruvian Civil War of 1865]].

The political situation in the region further deteriorated during 1865 when Pareja steamed to [[Valparaíso]], [[Chile]], to settle Spanish claims.<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid>{{Cite web |url=https://todoavante.es/index.php?title=Villa_de_Madrid_(1862) |title=Villa de Madrid (1862) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 October 2023 |website=todoavante.es |publisher= |access-date=17 December 2024 |language=es}}</ref> When Chile refused to settle, Pareja announced a [[blockade]] of Chilean ports,<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/> with ''Reina Blanca'' assigned to the blockade of [[Caldera, Chile|Caldera]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> As a result of the blockade, the [[Chincha Islands War]] broke out between Spain and Chile on 24&nbsp;September 1865. The blockade spread the Pacific Squadron thinly among the waters off Chilean ports, and early setbacks in the war culminated in a humiliating Spanish naval defeat in the [[Battle of Papudo]] on 26&nbsp;November 1865 in which the [[Chilean Navy]] [[corvette]] {{ship|Chilean corvette|Esmeralda||2}} captured the Spanish Navy [[schooner]] {{ship|Spanish schooner|Virgen de Covadonga||2}}. News of the defeat prompted Pareja to commit suicide aboard ''Villa de Madrid'' off Valparaíso, shooting himself in his cabin on 28&nbsp;November 1865 while lying on his bed wearing his dress uniform. He was [[Burial at sea|buried at sea]], and ''Capitán de navío'' (Ship-of-the-Line Captain) [[Casto Méndez Núñez]] received a promotion to ''contralmirante'' ([[counteradmiral]]) and took command of the Pacific Squadron.<ref>Farcau, p. 17.</ref>

[[File:Blanca y Villa de Madrid.jpg|thumb|left|''Reina Blanca'' and {{ship|Spanish frigate|Villa de Madrid||2}} at the [[Battle of Abtao]] on 7&nbsp;February&nbsp;1866.]]
[[Peru]] and [[Ecuador]] joined the war on Chile's side in January 1866. In February 1866, Méndez Núñez sent ''Reina Blanca'', still under Topete's command, and ''Villa de Madrid'' south to destroy the combined Chilean-Peruvian squadron. To save [[coal]], the two frigates stopped at the [[Juan Fernández Islands]] to obtain supplies and information before beginning their search.<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/> The Spanish frigates found the allied squadron, composed of the [[Peruvian Navy]] frigate {{BAP|Apurímac||2}} and [[corvette]]s ''América'' and ''Unión'' and the [[Chilean Navy]] [[schooner]] ''[[Spanish schooner Virgen de Covadonga|Covadonga]]'', anchored and immobilized in an inlet on the Chilean coast in the [[Chiloé Archipelago]] at [[Abtao Island]] on 7&nbsp;February 1866. In the resulting [[Battle of Abtao]], the Spanish ships were reluctant to close with the allied squadron because of a fear of running aground in shallow water. ''Apurímac'' opened fire at 16:15, and an indecisive exchange of long-range gunfire ensued over the course of about 90 minutes in which the ships fired about 1,700 rounds<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/> and ''Covadonga'' — the captured ''Virgen de Covadonga'', now commissioned into Chilean service and renamed — scored several hits on ''Reina Blanca''. The Spanish frigates displayed good marksmanship but had little success and ultimately withdrew as darkness fell<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/> to avoid wasting ammunition. During the engagement, ''Villa de Madrid'' was hit seven times in her [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]] and four times in her [[Mast (ship)|masts]] and [[rigging]], suffering four men wounded and three others accidentally injured; two of her guns burst at their [[Muzzle (firearms)|muzzles]], although this did not result in any additional damage or casualties.<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/> ''Reina Blanca'' was hit eight times in her hull and eight in her masts and rigging, suffering two men wounded.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/><ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/>

