Battle of Cape Palos

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Cape Palos


caption=A 1930s photograph of the Nationalist cruiser "Almirante Cervera", which escaped from Cape Palos without major harm.
partof=the Spanish Civil War
date=March 5 - 6, 1938
place=near Cartagena, Spain, Mediterranean Sea
result=Republican victory
combatant1=flagicon|Spain|1931 Spanish Republic
combatant2=flagicon|Spain|1939 Nationalist Spain
commander1=Luis González Ubieta
commander2=Manuel de Vierna †
strength1=2 light cruisers
5 destroyers
strength2=2 heavy cruisers
1 light cruiser
casualties1=None
casualties2=1 heavy cruiser sunk
393 dead|The Battle of Cape Palos, also known as the Second Battle of Cape Palos, was the biggest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War, fought on the night of March 5 - 6 1938, 70 miles east of Cape Palos near Cartagena, Spain.

On March 5, 1938, the Nationalists' two heavy cruisers, "Canarias" and "Baleares", sortied from the naval base at Palma de Mallorca, in company with the light cruiser "Almirante Cervera", and three destroyers. The squadron acted as a distant escort of a convoy bearing war equipment from Italy. On the same day, Republican forces, consisting of two light cruisers (the new "Libertad" and the older "Méndez Núñez") and five destroyers, sailed from Cartagena. At night, Nationalist destroyers returned to base, while the cruisers remained on course.

The squadrons, going in opposite directions, met by chance in the dead of night. A Republican destroyer fired torpedoes but missed, and both fleets passed by the other. Nationalist Rear Admiral de Vierna preferred to wait until dawn, which would enable him to use his ships' superior artillery, but Republican Vice Admiral de Ubieto decided to turn and pursue the enemy.

The forces met again at about 02:15. the Nationalist cruisers commnced fire on "Libertad" from a range of about 5,000 m (5,500 yd) and the Republican cruisers returned fire. However, due to lack of experience in night combat, neither side's gunnery practise was good and few hits were scored. As the cruisers duelled, three Republican destroyers, probably unseen by the Nationalists, detached from escorting "Libertad". At about 3,000 m (3,300 yd), "Sanchéz Barcáiztegui", "Lepanto", and "Almirante Antequera" each fired four torpedoes. Two or three, probably from "Lepanto", hit "Baleares" between 'A' and 'B' turrets and detonated her forward magazine. The forepart of the ship as far aft as the funnel disintigrated, killing all including Admiral de Vierna.

The two surviving Nationalist cruisers quickly cleared the area, leaving "Baleares" to its fate. The stern remained afloat and it was from this part of the ship that survivors were rescued, thanks to the efforts of destroyers HMS "Kempenfelt" and "Boreas", under Captain McGrigor, RN, who made towards the scene of the action from 74 km (40 nm) away. 372 of her crew of 765 were saved.

The Nationlist cruisers returned at dawn and survivors rescued by "Boreas" were transferred to them by boats. An air attack by Republican bombers interrupted the proceedings and caused one RN fatality.

The Battle of Cape Palos was the last Republican victory of the war. Although the action was the largest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War and a decisive Republican victory, beyond affecting supplies, like other naval engagements, it had little noticable effect on the war.

References

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External links

* [http://www.revistanaval.com/armada/batallas/palos.htm El hundimiento del crucero Baleares] (Spanish)