The Fleet that Fought Itself

One aspect of the Spanish Civil War that rarely features in the military histories of that conflict is the naval war that was fought by the two sides. Recently, Professor David Manley has published an excellent set of rules for the war entitled A FLEET TORN ASUNDER, and this has sparked considerable interest in the naval aspects of the war.

But where can the interested reader find out more about the Nationalist and Republican navies, how they evolved after the outbreak of the war, what ships they operated, and what naval operations did they mount? One place is Leonard R Heinz's THE FLEET THAT FOUGHT ITSELF: THE SPANISH NAVY AND THE CIVIL WAR 1936-39.

The book has eleven chapters and six appendices:

Chapters

1. Backdrop
2. Revolt and Response
3. The Crucial Strait
4. Moves North, Moves South
5. The Divided War
6. Blockades and Convoys
7. The Struggle Shifts Southwards
8. Wear and Tear
9. Multi-Dimensional Warfare
10. Finale
11. Conclusions

Appendices

1. Abbreviations
2. Table of Equivalent Officer Ranks
3. Ship Characteristics
4. Aircraft Characteristics
5. Chronology of the Land War
6. The Third Ship, or the Mystery of Cape Cherchell

The book has thirty monochrome photographs and six very useful maps that cover:

• Regions of Spain
• Spain and Its Environs
• Action off Cartagena
• Battle of Cape Cherchell
• Action off Barcelona
• Battle of Cape Palos

This book fills an important gap in the military histories of the Spanish Civil War and will no doubt be of great interest to anyone who shares my interest in the Spanish Civil War.

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THE FLEET THAT FOUGHT ITSELF: THE SPANISH NAVY AND THE CIVIL WAR 1936-39 was written by Leonard R Heinz and published by Seaforth Publishing in 2025 (ISBN 978 1 0361 1398 8).

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For any reader who wants to find out more about the naval aspects of the Spanish Civil War, I would recommend:

• My own book LA ULTIMA CRUZADA: SPANISH CIVIL WAR MILITARY SOURCE BOOK (which was published in 2017 by Eglinton Books (Hardback: ISBN 978 0 2446 4645 5; Softback: ISBN 978 0 2440 7031 1; Kindle: ISBN 978 0 2446 7050 4))
• WARSHIPS IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR (which was written by Angus Konstam, illustrated by Paul Wright, and published in 2021 by Osprey Publishing (ISBN 978 1 4728 4866 6)).
• THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR AT SEA: DARK AND DANGEROUS WATERS (which was written by Michael Alpert and published in 2021 by Pen & Sword Books Ltd (ISBN 978 1 5267 6436 2)).