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Raymond Rogers’ Memorandum On The Chilean Navy

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Books & Manuscripts Start Price:275.00 USD Estimated At:450.00 - 500.00 USD
Raymond Rogers’ Memorandum On The Chilean Navy
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RAYMOND P. RODGERS (1849-1925) U.S. Naval officer who served as the Head of the Office of Naval Intelligence. Autograph “Memorandum on the Chilean Navy” Signed, “R.P. Rodgers.” Seven pages, 7 3/4” x 9 3/4”. Accompanied by a one page 15 3/4” x9 3/4 ledger of armored and unarmored ships of Chile. Rodgers writes, in part: “ … The Navy of Chile is under the control of a Cabinet Officer … It is composed of two armored central battery ships, four steam corvettes, one steam gun-vessel, and one transport and surveying vessel. The Almivante Cochrane and the Blanco Eucalada, the two armored vessels, were built in England by John Peen & Sons about five years ago. They are broadsided vessels with central batteries. Their guns, of which there are six 12 1/2 ton … so placed to fire around the entire horizon. They are barque rigged, carry a considerable spread of canvas … These ships are built of iron, with double bottoms …. Their batteries are protected on the sides by 7 inches of armor … Their guns are placed in the battery so that two may be fired directly ahead, or so that three may be fired simultaneously on either beam … The guns as before mentioned are 12 1/2 M.dR. Armstrongs, mounted on the Scott carriage, and can be fired by electricity. In addition to their gun power these vessels are built for ramming … Their motor power consists of two pair of two-cylinder … trunk engines … each pair of which drives one of the two screw on the steam trial in England a speed of 12.82 knots … The two ships are identically the same, excepting that the Blanco Euculada is sheathed with zinc … The zinc plates have become so much wasted that it is said she will go to San Francisco to be docked … The General Higgins and Chacabuco, sister ships, were built in England about 12 years ago … Their maximum speed on trial in England was 13 knots, but their boilers are now in such a bad condition that the can make but 8 knots … The Esmeralda is an old vessel, built of wood, and has but little speed … The Covadanga, a small gun-vessel, was captured from the Spaniards in 66, and is now undergoing repairs … There is at present no Naval School. The Cadets are instructed at the Military School in Santiago, and after passing their examination are sent on board ship to learn the practical portion of their profession … The information herein collected was obtained from observations and conversation on board the Chilean men of war, they data given in the table, was gathered from the Office of Mayor-General in Valparaiso or on board the different vessels … ” The accompanying 15 3/4” x9 3/4 table, accomplished in Rodger’s hand, provides the following information for each Chilean vessel: “Name of Ship,” “Class,” “Material,” “Draught, Forward and Aft,” “Length between perpendiculars,’ “breadth of beam,” “Total displacement, tons,” “ Number & Kind of Guns,” “ Height of Battery above Water,” “Thickness of Armor at water-line,” “Builders,” “Indicated Horse Power,” “ Max Speed, knots per hour,” “Total cost of ship” and “Remarks.” Verso of this table contains a count of Chilean Naval personnel divided by rank. A great piece of naval history and intelligence gathering during the period between Chile's war with Spain and the Pacific War between Chile and Peru. Extremely Fine.