The Real Astillero de Esteiro (''in English: Esteiro Royal Dockyards'') was a royal shipyard in Ferrol in Spain. Orders for its construction were issued by

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on 9 April 1749, following the decision by the naval minister Zenón de Somodevilla, 1st Marqués de la Ensenada, to build new naval fortifications and installations in Ferrol and its surrounding area. Initial construction was managed by Cosme Álvarez, Comandante General of the Department. It was sited on the northwest slope of the monte Esteiro near Ferrol. It was initially planned to have four levels, but by the end this rose to twelve, proportional to the mountain's slope. Barracks, workshops and warehouses were also built.

Ships built at Esteiro

'Apostles'

At its height, through an order by the Marquis de la Ensenada dated 15 July 1752, the shipyard simultaneously built twelve 68-gun ships of the line simultaneously, popularly known as the "Twelve Apostles" or "Apostolate" class. The survivors of this group were each subsequently raised to 74 guns. This project greatly increased the arsenal's industrial activity, boosting the local civilian economy and increasing the town's population by drawing in the skilled workers needed. The twelve ships (with their years of launching) were: *'' Oriente'', also known as ''San Diego de Alcalá'' (launched 1753), *'' Éolo'' or ''San Juan de Dios'' (1753), *'' Neptuno'' or ''San Justo'' (1754), *'' Magnánimo'' or ''San Justo y San Pastor'' (1754), *'' Aquilón'' or ''San Dámaso'' (1754), *'' Gallardo'' or ''San Juan de Sahagún'' (1754), *'' Brillante'' or ''San Dionisio'' (1754), *'' Vencedor'' or ''San Julián'' (1755), *'' Glorioso'' or ''San Francisco Javier'' (1755), *''

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'' or ''San Raimundo'' (1755), *''

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'' or ''San Bernardo'' (1755), *'' Soberano'' or ''San Gregorio'' (1755).

Other warships with number of guns (and year when launched)

*''San Fernando'' - 64 guns (1751) *''Castilla'' - 64 (1751) *''Asia'' - 62 (1752) *''Galga'' - frigate of 30 guns (1752) *''San Miguel'' - snow of 14 guns (1752) *''Triunfante'' - 68 (1756) *''Dichoso'' - 68 (1756) *''Monarca'' - 68 (1756) *''Diligente'' - 68 (1756) *''San Fernando'' - snow of 14 guns (1757) *''Campeon'' - 60 (1758) *''San Isidro'' - 74 (1768) *''San Julian'' - 74 (1768) * ''Santa Ana'' - 112 (1784) * ''Salvador del Mundo'' - 112 (1787) * ''Europa'' - 74 (1789) * ''Reina María Luisa'' - 112 (1791) * ''Monarca'' - 74 (1791) * ''Duque de Tetuán'' - floating battery (1875) *''Eulalia'' - gunboat (1882) * ''Concha'' - gunboat (1883)

Bibliography

''Un Episodio de Ferrol de la Ilustración. de Juan J. Burgoa''

External links

List of ships built at the Reales Astilleros de Esteiro
{{coord missing, Spain Spanish Navy category:18th-century architecture category:1749 in Spain History of Galicia (Spain) Ferrol, Spain Shipyards of Spain