Méndez Núñez decided to make a second attempt at destroying the allied squadron, this time with ''Reina Blanca'' and the [[armored frigate]] {{ship|Spanish ironclad|Numancia||2}} under his personal command. On 17&nbsp;February 1866, the two ships left the waters off Valparaíso, where the Pacific Squadron had concentrated, and 
headed south to the  Chiloé Archipelago, where they found that the allied ships had retreated into an inlet on the coast of [[Calbuco Island]]. Unable to close with the allied ships because of ''Numancia''′s [[Draft (hull)|draft]], Méndez Núñez ordered his ships to withdraw. The two Spanish ships anchored at [[Puerto Low]] on 27&nbsp;February, at [[Puerto Oscuro]] on 1&nbsp;March, and in the [[Gulf of Arauco]] on 9&nbsp;March 1866. At some point during these operations — sources disagree on whether it was on 6 March<ref name=times18660410>{{cite news |title=SOUTH AMERICA.; High-handed Movements in Bolivia--Miscellaneous. CENTRAL AMERICA. Revolution in Panama--Bogus Canal and Railroad Companies-The Barbacoas Gold Mines-The Mines a Failure-All the Miners Anxious to Return--Over One Hundred already Returned to Panama--Naval Matters. |date=10 April 1866 |work=[[New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F07E4DC1631EF34BC4852DFB266838D679FDE |access-date=2 January 2010 | first=Our | last=Own}}</ref> or on the afternoon of 9&nbsp;March — ''Reina Blanca'' captured the Chilean sidewheel [[paddle steamer]] ''[[Paquete de Maule]]'', which was bound from [[Lota, Chile|Lota]], Chile, to Montevideo carrying naval personnel assigned to join the crews of the Peruvian [[Ironclad warship|ironclad]] [[turret ship]] {{ship||Huáscar|ironclad|2}} and [[broadside ironclad]] {{ship|Peruvian ironclad|Independencia||2}} there;<ref name=garciamartinezp83>García Martínez p. 83.</ref> sources disagree on the number of personnel aboard, claiming both a total of 134 men<ref name=times18660410/><ref name=garciamartinezp83/> and of eight [[Commissioned officer|officers]] and 140 [[Enlisted personnel|enlisted men]]. ''Paquete de Maule'' had been flying the British flag when ''Reina Blanca'' stopped her, and the men aboard her tried to pass themselves off as [[Neutral country|neutral]] British civilians,<ref name=garciamartinezp83/> but a suspicious Spanish officer tricked them by calling out an order to them which they obeyed with military discipline, revealing themselves as naval personnel,<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> and the Spanish arrested them.<ref name=garciamartinezp83/> On 10&nbsp;March, ''Reina Blanca'' captured two Chilean [[barge]]s carrying [[coal]] and [[gunpowder]], both much needed by the Spanish squadron.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> ''Reina Blanca'', ''Numancia'', and their three [[Prize ship|prizes]] departed the Gulf of Arauco on 12&nbsp;March to rejoin the rest of the Pacific Squadron off Valparaíso, ''Numancia'' and ''Paquete de Maule'' doing so on 14&nbsp;March and ''Reina Blanca'' and the two barges arriving on 15&nbsp;March. Chilean authorities offered to exchange Spanish civilians held in Chile for the men captured aboard ''Paquete de Maule'', but Mendez turned the offer down.<ref name=garciamartinezp83/> He hoped to exchange his captives for the Spaniards captured aboard ''Virgen de Covadonga'', but the Chileans refused.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

[[Bolivia]] joined the war against Spain on 22&nbsp;March 1866, closing all the Pacific ports of South America south of [[Colombia]] to Spanish ships. Under orders to take punitive action against South American ports, Méndez Núñez selected undefended Valparaíso as his target.<ref name=scheina>Scheina, page not specified.</ref> On the morning of 31&nbsp;March 1866 his squadron arrived at Valparaíso. Facing no opposition, ''Reina Blanca'', ''Villa de Madrid'', ''Numancia''. the screw frigate ''[[Spanish ironclad Méndez Núñez|Resolución]]'', and the [[screw corvette]] {{ship|Spanish corvette|Vencedora||2}} conducted a three-hour [[bombardment of Valparaíso]] while ''Berenguela'' and ''Paquete de Maule'' stood by offshore to guard against any attempt at escape by Chilean [[merchant ship]]s. The [[Shore bombardment|bombardment]] killed two people, injured 10, and sank 33 merchant ships in the harbor, destroying Chile's [[Merchant marine|merchant fleet]].<ref>''New York Times'' staff, 6 May 1866.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 10, 1866 |title=Bombardment of Valparaiso.; Official Report by Admiral Casto [sic] Memdez [sic] Nunez. {{as written|Cu|rous [sic]}} Statement Regarding the Course of Gen. Kilpatrick and {{as written|Comm|dore [sic]}} Rogers. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1866/05/10/archives/bombardment-of-valparaiso-official-report-by-admiral-casto-memdez.html |access-date=February 7, 2024 |work=New York Times |pages=2}}</ref> It inflicted [[United States dollar|US$]]10 million (equivalent to about US$224 million in 2011) in damage.

