The ship is the sixth to bear the Esmeralda name. The first was the frigate Esmeralda captured from the Spanish at Callao, Peru, by Admiral Lord Thomas Alexander Cochrane of the Chilean Navy, in a daring raid on the night of November 5, 1820. The second was the corvette Esmeralda of the Chilean Navy which, against superior forces, she fought until sunk under flag on May 21, 1879 in the Battle of Iquique. These events mark important milestones for the Chilean Navy and the ship's name is said to evoke its values of courage and sacrifice. Construction began in Cadiz, Spain, in 1946. It was to become Spain's national training ship. During its construction, in 1947, the shipyard where it was built suffered catastrophic explosions, which damaged the ship and brought the shipyard to the brink o.