List of decommissioned ships of the Colombian Navy

The tables below present a view of the decommissioned ships of the Colombian Navy.

The Colombian Navy was first formed in 1810 during the war of independence, exiled during the Spanish reconquest in 1815 and returned in 1819 during the successful rebellion of Simon Bolivar. Many major units were lost in 1830 on the separation of Venezuela and Ecuador, including her frigates and corvettes. In 1843 the navy was ordered to be suppressed, what ships remained came under the command of the army until 1860-67 when a formal navy returned during and after the 1860-62 Colombian Civil War. In 1867 the navy was decreed to be sold again,Diario Oficial, Año III. N. 947. 11, Junio 1867. Bogota, Estados Unidos de Colombia (1867) standing naval forces consisting only of the coastguard and steamers for interior work, with armies of both sides expropriating or seizing ships during the numerous civil wars of 1860, 1876, 1885, and 1895. The few ships that were bought were quickly sold after conflict had ended and contract steamers were operated for short periods sometimes by individual states. The navy was reformed around the cruiser Cordoba acquired in 1896 and had a major role in the 1899-1902 civil war.Esquivel, Ricardo (2011, Julio-Diciembre). Política y flota naval en Colombia, 1880-1918. Boletín de Historia y Antigüedades, 98 (853), pp. 347-371. With the last of the cruisers sold in 1916Diario Oficial, Año LLI. N. 15,977. 23, Diciembre 1916. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1916) the navy reverted to a coastguard and river service until it saw a rapid expansion for the 1932-33 Peru-Colombia War.

Cruisers

These vessels were all rated as crucero in Colombian government records, but with the exception of Cartagena are often given as gunboats in European records. TypeNameConstructionYear built Commission Retirement NotesScrew Cruiser General José Maria Córdoba Osbourne Graham, Sunderland 1871 18961903ex-Neptuno. British-built iron steamer rebuilt as cruiser at New Jersey in 1895-96, with shielded guns, searchlights and fighting top.General Information Series: Information from Abroad, Issue 15, U.S. Government Printing Office (18960, p25 Sold, 1 May 1903Diario Oficial, Año XXXIXL. N. 11,882. 3, Agosto 1903. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1903)Cruiser General Próspero Pinzon Ward, Stanton & Co., New York 1882 19011916ex-Namouna. Formerly James Gordon Bennett Jr.'s iron steam yacht. Fitted out as cruiser in New York in 1901. Sold, 14 November 1916Diario Oficial, Año LLI. N. 15,977. 23, Diciembre, 1916. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1916)Cruiser Presidente Marroquin (ex-Bolívar) John Elder & Co, Govan 1870 19011916ex-Ban Righ. Bought and lent to Venezuelan rebels as Libertador. Fitted with guns and protection to engine, steering and bridge. Returned September 1902. Later served as training ship. Sold, 14 November 1916Diario Oficial, Año LLI. N. 15,977. 23, Diciembre, 1916. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1916)Torpedo Cruiser Cartagena (ex-Almirante Lezo) Orlando, Livorno, Italy 1894 19021916ex-Moroccan El Bashir et Telam Bekanefekel-Zalam, delivered July 1902. Refitted in Havana, 1912. Sold, 14 November 1916Diario Oficial, Año LLI. N. 15,977. 23, Diciembre, 1916. Bogota, Republica de Colombia (1916)Cruiser Bogotá James Brunner & Co., Hull 1884 19021914ex-yacht Cutch, ex-Jessie Banning. Purchased 2 August 1902, and fitted as cruiser at Risdon Works, San Francisco. Later served as transport, sold 1914.La crisis de Panama : Cartas de Tomas Herran, Tomas Herran & Thomas J. Dodd, Banco de la Republica (1985), p217Cruiser 21 de Noviembre (ex-Almirante Padilla) Charles J. Bigger, Foyle, Londonderry 188819021903ex-Ivy. Cargo coaster purchased by rebels by September 1901, and heavily armed as the Almirante Padilla. Surrendered, October 1902. To Panama, 6 November 1903Carlos Humberto Cuestas Gomez, Panama y Costa Rica, entre la Diplomacia y la guerra, Litho Editorial Chen (1999), p127

