Resumen

MAITA RUIZ, José Gregorio. Class destroyers Nueva Esparta. Approach to its operational history. Tiempo y Espacio [online]. 2015, vol.25, n.64, pp.491-508. ISSN 1315-9496.

History is full of examples that showing sea power is crucial to the fate of nations, so the navy of a country becomes much more than a simple instrument of defense; it is an institution able of projecting power, economy and culture of the nation that it belongs. In the same case, the soul and reason of being navy are their vessels, which are much more than simple machines, are the home of their crews, are living creatures to carry the national flag, are samples of the country sailing in the sea. Among all the warships that have passed through Venezuelan history, highlight “Nueva Esparta” Class Destroyers. These destroyers are the largest combat ships that have had the Republic; they marked an era of powerful development and modernization of the Navy and had a working life with many events, being the protagonists of several moments that marked the history of Venezuela. The “Nueva Esparta” Class Destroyers were built in Great Britain for Venezuela by request of General Marcos Perez Jimenez, but they and their crews had a key action in January 23rd, 1958. Later, they were protagonists of the events of “El Porteñazo” and had a lesser-known participation in the “Quarantine” to Cuba during the Missile Crisis of 1962. This research, which is in development, seeks to discover operational details and reveal their history and secrets of these noble war machines, and the men who crewed them and gave them life, protecting our national interests in aquatic areas.

Palabras clave : Venezuelan Warships; Naval History; Venezuelan Navy; National Defense.

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