Ships of the Nationalist and Republican Navies during the Spanish Civil War: Armed Merchant Cruisers (Part 1)

Along with the Mar Cantabrico and Mar Negro, the Nationalists also converted a number of merchant ships into Armed Merchant Cruisers. Included amongst the ships converted were:

Antonio Lázaro

Antonio Lázaro.

Ship's characteristics:

• Displacement: 1514 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 283’ 5” (86.4m)
• Beam: 38’ (11.6m)
• Draught: 22’ 8” (6.9m)
• Speed: 16 knots
• Armament: 1 x 4.7” (120mm) (1 x 1); 2 x 4” (102mm) (2 x 1); 1 x 6 pdr (57mm) (1 x 1), 2 x 4 pdr (47mm) (2 x 1)

Initially used as an Auxiliary Minelayer, she was later converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser.

Ciudad de Alicante

Ciudad de Alicante.

Ship's characteristics:

• Displacement: 2434 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 226’ 9” (81.3m)
• Beam: 40’ 8” (12.4m)
• Draught: -
• Speed: 16 knots
• Armament: 1 x 4.7” (120mm) (1 x 1); 2 x 4” (102mm) (2 x 1); 1 x 4 pdr (47mm) (1 x 1)

She operated with the Ciudad de Valencia in the North Sea, where she assisted in the capture of the Republican steamers Sil and Río Miera.

Ciudad de Mahon

Ciudad de Mahon.

Ship's characteristics:

• Displacement: 1,551 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 235’ 10” (71.9m)
• Beam: 36’ (11.0m)
• Draught: -
• Speed: 14 knots
• Armament: 2 x 4” (102mm) (2 x 1); 1 x 3" (76mm) (1 x 1)

She sank the Republican steamer Fernando Po in the Bight of Biafra on 14th October 1936.