Gunboats

TypeNameConstructionYear built Commission Retirement NotesPaddle Iron war steamer Cuaspud J. & G. Rennie, Greenwich, England 186418661867ex-Witch iron paddle-steamer built 1864 by Rennie,Liverpool Daily Post, Saturday 24 February 1866, p4 and bought June 1866.M. Rivas, Constitución i leyes de los Estados Unidos de Colombia: espedidas en los años de 1863 a 1875, Volume 1, Colombia (1875), p351 Foundered off Trinidad & Tobago, 23 September 1867 Steel river gunboat Hércules United States 1884 18841928Built as government tug and dredger. Converted to gunboat and armed 1895, then armoured in 1898. Served until exploded at Sitionuevo, 16 June 1928 Steel river gunboat General Nariño Hugh Ramsay, Perth Amboy, New Jersey 1896 18961898Built in sections, shipped and rebuilt at Barranquilla. Not a success and dismantled 1898J.J. Pérez, Informe del Ministro de Guerra de Colombia al Congreso Constitucional de 1898, Ministerio de Guerra, Colombia (1898), pp20-21Steel river gunboat Esperanza Hugh Ramsay, Perth Amboy, New Jersey 1897 18971897Sister of General Nariño,Adrian J. English, Armed Forces of Latin America: Their Histories, Development, Present Strength, and Military Potential, Jane's (1984), p176 but not recorded in any Colombian source, may never have been deliveredSteel river gunboat Presidente Mosquera (ex-Colombia) - 191219121957Became school for mechanics and boys by 1955, sunk at moorings 28 November 1957 Screw Iron war steamer Colombia C. & W. Earle, Hull, England 186518661868ex-Sirius, bought January 1866. Also given as "corvette".The Louisiana Democrat Newspaper, 11 December 1867 Sold as Scandinavian to Anchor Line on 12 December 1868 Iron war steamer Bolívar Palmers, Jarrow, England 186618661872Launched 14 July 1866. Sold to S. McNider, 2 July 1872 Wooden war steamer Rayo Samuel Sneeden, New York 186018661867ex- R. R. Cuyler. Bought December 1866. Wrecked at Cartagena, 12 September 1867 Iron gunboat Vijilante Yarrow & Hedleys, Isle of Dogs, London 187418741878Coast guard steamer, launched June 1874. Diario Oficial, Año X. N. 3072. 28, Enero 1874. Bogota, Estados Unidos de Colombia (1874) Taken by rebels July 1875. Discarded after 1878Iron gunboat Boyacá (ex-Colombia) Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware 188318831903Coast guard gunboat. Captured by rebels 13 July 1902, lost at Port Bethsabe, 16 Feb 1903The San Francisco Call, California, February 23, 1903Iron gunboat La Popa Pusey & Jones, Wilmington, Delaware 1887 18871901Coast guard gunboat. Launched 5 October 1887. Lost 21 August 1901 off SabanillaThe Wilmington Messenger, Delaware, August 23, 1901Gunboat Cauca (ex-Carlos Albán, ex-General Ricardo Gaitán Obeso)- - 19001903Bought by rebels March 1900. Captured by government 4 December 1900 but recaptured. To Panama 6 November 1903Carlos Humberto Cuestas Gomez Panama y Costa Rica, entre la diplomacia y la guerra, Litho Editorial Chen (1999), p127Gunboat Panama (ex-Darién) - - 19011903Bought 17 June 1901. Seized by rebels 4 November 1901, returned 21 November 1902. To Panama 6 November 1903Carlos Humberto Cuestas Gomez, Panama y Costa Rica, entre la diplomacia y la guerra, Litho Editorial Chen (1999), p127Steel gunboat Chucuito Wigham Richardson & Co., Newcastle 1896 19021903Ex-Chiriqui, purchased 16 January 1902. To Panama 6 November 1903,Carlos Humberto Cuestas Gomez, Panama y Costa Rica, entre la diplomacia y la guerra, Litho Editorial Chen (1999), p127 and sold 3 November 1904Patrol gunboat Carabobo C. A. de St. Nazaire-Penhoet, Rouen 1925 19251950Coastguard and later river patrol vessel, launched, 8 August 1925. Discarded, 1950 Patrol gunboat Junín (ex-Boyacá) C. A. de St. Nazaire-Penhoet, Rouen 1925 19251950Coastguard and later patrol vessel, launched 8 July 1925. Discarded, 1950 Patrol gunboat Pichincha C. A. de St. Nazaire-Penhoet, Rouen 1925 19251950Coastguard and later river patrol vessel, launched 5 September 1925. Discarded, 1950 River gunboat Cartagena Yarrow, Scotstoun, Glasgow 1930 19311985Launched 26 March 1930, stricken 1985 River gunboat Santa Marta Yarrow, Scotstoun, Glasgow 1930 19311963Launched 16 April 1930, stricken 1963 River gunboat Barranquilla Yarrow, Scotstoun, Glasgow 1930 19311969Launched 10 May 1930, stricken 1969 Patrol gunboat Bogotá Tecklenborg, Geestemunde, Germany 1919 19321936Former German minesweeper, ex-Tonsberg I, ex-Helgoland, ex-M140. Ran aground and sunk off Isla de Manzanillo, 1936 Patrol gunboat Córdoba Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany 1920 19321937Former German minesweeper, ex-Dixmude, ex-Dinard, ex-Grille, ex-M140. Sunk in gunnery exercises, 11 June 1937 Patrol gunboat Mariscal Sucre Yarrow & Co. Ltd., Glasgow 1909 19331961Former yacht, ex-Flying Fox, ex-Winchester. Naval school 6 December 1948, stricken 1955 and scrapped 1961

Armed & Government Steamers