Vicente Eugenio Antonio Tofiño nacio en Cadiz el 6 de sptiembre de 1732. Cientifico, maestro, academico y marino de la Armada, murio el 15 de enero de 1795 despues de una vida plena de aciertos y labores cientificas para la marina de guerra española.
Uno de los buques que ha sido nombrado en su honor es el buque hidrografico TOFIÑO, gemelo del MALASPINA, botado el 23 de agosto de 1933 por la S.E. de C.N.
Su vida operativa y algunos de los trabajos realizados los veremos en un futuro proximo. Hoy nos concentraremos en su planta motriz, de la que una interesante descripción y algunos particulares sobre su funcionamiento y prestaciones nos lo ofrece la revista THE SHIPBUILDER AND MARINE ENGINE BUILDER, en su NUM.295, VOL XLI, de septiembre de 1934. La revista cita: The Spanish Survey Steamship TOFINO. There has recently been completed at the Ferrol Shipyard of the Sociedad Espanola de Construccion Naval, to the order of the Spanish Government, the hydrographic survey steamship TOFINO, of which a photograph is reproduced in Fig. 1.
This vessel, which has been constructed entirely to the shipbuilder´s own designs, has leading particulars as stated in the accompanying table.
Leading Particulars of the TOFINO: Length overall, 224 ft. 0 in.; Maximum breadth, 35 ft. 0 in.; Depth moulded, 19ft. 0 in.; Mean draught at normal load, 11 ft. 0 in.; Displacement, tons, 1,220; Designed normal speed, knots, 12; Radius of action at this speed, miles, 5,000.
The TOFINO is provided with excellent living accommodation, a room for drawing and calculation, instrument room, etc. In particular, attention has been paid to the ventilation and sanitation in the living quarters, so as to establish the best possible conditions when surveys are being carried out in tropical waters. Ample refrigerated spaces and plant are also provided.
The vessel is, of course, supplied with complete modern equipment for the particular service intended, including many instruments for surveying purposes.
Propeling Machinery: The main propelling machinery of the TOFINO, which has been constructed by the shipbuilders under licence from Messrs.
Christiansen & Meyer, of Harburg-Wilhelmsburg, consists of a Christiansen four-cylinder, double-compound steam engine with semi-uniflow low-pressure cylinders. A normal indicated horse-powder of 850 is developed at 135 revs. per minute. The diameter of the high-pressure cylinders is 325 mm. and that of the low-pressure cylinders 700 mm., while the length of piston stroke is 700 mm.
A condenser of the Weir regenerative type, a Weir-tvpe evaporator, and the various auxiliary engines have all been constructed by the shipbuilders under licence from the different makers.
Steam is supplied by two Yarrow water-tube boilers –also constructed by the shipbuilders- fitted with superheaters and oil-fired on the pressure-injection system. These boilers, which work on the closed-stokehold system of forced draught, have a total heating surface of 3,120 sq. ft., the total superheater surface being 344 sq. ft. The working pressure is 15,5 kg. per sq. cm. (2201b per sq. in.), and the superheat 85 deg. C. (153 deg. P.), while the feed-water is heated to a temperature of about 100 deg. C.
Electrical power for the various services is supplied by a 35-kW. turbo-generator set, a 35-kW. Diesel-generator set, and a 15-kW. stand-by set.
The TOFINO, after undergoing successful sea trials, was delivered to the Spanish Government in July. During the trials a speed of 13 knots was obtained, the I.H.P. developed being over 1,100. The fuel consumption over a 24-hour trial at 10 knots was equivalent to a radius of action of over 6,000 miles.
El TOFIÑO entro en servicio el 16 de Julio de 1934 y estuvo en servicio hasta el 20 de diciembre de 1974.
El buque fue hundido, y después reflotado, durante la guerra civil, tal y como nos lo cuenta Juan Luis Coello Lillo en su excelente libro BUQUES DE LA ARMADA ESPAÑOLA. LOS AÑOS DE LA POSTGUERRA. Editado en 1995 por Aldaba Ediciones, su ISBN es 84-88959-15-X, y en el leemos: Hidrógrafo «TOFIÑO»: Durante la Guerra Civil prestó servicio en las filas republicanas. Resultó hundido en el puerto de Barcelona por bombardeo aéreo en fecha indeterminada de 1938-39, quedando tumbado junto a la Puerta de la Paz. Fue reflotado el 23 de octubre de 1940 por la ya citada Comisión de Salvamento de Buques, tardando aún bastante tiempo en ser reparado y devuelto al servicio activo, ya que no pasó a 3a situación hasta el 14 de abril de 1947, adscrito nuevamente al Instituto Hidrográfico”.
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Foto 1.- El TOFIÑO en pruebas. Foto de THE SHIPBUILDER AND MARINE ENGINE BUILDER. AÑO 1934.
Foto 2.- Bonita foto de la maquina alternative del buque. Foto de la revista THE SHIPBUILDER AND MARINE ENGINE BUILDER. AÑO 1934.