Méndez Núñez chose the heavily defended port of [[Callao]], Peru, for his next attack. He divided the squadron into two divisions, the first made up of ''Berenguela'', ''Numancia'', ''Reina Blanca'', ''Vencedora'', and three auxiliary [[Steamship|steamers]] and the second of ''Villa de Madrid'', ''Resolución'', the screw frigate {{ship|Spanish frigate|Almansa||2}}, ''Paquete de Maule'', and three transport [[frigate]]s and, after burning [[prize ship]]s his squadron had captured, set off on 14&nbsp;April&nbsp;1866 for [[San Lorenzo Island (Peru)|San Lorenzo Island]] off Callao, the second division getting underway at 09:00 and the first division at 16:00.<ref name=todoavantecallao>{{Cite web |url=https://todoavante.es/index.php?title=Bombardeo_del_Callao_2/V/1866 |title=Bombardeo del Callao 2/V/1866 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=11 July 2022 |website=todoavante.es |publisher= |access-date=24 December 2024 |language=es}}</ref> The first division made the voyage under steam and arrived at San Lorenzo Island on 25&nbsp;April, while the second division, making the journey [[Sailing|under sail]] and delayed by the low speed of one of the transport frigates, arrived on 27&nbsp;April 1866.<ref name=todoavantecallao/> Several days of negotiations began on 26&nbsp;April, during which Méndez Núñez granted [[Neutral country|neutral countries]] a four-day delay in his attack to give them time to salvage their interests in Callao.<ref name=todoavantecallao/> The Spanish ships used the delay to prepare for the attack: The frigates all lowered their [[topmast]]s and main [[Yard (sailing)|yards]] and altered their [[rigging]] to reduce the likelihood of damage to their [[Mast (ship)|masts]], set up on-board field hospitals, and painted over the white stripes on their hulls with black paint to reduce the ships' visibility and give Peruvian gunners less of an aiming point.<ref name=todoavantecallao/> ''Reina Blanca'' also mounted heavy chains along her hull amidships to provide protection for her [[engine room]].<ref name=todoavantecallao/>

On the morning of 2&nbsp;May 1866 the Spanish ships entered [[Callao Bay]], beginning the [[Battle of Callao]], the largest battle of the Chincha Islands War. ''Vencedora'' and the auxiliary ships stood off near San Lorenzo Island while the other six Spanish ships attacked Callao, with ''Numancia'', ''Almansa'', and ''Resolución'' assigned to bombard the northern part of the harbor while ''Reina Blanca'', ''Berenguela'', and ''Villa de Madrid'' shelled the southern part.<ref name=todoavantecallao/> ''Numancia'' fired the first shot at 11:55,<ref name=todoavantecallao/> and soon all the Spanish ships were exchanging fire with the Peruvian fortifications. Observing what he judged to be poor marksmanship on the part of the Peruvian gunners because of the difficulty they had in depressing their guns sufficiently to fire at ''Reina Blanca'', her commanding officer, Topete, ordered her to close to within {{convert|800|m|yd|sigfig=2}} of the Peruvian fortifications, where the Peruvian [[coastal artillery]] would have even greater difficulty in firing at her while she could return fire with greater accuracy. At 12:10, a [[Shell (projectile)|shell]] the Spanish credited to ''Reina Blanca'' penetrated La Merced, the southern armored [[gun turret]] of Callao's defenses, detonating its gunpowder stores in an explosion that blew it to pieces, killing 93 men, including Peru's [[Ministry of War and Navy (Peru)|Minister of War and Navy]], [[José Gálvez Egúsquiza]].<ref>de Nova y Corson, p. 456.</ref> After suffering hits in her hull, masts, and rigging<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> and with Topete wounded,<ref name=todoavantecallao/> ''Reina Blanca'' ran out of ammunition at 15:00 and withdrew from the firing line.<ref name=todoavantecallao/> By the time the Spanish squadron ceased fire entirely at 16:40, all but three guns of the harbor defenses had been silenced.<ref name=todoavantecallao/> 

