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fighting ships of the world

SPANISH NAVY (SPAIN)

CONVERTED MERCHANT VESSELS

patrol of Civil war, Basques

Araba 1936

Nabarra 1936

Bizkaya 1937

more than 1000 BRT

Name

Launched // Comm.

Builder

Tonnage, BRT

Dimensions, m

(length pp)

Speed, kts

Engine, Power hp

Armament

Fate

Araba 4.1927 // 12.1936 Provenzale, La Ciotat, France 1197 69.3x10.5x 10.5 1VTE 1x1-102/50 scuttled 16.6.1937
Bizkaya 5.1927 // 12.1936 Provenzale, La Ciotat, France 1190 69.9x10.5x 10.5 1VTE 2x1-102/50 returned 1939
Nabarra 12.1927 // 10.1936 Hall Russell, Aberdeen, UK 1204 70.3x10.5x 11 1VTE 2x1-102/50 sunk 5.3.1937

100 - 1000 BRT

Goizeko-Izarra (1933, 136, 1.1937-17.1.1937), Ipareko-Izarra (1933, 136, 1.1937-7/1938), Gazteiz (1914, 332, 12.1936-26.8.1937), Iruña (1919, 368, 1.1937-19.6.1937)

Project history: Merchant vessels (mostly trawlers) converted to patrols by all parties of conflict.

Modernizations: None.

Naval service: Araba owing to bad technical condition in February, 1937 was put to repair at Bilbao; 16.6.1937 she was scuttled at city fall, salvaged by Franco`s troops 19.7.1937 and after repair on SECN was commissioned by National fleet 1.11.1937 as Álava. Sometimes she was classed as auxiliary cruiser. Virgen de Begoña was former French patrol Cigale II (Gardon class). Early 1937 she was gained by Basque Government and enlisten by its fleet as armed vessel Iruña, but conversion was never completed, so she was registered as combat ship only nominally. 19.6.1937 Iruña was captured by Nationalists in dock at capture of Bilbao. She was towed off to El Ferrol where after conversion in August was commissioned by National fleet.

After fall of Basque Provinces Gipuscoa escaped 22.10.1937 to Bordeaux and was returned to owner in 1939. Nabarra 5.3.1937 was sunk at Bilbao by gunfire of Nationalists cruiser Canarias.

© Ivan Gogin, 2011-14