There's quite a number of sail training ships in the services of various navies around the world that are somewhere between 60 and 110 years old. The German Gorch Fock II - built in 1958, to 1933 plans - is currently being overhauled so she can serve past 2030 - and German cadets instead right now train on her sister Mircea, run by the Romanian Navy and built in 1938.
Aren't those Steel hull ships? I was talking about wood hulls, which sometimes had copper bottoms on their keels keep them semi-safe.
Speaking of steel ships, the Japanese cruiser
Izumi, whom started off in life as the Esmeralda in Chilean service. She unique noted being the first Protected Cruiser (all steel) of her time.
The picture of her is from 1884 as the
Esmeralda.
When she was first launched, she was sensation among navy circles, since she was also at 18 knots the fastest ship in the world. She was armed with pair of 10 inch guns and half dozen 6 inch guns when she was launched.
She server in Chilean navy for 10 years before being sold off and renamed the
Izumi. While in service with Chile, they was used in interesting historical events. She was part of effort try to protect Chile's assets in Panama City and was Occupying the city as part of the effort to prevent the United States from annexation Panama itself in 1885.
She was part of Chiliean Civil War in 1891, where she was part of the Congress's junta's forces. Her most noted actions during the conflict was when she used her guns to bombard President's Loyalist forces into submission in the last battle.
After 10 years of service, Japan purchased the ship from Chile as part of their efforts to replenish their fleet during the First Sino-Japanese War. By the time she had gotten to the Yokosuka Naval District, the war's biggest battles had already accrued.
She re-armed and somewhat downgraded gun-wise to pair of 6 inch guns, and 4.7 guns replacing her original secondary guns in the middecks. However, the Japanese navy added three 356 mm torpedo launchers and then little bit later even large 457mm white head torpedoes on deck.
She didn't get to do alot during the Russo-Japanese War, where she was acting as auxiliary unit during the conflict. She was mainly doing patrols, though she did exchange fire with a Russian cruiser while assigned to IJN's 3rd Fleet. She was sadly decommissioned in 1907 and scrapped in 1912.
Her imperial crest was preserved and is displaced on the memorial battleship
Mikasa in Yokosuka.
I actually visited the museum/memorial during my time in Japan. I may have seen it, but don't recall. Sadly my pictures are likely lost. :( :-[
