Technical characteristics Spanish battleship Pelayo

right elevation , deck plan depicted in brassey s naval annual 1896

ordered in november 1884, pelayo built @ la seyne in france. keel laid in april 1885, , launched on 5 february 1887 , completed in summer of 1888. intended first of new class of battleships, crisis german empire in caroline islands in 1890 led cancellation of these plans , diversion of funds construction of infanta maria teresa-class armored cruisers. pelayo viewed slow , having little coal endurance colonial service, , ended being member of class.

the design of pelayo based on of french battleship marceau, modified give draft 3 feet (0.91 m) shallower transit suez canal @ full load displacement. equipped sails, had them deleted after completion. had 2 funnels. 16-centimetre (6.30 in) gun bow chaser. armor belt 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m) wide amidships , extended 2 feet (0.61 m) above , 5 feet (1.5 m) below waterline. internally, had french-style cellular construction 13 watertight bulkheads , double bottom.

she barbette ship, ancestor of modern battleship main battery mounted in open barbettes on armored rotating platforms, in contrast heavy self-contained turrets more common period , progress of design of modern battleships abandon.

her main guns loaded in position, , consisted of 2 gonzalez hontoria-built 32-centimetre (12.6 in) guns mounted fore , aft on centerline , 2 gonzalez hontoria 28-centimetre (11.0 in) guns, in barbettes, 1 mounted on either beam

pelayo reconstructed @ la seyne in 1897–98, receiving armor midships battery , having 16-and-12-centimetre (6.30 , 4.72 in) guns replaced 14-centimetre (5.51 in) pieces, 1 mounted bow chaser , rest on broadside. however, installation of these new guns disrupted , delayed when rushed service after spanish–american war began.

during major refit in 1910, torpedo tubes removed.