ARC Caldas (1933)

Caldas in the 1940s
History
Colombia
Name	Caldas
Namesake	Caldas Department
Builder	Lisbon Dockyard
Launched	10 November 1933
Acquired	1933
Commissioned	16 May 1934
Decommissioned	25 October 1960
Refit	1954
Fate	Scrapped, 1961
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	Antioquia-class destroyer
Displacement	1,219 long tons (1,239 t) (standard) 1,563 long tons (1,588 t) (full load)
Length	323 ft (98.5 m)
Beam	31 ft (9.4 m)
Draught	11 ft (3.4 m)
Installed power	3 × Yarrow boilers 33,000 shp (25,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × geared steam turbines
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	5,400 nmi (10,000 km; 6,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	147
Armament	4 × single 4.7 in (120 mm) guns 3 × single 2 pdr (40 mm (1.6 in)) AA guns 2 × quadruple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 2 × depth charge throwers; 12 depth charges 20 × mines

ARC Caldas was one of two Antioquia-class destroyers built for the Colombian Navy during the 1930s. Originally ordered for the Portuguese Navy, the two ships were purchased by Colombia while still under construction. She was discarded in 1960 and subsequently scrapped.

Design and description

The Antioquia-class ships were designed by the British shipbuilder Yarrow and were based on Ambuscade, a prototype destroyer built for the Royal Navy in 1926 by Yarrow. They were 323 feet (98.45 m) long overall and 307 feet (93.57 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 31 feet (9.45 m) and a draught of 11 feet (3.35 m). The ship displaced 1,219 long tons (1,239 t) at standard load and 1,563 long tons (1,588 t) at full load.

The Antioquias were powered by two Parsons-Curtis geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by three Yarrow boilers. The turbines, rated at 33,000 shaft horsepower (25,000 kW), were intended to give a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). The destroyers carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 5,400 nautical miles (10,000 km; 6,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

Armament was similar to contemporary Royal Navy destroyers, with a gun armament of four 4.7 in (120 mm) Vickers-Armstrong Mk G guns, and three 2-pounder (40 mm (1.6 in)) Mk VIII anti-aircraft guns. Two quadruple banks of 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes were carried, while two depth charge throwers and 12 depth charges constituted the ships' anti-submarine armament. Up to 20 mines could be carried. The ships' complement consisted of 147 officers and men.

Sources

• Griffith, Frank G. (1988). "Cover Photo and Miscellaneous comments". Warship International. XXV (2): 116. ISSN 0043-0374.
• Roberts, John (1980). "Portugal". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 396–398. ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.