Méndez Núñez's squadron spent the next several days at San Lorenzo Island, making repairs and tending to casualties. The Chincha Islands War ended in a ceasefire on 9&nbsp;May 1866, and on 10&nbsp;May 1866, Mendez Núñez's squadron burned and [[Scuttling|scuttled]] ''Paquete de Maule'' near San Lorenzo Island and departed South American waters<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/> to steam west across the Pacific Ocean. Méndez Núñez divided the squadron, sending ''Berenguela'', ''Numancia'', ''Vencedora'', and three auxiliary ships to the [[Philippines]] while he led the rest of the ships on a voyage across the Pacific, [[Indian Ocean|Indian]], and Atlantic Oceans to [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]], with ''Villa de Madrid'' as his flagship.<ref name=scheina/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://todoavante.es/index.php?title=Mendez_Nunez,_Casto2 |title=Mendez Nunez,Casto2 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=26 December 2023 |website=todoavante.es |publisher= |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://todoavante.es/index.php?title=Numancia_(1864) |title=Numancia (1864) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=21 August 2023 |website=todoavante.es |publisher= |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://todoavante.es/index.php?title=Vencedora_(1862) |title=Vencedora (1862) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 April 2022 |website=todoavante.es |publisher= |access-date=20 December 2024 |language=es}}</ref><ref name=msw>{{Cite web |url=https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/01/05/chincha-islands-war/ |title=Chincha Islands War |author=MSW |date=4 January 2019 |website=Weapons and War |publisher= |access-date=17 December 2024}}</ref> The ships rounded [[Cape Horn]] in winter,<ref name=todoavantevillademadrid/> and by the time ''Reina Blanca'' had made port at Rio de Janeiro on the afternoon of 27&nbsp;June 1866, completing a [[circumnavigation]] of the world,<ref name=msw/> 21 members of her crew had died of [[scurvy]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

After arriving at Rio de Janeiro, the squadron began patrols in the South Atlantic while Méndez Núñez took measures to address the needs of his own squadron and indiscipline at the Spanish Navy′s [[Río de la Plata]] station. The arrival of the screw frigates {{ship|Spanish frigate|Concepción||2}} and {{ship|Spanish frigate|Navas de Tolosa||2}} finally allowed Méndez Núñez to release those of his ships in the poorest condition — ''Reina Blanca'', ''Resolución'', and ''Villa de Madrid'' — to return to Spain. ''Reina Blanca'' got underway from Rio de Janeiro on 6&nbsp;September 1866 and reached Spain on 18&nbsp;October 1866, arriving at Ferrol.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> She underwent [[careening]] and repairs there.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

===Later service===

With her repairs complete, ''Reina Blanca'' returned to South America, where she again became part of Méndez Núñez's South American Squadron. Late in 1868, Méndez Núñez relinquished command of the squadron  to ''Contraalmirante'' (Counteradmiral) [[Miguel Lobo Malagando]], who made ''Reina Blanca'' his flagship on 6&nbsp;November 1868.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> On 20&nbsp;November 1868, ''Reina Blanca'' and the Spanish screw frigate {{ship|Spanish frigate|Concepción||2}} departed Rio de Janeiro for a voyage to [[Santa Catalina Island (Colombia)|Santa Catalina Island]] in the [[Caribbean Sea]] off Colombia, which they reached on 28&nbsp;November.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> On the night of {{nowrap|11–12 December}} 1868 they again got underway from Rio de Janeiro and stopped at [[Maldonado, Uruguay|Maldonado]], Uruguay, from {{nowrap|18 to 20 December}} before arriving at Montevideo later on 20&nbsp;December 1868.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> They returned to Rio de Janeiro in early May 1869.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> Uprisings in Uruguay soon led to a [[civil war]], the [[Revolution of the Lances]] of 1870–1872, during which the ships of the Spanish South American squadron protected Spanish citzens, interests, and property in Uruguay. ''Reina Blanca'' returned to Spain in 1872 and underwent modifications to her armament, leaving her with twenty {{convert|200|mm|1|adj=on}} guns in her battery, one {{convert|200|mm|1|adj=on}} gun in her [[Bow (ship)|bow]], and four {{convert|160|mm|1|adj=on}} [[Rifling|rifled]] guns on her [[quarterdeck]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

