Built as a gunboat by the Montevideo School of Arts & Crafts, Montevideo, for the Navy of Uruguay.
The school was in the middle of Montevideo, a logistical nightmare and much work to get the gunboat in the water.
February 1884 completed.
Displacement 241 tons, dim. 35.5 x 6.65 x 3.30m. (draught)
A steam-engine 300 ihp, one shaft, speed 12 knots.
Armament: 1 – 12.5 inch Krupp gun and 1 – 25mm Nordenfeldt MG.
Crew 75.
April 1884 at least she could be launched under the name GENERAL RIVERA named after the first President of Uruguay.
In 1888 she became the first Uruguayan naval vessel who investigated and passed the Strait of Magellan.
08 October 1903 after nearly 20 years in service, the GENERAL RIVERA suffered a major explosion, where after she sank.
Uruguay 1991 450p sg2045, scott1406a
Source: Watercraft Philately Vol. 39 page 19. Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860-1905. Some web-sites.