BASE NAVAL MAHÓN Visit of the Asociación Menorca Britannia Saturday 19 Nov. 2011
INDEX 1. THE NAVAL ARSENAL OF THE BRITISH TO THE SPANISH. XVIII and XIX CENTURIES 1.1. MARITIME TRADE 1.2. THE BRITISH COLONISATION 1.3. THE SPANISH ARSENAL. 1.4. TORPEDO SQUADRON. 2. THE SPANISH NAVAL BASE. XX & XXI CENTURIES 2.1.THE NAVAL BASE. XX CENTURY 2.2. NAVAL COMMAND MAHON. XXI CENTURY
1. FROM THE BRITISH ARSENAL TO THE SPANISH ARSENAL. XVII TO XIX CENTURIES 1.1. MARITIME TRADE. In 1621 the British first used the port of Mahon as a stopover on their trade routes in the Mediterranean Admiral Mansell arranged the port as a base for his navy & marines, to defend the maritime trade from the Barbary pirates. In 1669 the British established the first British Arsenal on the south side of the harbour. Under the cliffs of Mahón.
1.2. THE BRITISH PERIODS OF COLONISATION In 1708 General Stanhope takes the Castle of San Felipe and the island of Menorca during the War of Spanish Succession for the Archduke Charles of Austria. In 1709 Admiral George Byng created the Royal Naval base on the south side of the harbour. In 1713, by the Treaty of Utrecht, Menorca is ratified as a British sovereign colony. The start of the first of the British periods. In 1715 Admiral Baker, (under Governor Richard Kane) commences the building of extensive docks on the north side and moves the stores, masts, sail making, blacksmithing, etc. etc.
In 1756 Menorca was invaded by France. The Naval Base is left virtually abandoned In 1763 the Treaty of Paris dictates France return the island of Minorca to the British,. So commences the second period of British colonial rule. In 1765 the British purchased Saffron Island and, to expand the Naval Base, commenced the construction of a series of buildings. (now Pinto Island). When completed the remainder of services where moved from the south to the north shore. I.
1.3.The Spanish Naval Base. In 1782 the Duque de Crillón conquers Menorca from the British. General Barceló enlarges the naval base having purchased the land LA VIÑETA. The last third of the century sees the reactivation of the work of the Naval Base. In the last decade of the century six frigates of 34 guns and three galleys were constructed here.
In 1798 General Stuart conquers Menorca back for the British during the wars against Napoleon as a strategic base and so begins the third and final period of British rule. 1802 Britain hands Menorca back to the Spanish at the Treaty of Paris. Between 1825 and 1828, two brigs are built for the Spanish Armada, the Manzanares and Guadalete of 22 guns each. Between 1825 and 1828, two Brigs were constructed at the Naval base for the Spanish Armada, the Manzanares and Guadalete of 22 guns each.
THE NAVAL BASE IN THE IXX CENTURY The American and Dutch fleets were in the Port of Mahón at this time to help fight piracy. Between 1846 and 1848 The first Spanish steam ships were built at the Naval Base, the New Balearic and the El Cid.
1.4. THE TORPEDO SQUADRON During the last third of the XIX century the Torpedo Squadron was formed. Also created is a maritime defense that closes the entrance to the harbour. On the Isla Pinto new buildings, magazines, and a docking station for torpedo boats are constructed, Pollux y Castor.
2.THE SPANISH NAVAL BASE. XX & XXI CENTURIES 2.1.THE NAVAL BASE. XX CENTURY In 1915, as Minister of Marine, Admiral Augusto Miranda, creates the three main naval bases in Spain: Ferrol, Cartagena and Mahon. The Commander in Chief Pedro Maria Cardona, head of the Mahón, widens the base by adding 25 hectares, surrounding it with a wall of three metres in height and watchtowers. This enables four seaplanes, to be based in Mahon and a floating dock is also added He later had several submarines operating from the Naval Base He also created a small military prison on Isla Pinto
After the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War, (with U.S. financial aid) the maze of tunnels started to be constructed. These, containing powder magazines, underground tanks and fuel and the repair shops for the maintenance of mines, torpedoes and the miniature submarines In 1964, the tunneling ends after about 480 meters, which houses workshops and other facilities required for the torpedoes. A squadron of Minesweepers is stationed at the base
From the 1970 s Menorca loses it s strategic value and the instalaciones start a slow decline The ships, submarines and the military prison are transferred to Cartagena. The protecting sea dyke is demolished and the large floating cranes removed.
2.2. NAVAL COMMAND MAHON. XXI century In 2005 an agreement was signed with the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands to facilitate berthing for cruise ships and civilian tankers in exchange for which the compensation for the Navy was: Construction of new Fuel storage tanks Instalation of new electricity transformers Reinforce, repair and modernise the jetties The creation of a new security fence.
COMANDANCIA NAVAL DE MAHÓN Perímetro finalizadas obras A.P.B.
The Naval Command buildings: Headquarters Building: To be found in the CECOM,--secretary, detail, qualification, and so on. On the ground floor are located supply stores, office maintenance and the office of lifeboat Salvamar Antares. Workshops Building--mechanical, electrical, welding, carpentry and garage. Officers Quarters ALMIRANTE MIRANDA : with 25 bedrooms refurbished in 2007. Seamens Barracks: Accomodation for 39 personnel in three modules on the top floor. On the ground floor is the kitchen, laundery, dining room and lounge. Chapel, padel tenis court, tenis court & gimnasium.
COMADANCIA NAVAL DE MAHÓN THE JETTIES West Jetty: 258 m. long with a depth of 8.5 m. Water and telephone service. Pontoon docks, consist of three piers with possible berthing on both sides. The depth varies between 7 and 4 m. Water service, electricity and fuel intake on the central pier. East jetty: two floating pontoons for small boats.
COMANDANCIA NAVAL DE MAHÓN Isla Pinto
Bibliography FORNALS VILLALONGA, FRANCISCO, La Base Naval del puerto de Mahón. Del Arsenal inglés a la base naval española. Rev. de Marina ago-sep 2007. DIAZ-DEUS FERNANDEZ, JAIME, La historia reciente y no tan reciente. Rev. de Marina agosep 2007. RIERA ALEMANY, JOSE, El Arsenal de Mahón. ENGLISH TRANSLATION Asociación Menorca Britannia
COMANDANCIA NAVAL DE MAHÓN MENORCA END