In March 1874 ''Reina Blanca'' was assigned to the ''Fuerzes Navales del Norte'' (Northern Naval Forces), with which she fought along Spain's northern coast against [[Carlism|Carlist]] forces in the [[Third Carlist War]] until June 1874,<ref>Pardo San Gi, p. 444.</ref> conducting bombardments of [[Santurtzi|Santurce]], [[Algorta]], and Carlist positions in [[San Pedro Abanto]] on 25&nbsp;March; Santurce, [[Portugalete]], [[Las Arenas]], and Carlist forces in the surroundings of [[Ciérvana]] on 26&nbsp;March; Santurce, Portugalete, and Las Arenas on 27&nbsp;March; and Ciérvana on 28&nbsp;March.<ref>Pardo San Gi, p. 446.</ref> She also helped to lift a two-month siege of [[Bilbao]]<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> that lasted from April to June 1874.

''Reina Blanca'' became a [[training ship]] later in 1874.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armada.mde.es/ArmadaPortal/page/Portal/armadaEspannola/buques_superficie/prefLang_es/15_Buque_escuela--01_El_cano_es |work=Armada Española|title=Buque Escuela Juan Sebastián de Elcano |language=es}}</ref> On 29&nbsp;October 1875 she embarked on a [[midshipman]] training cruise that included visits to Ferrol, [[Vigo]], and [[Cádiz]] in Spain, [[Las Palmas]] on [[Gran Canaria]] in the [[Canary Islands]], and several ports in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> While anchored at [[Santander, Spain|Santander]] in July 1876, she was [[dressed overall]] to welcome the deposed [[Queen regnant|Queen Regnant]] [[Isabella II]], who returned to Spain after almost eight years in exile in [[France]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

In 1877, ''Reina Blanca'' was assigned to the Training Squadron.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> On 25&nbsp;September 1877, [[Monarchy of Spain|King]] [[Alfonso XII of Spain]] began a series of voyages aboard ''Numancia'', escorted by ''Reina Blanca'', the [[armored frigate]] {{ship|Spanish ironclad|Vitoria||2}}, and the [[screw corvette]] {{ship|Spanish corvette|Africa||2}}. During these voyages, the ships visited [[Alicante]], [[Valencia]], [[Tarragona]], [[Barcelona]], [[Rosas]],{{disambiguation needed|date=December 2024}} [[Mahón]], [[Palma de Mallorca]], [[Santa Pola]], [[Almería]], and [[Málaga]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

A new Training Squadron formed on 10&nbsp;November 1878, and ''Reina Blanca'' was assigned to it.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> The squadron disbanded on 8&nbsp;May 1879.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> In October 1879, ''Reina Blanca'', ''Villa de Madrid'', the screw corvette {{ship|Spanish corvette|Tornado||2}}, and the paddle steamer ''Isabella de Católica'' escorted ''Numancia'' as ''Numancia'' transported Alfonso XII and Queen [[Maria Christina of Austria|Maria Christina]] from [[Cartagena, Spain|Cartagena]] to Cádiz.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

''Reina Blanca''′s armament was altered again in 1884, becoming two [[Armstrong Whitworth|Armstrong]] and two [[Krupp]] {{convert|120|mm|1|adj=on}} guns in her battery, two {{convert|90|mm|1|adj=on}} and two {{convert|70|mm|1|adj=on}} [[José González Hontoria|Hontoria]] guns on her quarterdeck, and a [[machine gun]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> In 1886 she was chosen for a midshipman cruise to [[Northern Europe]], and underwent alterations at the [[Cartagena Naval Base|Arsenal de Cartagena]] in which her [[Poop deck|poop cabin]] was modified to provide accommodation for the midshipmen, the yards were removed from her [[mizzen]], leaving her rigged as a [[brig]], and [[electric lighting]] was installed, among other things.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> Her crew was reduced to eight officers, between 290 and 330 enlisted men, and 30 to 40 midshipmen.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> She began the cruise on 21&nbsp;June 1886, called at [[Plymouth]], [[England]], and visited [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]] before suffering a major mechanical breakdown and putting in at [[Portsmouth]], England.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> She visited [[Cherbourg]] and [[Brest, France|Brest]] in France before returning to Spain, arriving at Ferrol on 27&nbsp;August 1886 and then moving on to Cartagena.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

