Crête-à-Pierrot
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Haiti |
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| Name: | Crête-à-Pierrot |
| Builder: | Earle's Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, Hull (Yard 396) |
| Launched: | 7 November 1895 |
| Commissioned: | 1896 |
| Out of service: | 1902 |
| Fate: | Destroyed to prevent capture |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Gunboat |
| Displacement: | 950 tons |
| Installed power: | Triple expansion steam engines |
| Propulsion: | Single screw propeller |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Complement: | 175 |
| Armament: |
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Crête-à-Pierrot was a ship in the Haitian Navy. It was destroyed by Admiral Hammerton Killick in 1902 to prevent it falling into the hands of a German warship.
Description
The ship displaced 950 tons. It was powered by a triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller, giving a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h). Armament comprised a 16 cm, 12 cm and four 10 cm guns, four Nordenfelt machine guns and two Maxim machine guns.[1][2]
Commission
The Haitian Government commissioned an armed cruiser to be designed by Sir E J Reed and built by Earle's Shipbuilding & Engineering Co at Hull, Yorkshire, England.[1][2][3] The ship was launched as Crête-à-Pierrot on 7 November 1895.[2] After arming in France, it was added to the Haitian Navy in 1896 and considered the Navy's crown jewel, the best of the four ships it possessed at the time.[3]
Crête-à-Pierrot's first commander was Captain Gilmour, from Scotland, who served under contract to Haiti.[3]
Destruction
In 1902 Haiti was enveloped in a civil war over who would become president after the sudden resignation of Tirésias Simon Sam. Crête-à-Pierrot was controlled by Admiral Hammerton Killick and supporters of Anténor Firmin and was used to blockade ports where Pierre Nord Alexis was gathering troops.[4] There was a plan to use Crête-à-Pierrot to transport Firmin to Port-au-Prince while Jean Jumeau marched on Port-au-Prince by land.[5]
In September 1902, Crête-à-Pierrot seized a German ammunition ship, Markomannia en route to provide ammunition to Alexis' forces.[5] Alexis asked Germany for help subduing a pirate ship.[4] In response, Germany sent SMS Panther to find and capture Crête-à-Pierrot.[5]
On September 6, Crête-à-Pierrot was in port at Gonaïves, with Killick and most of the crew on Shore leave when Panther appeared.[6] Killick rushed on-board and ordered his crew to abandon ship.[6] When all but four crew members had evacuated the ship[5] Killick, inspired by the tale of Captain LaPorte, wrapped himself in a Haitian flag, fired the aft magazine, and blew up the ship rather than let the Germans take her.[6][7] Killick and the remaining four crew members went down with the ship.[6]
An hour later, Panther fired thirty shots at Crête-à-Pierrot to finish it off, then sailed away.[7] The ship's rifles and machine guns were salvaged, along with the bodies of the crew that remained on board.[7]
Gallery
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SMS Panther, the German ship sent to capture Crête-à-Pierrot.
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Hammerton Killick.jpg
Admiral Hammerton Killick, who destroyed the ship rather than let the Germans have her.
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Picture of Pierre Nord Alexis.jpg
Pierre Nord Alexis, the 19th President of Haiti.
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Anténor Firmin. The ship was destroyed in civil war over who would become the 19th President of Haiti.
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Haitianisches Kanonenboot "Crête-à-Pierrot" am 6. September 1902 im Hafen von La Gonaives kurz vor der Versenkung durch SMS PANTHER.jpg
Haitian gunboat Crête-à-Pierrot on September 6, 1902 at the Port of Gonaives shortly before the sinking by the SMS Panther.
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Das haitianische Kanonenboot Crete-à-Pierrot sinkt nach Beschuß durch SMS Panther im Hafen von Gonaives 6. September 1902.jpg
The Haitian gunboat Crete-à-Pierrot sinking after bombardment by SMS Panther in the port of Gonaives September 6, 1902.
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Wrack des haitianischen Kanonenboots Crete-à-Pierrot im Hafen von Gonaives Aufnahme vom 6. September 1902 durch SMS Panther.jpg
Wreck of the Haitian gunboat Crete-à-Pierrot in the port of Gonaives on September 6, 1902.
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Sinking of a Haitian Gunboat" The Times (London). Tues, 9 September 1902. (36868), col A, p. 3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
