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fighting ships of the world

SPANISH NAVY (SPAIN)

CRUISERS

CANARIAS heavy cruisers (1936)

Canarias 1937

Baleares 1938

Canarias 1960

Canarias 1974

Project history: Heavy cruisers of "Washington" type were ordered 31.3.1928 in number of three ships under the royal decree from 13.7.1926. Building of third cruiser Ferrol was cancelled in 1929. Design was developed by Armstrong under the guidance of Philip Watts on the basis of British heavy cruiser Kent. Spanish ships differed from the latter by increased L/B ratio, changed thickness of armour, reduction of fuel stowage and more powerfull machinery.
    Yarrow boilers were installed in three boiler rooms, aft from which two engine rooms took places.
    Prominent feature Canarias class cruisers became entered into the design in 1931 original streamlined fore superstructure and one large funnel applied to air drag force decrease.

    One 203mm turret for Canarias was been made in the Great Britain, remaining were delivered by San Carlos in Cadiz, and delay with their delivery for the financial reasons became the main reason of long-term completion of both ships.
TTs really were not installed. The catapult with two seaplanes on these cruisers also never was fitted, though in 1937 at Cadiz trials on basing on both ships of He60 seaplane were conducted.
    After revolution of 1931 completion of both cruisers was strongly delayed, and ships were not fully completed to the beginning of Civil war, being at El Ferrol at outfitting. Canarias for the first time gone out on trials in September, 1934 with only two fwd turrets, reaching 33.69kts at 91 299hp. To July, 1936 she received two other turrets, but had no secondary and small guns, AA directors and main gun directors equipment (except rangefinders). On Baleares only two fwd turrets were installed that time and main gun directors and other armament were absent. Both cruisers have passed to Nationalists 18.7.1936. They have taken active measures on commission of these ships, already 16.9.1936 Canarias gone out to trials.
Baleares gone out on trials 1.10.1936, having only two fwd turrets, 4 single-purpose 120mm/45 guns (made for Almirante Antequera class destroyers with destroyer shields), 4 single 100mm/47 Italian AA guns, and, probably, few 40/39mm pompoms. In December, 1936 cruiser passed to Cadiz for outfitting, and in January received third turret and fire control system then she was considered efficient.

Ship protection: Armour protection repeated British prototype under the scheme: rather thin main belt with thicker box-shaped protection of main magazines, but the thickness of a belt was increased to 51mm (38mm at ship ends). Magazines were protected by 102mm armour from sides and 51mm from ship ends at end turrets, magazines of secondary guns had 76mm protection from sides. Thickness of 38mm armoured deck increased twice over magazines. Hull had underwater bulges, maximum depth of underwater protection amidships was 1.67m.

Modernizations: 11.1936, Canarias: + 2 x 1 - 120/45 Vickers-Armstrong Mk F

spring 1937, Canarias: + 2 x 1 - 120/45 Vickers-Armstrong Mk F, 2 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30

6/1937, Baleares: - 4 x 1 - 100/47; + 1 x 2 - 203/50 Vickers-Armstrong Mk D, 4 x 1 - 120/45 Vickers-Armstrong Mk F

11/1937, Baleares: - 6 x 1 - 40/39; + 4 x 1 - 88/42 SK C/30

1943, Canarias: - 4 x 1 - 40/39; + 4 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30

(10/1952-2/1953, SECN, El Ferrol), Canarias: funnel was replaced by two

to 1969, Canarias: - 2 x 2 - 37/83, 4 x 1 - 20/65; + 4 x 1 - 40/70 Bofors L/70 350, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7; radars included SG-6B, MLA-1B, Marconi, Decca 12; full displacement was 13750t

Naval service: During the second battle at cape Palos on the night 6.3.1938 Baleares was sunk by two torpedo hits from Republican destroyers Sánchez Barcáiztegui, Almirante Antequera and Lepanto.

    Canarias was sold in September, 1977 and broken up in 1978.

Baleares 1937

Canarias 1953

© Ivan Gogin, 2011-15