In January 1887, ''Reina Blanca'' transported the Spanish [[minister plenipotentiary]], Jose Diosdado y Castillo, to [[Tangier]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> At the beginning of February 1887, she called at Barcelona and then proceeded to [[Toulon]], France, with Spanish [[Ministry of the Navy (Spain)|Minister of the Navy]] [[Rafael Rodríguez de Arias Villavicencio]] on board to attend the launching of the new Spanish Navy [[battleship]] {{ship|Spanish battleship|Pelayo||2}}<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> on 5&nbsp;February 1887. After several voyages along the coast of France, she arrived in the [[Balearic Islands]]. She then got underway from [[Alcúdia]] for a voyage to [[Algiers]].<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> In August 1887 she transported a Spanish delegation from Tangier to [[Rabat]], [[Morocco]], where [[Sultan]] [[Hassan I of Morocco|Hassan I]] was in residence.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> On 20&nbsp;May 1888 she was among the Spanish Navy ships at Barcelona for the opening of the [[1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition]], serving as flagship of [[Carlos Valcarcel Ussel de Guimbarda]], the [[Captain general of the Navy|Captain General]] of the Maritime Department of Cartagena.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/><ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1929/05/17/pagina-7/33220070/pdf.html|magazine=La Vanguardia|date=17 May 1929|access-date=19 June 2014|title=Las escuadras en la Exposición de 1888 |language=es}}</ref>

==Decommissioning and disposal==

''Reina Blanca'' subsequently was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] and [[Hulk (ship)|hulked]] as a [[Floating dock (jetty)|pontoon]] at Cartagena.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/> She was [[Ship breaking|scrapped]] in 1893.<ref name=todoavanteblanca/>

==Commemoration==

The masts of the Spanish Navy training ship {{ship|Spanish training ship|Juan Sebastián de Elcano||2}}, a [[barquentine]] that entered service in 1928, are named for previous Spanish Navy training ships. Her [[foremast]] is named "Blanca" to commemorate ''Reina Blanca''.

