El Plata-class monitor

The El Plata class consisted of a pair of monitors built in Britain in the 1870s for the Argentine Navy. They served as coastal defence ships.^[1]

Watercolor of El Plata
Class overview
Name	El Plata class
Builders	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall, London
Operators	Argentine Navy
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Built	1874–1876
In service	1875–1927
Completed	2
Scrapped	2
General characteristics (as built)
Type	Monitor
Displacement	1,535–1,677 long tons (1,560–1,704 t)
Length	180 ft (54.9 m) (p/p)
Beam	44 ft (13.4 m)
Draft	9 ft 1 in (2.8 m)
Installed power	750 ihp (560 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 compound steam engines
Speed	9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Range	1,400 nmi (2,600 km; 1,600 mi)
Complement	120
Armament	2 × 9 in (229 mm) muzzle-loading rifles 2 × small guns
Armor	Belt: 4.5–6 in (114–152 mm) Deck: 1 in (25 mm) Gun turret: 8–10 in (203–254 mm)

Description

The El Plata-class monitors were 186 feet (56.7 m) long overall, with a beam of 44 feet (13.4 m) and a draft of 9.5–10.5 feet (2.9–3.2 m). They displaced 1,535–1,677 long tons (1,560–1,704 t), and their crew numbered 120 officers and enlisted men.^[2]

The ships had two compound steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft, rated at a total power of 750 indicated horsepower (560 kW). This gave them a maximum speed of 9–9.5 knots (16.7–17.6 km/h; 10.4–10.9 mph). They carried 120 long tons (122 t) of coal which gave them a range of approximately 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km; 1,600 mi).^[2]

Ships in class

• ARA El Plata
• ARA Los Andes

See also

• List of ships of the Argentine Navy
• List of ironclads