Ships of the Nationalist and Republican Navies during the Spanish Civil War: Canaris-class Cruisers

The class was built at El Ferrol between 1928 and 1936. The design was based upon the British County-class Heavy Cruisers.

Cruiser Canarias.

Cruiser Baleares.

Ships' characteristics:

• Displacement: 10,113 tons standard; 13,070 tons full load
• Dimensions:
• Length: 635’ 9” (193.6m)
• Beam: 64’ (19.5m)
• Draught: 17’ 4” (5.3m)
• Speed: 33 knots
• Armour: Belt: 2” (50mm); Turrets: 1” (25mm); Deck: 1.5” to 1” (38mm to 25mm)
• Armament: 8 x 8” (203mm) (4 x 2); 8 x 4.7” (120mm) (8 x 1); 8 x 2 pdr (40mm) Anti-Aircraft Guns (8 x 1); 12 x 21” (533mm) Torpedo Tubes (4 x 3)
• Complement: 780

Both ships served in the Nationalist Navy.
Canarias was torpedoed and sunk off Cartagena whilst escorting a convoy on 6th March 1938.
Baleares survived the Civil War, and became the flagship of the Spanish Fleet. She was stricken and broken-up in the 1970’s.