Méndez Núñes 1932
Méndez Núñes 1949
Méndez Núñes 1960
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Méndez Núñes (ex-Blas de Lezo) | C01 | SECN, El Ferrol | 9.4.1917 | 27.7.1922 | 30.8.1924 | stricken 2.1963 | |
| Blas de Lezo (ex-Méndez Núñes) | SECN, El Ferrol | 28.9.1917 | 3.3.1923 | 13.5.1925 | wrecked 11.7.1932 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
4780 |
|
Displacement full, t |
6045 |
|
Length, m |
134.1 pp 140.8 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
14.1 |
|
Draught, m |
4.40 mean 4.75 max |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 12 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
45000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
29 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 806 + oil 726 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
5000(13) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 76 - 25, deck: 25, CT: 150 |
|
Armament |
6 x 1 - 152/50 Vickers Mk V, 1 x 1 - 76/19 Vickers, 4 x 1 - 47/50 Vickers Mk I, 4 x 3 - 533 TT |
|
Complement |
343 |
Project history: Built under the law from 17.2.1915. The design was developed on the basis of British cruisers of Caledon class and represented typical British light cruiser of First World War era. When built, Méndez Núñes and Blas de Lezo were renamed Blas de Lezo and Méndez Núñes 6.3.1922. Unlike the British prototype they had 12 Yarrow boilers, 6 from which in two fwd boiler rooms were oil-, and others 6 in aft boiler room coal-fired. On trials Méndez Núñes reached 29.25kts at 45776hp.
Ship protection: main belt had 76mm thickness abreast machinery and 38-25mm at ship ends.
Modernizations: late 1936, Méndez Núñes: - 2 x 1 - 47/50
to 1939, Méndez Núñes: - 2 x 1 - 47/50; + 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon M36
(6/1943-3/1947, SECN, El Ferrol, Méndez Núñes): superstructure was rebuilt, boilers trunked into two funnels, armament consisted of: 8 x 1 - 120/45 Vickers Mk F, 5 x 2 - 37/83 SK C/30, 2 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, max length was 142.9m.
early 1950s, Méndez Núñes: - 1 x 2 - 37/83; + 2 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, 2 DCT, 1 DCR
late 1950s, Méndez Núñes: + 7 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, radars
Naval service:
Blas de Lezo was lost 11.7.1932 on rocks at Cape Finisterre.
Méndez Núñes to beginning of Civil war became outdated, had worn out
machinery, insufficient speed (no more than 26kts) and short-range artillery: effective firing range
of main guns did not exceed by then 12000m. 29.8.1936 she was transferred under the control
of Republic. 17.4.1938 Méndez Núñes received at Cartagena serious
damages as result of close air bombs explosions and was under repair 1.5 months. 5.3.1939 Méndez Núñes as a part of main forces of
Republican fleet left to Bizerte, where was interned two days later. She was transferred
to Nationalists 31.3.1939. Since summer 1939 ship was in completely disarmed condition
at El Ferrol, where since June, 1943 has passed major repairs and conversion to air defence cruiser under the project
145B.
Formally Méndez Núñes was again commissioned 25.3.1947, however actually armament
was installed in April, 1947, and two Hazemeyer directors only in 1949.
Since 1963 Méndez Núñes
served as accommodation hulk for minesweeper crews.
Méndez Núñes 1939
Méndez Núñes 1952
© Ivan Gogin, 2011-15