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}
===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M4m9vIkVTLkC&dq=Fragata+Reina+blanca&pg=PA260|title=Diario de un testigo de la guerra de África|first=Pedro Antonio|last=de Alarcón|authorlink=Pedro Antonio de Alarcón|location=[[Madrid]]|year=1859|publisher=Gaspar y Roig editores |lang=es}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_lnUAAAAMAAJ&dq=Fragata+blanca&pg=PA152|title=Jornadas de gloria: o, Los Españoles en África|first=Víctor|last=Balaguer|location=Madrid|year=1860 |language=es}}
* [[Hubert Howe Bancroft|Bancroft, Hubert Howe]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=YGplAAAAMAAJ&q=%22The+appointment+of+Juarez+%22 ''History of Mexico: Being a Popular History of the Mexican People from the Earliest Primitive Civilization to the Present Time''] The Bancroft Company, New York, 1914, pp.&nbsp;466–506
* {{cite book|url=|title=La construcción naval en Ferrol, 1726-2011|first=José María|last=Blanco Núñez|publisher=Navantia S.A.|year=2011 |language=es}}
* {{cite book|url=|title=Crónica de la Marina española en el siglo XIX, 1868-1898|first=Fernando de|last=Bordejé y Morencos|publisher=Ministry of Defense (Spain)|location=Madrid|year=1995 |language=es}}
* {{cite book | last = de Novo y Colson | first = Pedro | title = Historía de la guerra de España en el Pacífico | publisher = Impr. de Fortanet | year = 1882 | url = https://archive.org/details/historiadelague00colsgoog | language = es }}
* {{Cite book |last=Farcau |first=Bruce W. |title=The Ten Cents War: Chile, Peru, and Bolivia in the War of the Pacific, 1879 - 1884 |date=2000 |publisher=Praeger |isbn=978-0-275-96925-7 |edition=1. publ |location=Westport, Connecticut; London}}
* {{cite book | last = González-Llanos Galvache | first =Santiago | title =La construcción naval en Ferrol durante el siglo XIX, Cuaderno monográfico nº 29 | publisher = nstituto de Historia y Cultura Naval | location=Madrid |year =1996 |language=es }}
* {{cite book|title=Impresiones del viaje de circunnavegación en la fragata blindada Numancia|first=Eduardo|last=Iriondo|location=Madrid|year=1867|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bq0YAQAAMAAJ |language=es}}
* {{cite book | last = Lledó Calabuig | first = José |title = Buques de vapor de la armada española, del vapor de ruedas a la fragata acorazada, 1834-1885 | year = 1998 | publisher = Agualarga Editores| pages = 96–98 | language=es |isbn = 8495088754}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2cjqwNlQHqAC&dq=Fragata+blanca&pg=PA140|title=Boletín oficial del Ministerio de Fomento|volume=8|author=Ministerio de Fomento|location=Madrid|year=1853|publisher=Imprenta del Ministerio de Fomento |language=es}}
* {{cite book | last = Montero y Ariostegui | first = José |title = Historia y Descripción de la Ciudad y Departamento naval del Ferrol | year = 1867 | location =Madrid | language=es}}
*{{cite news |author=''New York Times'' staff |title=South America: From the Seat of War{{snd}}Great Preparations and "Great Expectations"{{snd}}The Grand Movement of the Allied Fleet Again Delayed – Paraguayan Spies and their Stories{{snd}}The War Beginning to Affect the Finances of the Argentine Confederation. The Bombardment of Valparaiso: Letter from an Americal Naval Officer. |date=6 May 1866 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1866/05/05/archives/south-america-from-the-seat-of-wargreat-preparations-and-great.html |access-date=2 January 2010 |ref={{sfnRef|''New York Times'' staff|May 6, 1866}} }}
* {{cite magazine|url=http://um.gipuzkoakultura.net/itsasmemoria5/pardosangil.pdf|title=Las operaciones navales en las Guerras Carlistas|first=Juan|last=Pardo San Gil|magazine=Revista de Estudios Marítimos del País Vasco|publisher=Museo Naval de San Sebastián|pages=433–466|year=2006|location=[[San Sebastián]], Spain|access-date=8 October 2010|archive-date=31 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531201551/http://um.gipuzkoakultura.net/itsasmemoria5/pardosangil.pdf|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite magazine|url=|title=El almirante Juan Bautista Antequera y Bobadilla y su vinculación con la región murciana|first=Álvaro de la|last=Piñera y Rivas|magazine=Revista Murgetana|number=82|year=1990|language=es}}
* {{cite book | last = Rodríguez González | first = Agustín Ramón | title = La Armada Española, la campaña del Pacífico, 1862-1871: España frente a Chile y Perú | publisher = Agualarga Editores | year = 1999 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=weZ9AAAAMAAJ | language = es | isbn = 978-84-95088-90-1 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Rodríguez González | first1 = Agustín Ramón | last2 = Coello Lillo | first2 = José Luis | title = La fragata en la Armada española. 500 años de historia | publisher = IZAR. Construcciones Navales, S.A. | year = 2003 | language = es }}
* {{cite magazine | last =Ruiz Fernández de Cañete | first = Pilar | title = Don Miguel Lobo Malagamba en la escuadra del Pacífico, 1868-1871 | magazine = Revista de Historia Naval | number= 41 | year = 1993 | language = es }}
* {{Cite book |last=Scheina |first=Robert |title=Latin America's Wars: The Age of the Caudillo, 1791–1899 |publisher=Brassey's |year=2003 |isbn=9781597974776}}
* {{Cite book|last=de las Torres|first=Martín |title=El Archiduque Maximiliano de Austria en Méjico|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IdtYAAAAMAAJ&dq=fragata+de+helice+concepci%C3%B3n&pg=PA13|page=14|year=1867 |language=es}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eShXAAAAMAAJ&dq=Fragata+blanca&pg=PA931|title=Españoles y marroquíes: Historia de la guerra de África|volume= 1 and 2|first=Evaristo|last=Ventosa|location=[[Barcelona]]|year=1859 |language=es}}
* {{Cite book |author=VV.AA |title=El Buque en la Armada española |publisher=Editorial Sílex |location=Madrid |year=1999 |language=es}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Blanca (ship, 1859)}}
* [https://todoavante.es/index.php?title=Blanca_(1859) Todoavante ''Blanca'' (1859)] (in Spanish)

{{Petronila class frigate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reina Blanca}}
[[Category:Frigates of the Spanish Navy]]
[[Category:1859 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Spain]]
[[Category:Chincha Islands War ships]]
[[Category:Sail training ships]]
[[Category:Training ships of the Spanish Navy]]