warspite1
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[5089 Baleares - by Robert Jenkins]
.B Engine(s) output: 90,000 hp
.B Top Speed: 33 knots
.B Main armament: 8 x 8-inch (203mm), 8 x 4.7-inch (120mm) guns
.B Displacement (full load): 13,070 tons
.B Thickest armour: 2-inches (belt)
.P The Canarias-class consisted of two heavy cruisers built for the Spanish
navy during the early thirties. Like the earlier Alfonso-class, they were
designed by the British and were based on an existing class of Royal Navy
cruiser; in this case the County-class.
.P The two Spanish vessels featured a number of improvements and modifications,
including a slimmer, longer hull than their British counterparts. Despite these
changes, the hull was unmistakably that of a Kent-class cruiser, but where there
was a noticable difference was in the superstructure.
.P A change in the arrangement of the boilers allowed for a reduction in funnels
from three to two, although the two funnels were then trunked into one large
stack. Visually, the bridge was also very different to the British version, and
gave the Canarias' an unusual, almost unfinished look.
.P The main armament consisted of eight 8-inch guns fitted in four twin turrets,
although thanks to the Civil War, Baleares first appeared minus her Y turret;
this was fitted nine months before her sinking. Secondary armament as designed
comprised eight single 4.7-inch guns and a mix of 40mm and 12.5mm light anti-
aircraft (AA) guns, although again, thanks to the raging Civil War, the actual
equipment fitted differed to the original specification and indeed changed over
time. The armament package was completed by four triple torpedo tubes, but a
catapult and aircraft handling capability was never fitted.
.P Armour defence was provided by a belt of 2-inches with an extra 2-inches of
thickness to cover the magazine spaces. Horizontal defence was limited to an
armour deck of 1.5-inches and an additional 2-inches of protection for the
magazines.
.P The ships were faster than the British versions thanks to the different hull
design and slightly more powerful machinery. These features allowed the ships to
retain bulges for anti-torpedo defence at no cost in speed.
.P The ships were named after the two large Spanish owned island chains; the
Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean.
.P Baleares was still fitting out in Ferrol when the Spanish Civil War began in
July 1936. She was completed, minus her Y turret and with a hastily put together
secondary armament package, in December of that year. She fought with the
Nationalist forces during the war.
.P Baleares was not to enjoy a successful existence. After completion, she was
largely unsuccessful in waging war against Republican convoys and was placed back
in the dockyard in June 1937 to have her missing turret fitted.
.P Baleares was badly damaged during the Battle of Cape Cherchell in September
1937, when she came across two Republican light cruisers (see Méndez Núñez).
.P The Battle of Cape Palos was fought on the night of the 5th and 6th of March
1938, and was the largest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War. The two sisters
Canarias and Baleares were sailing in company with Almirante Cervera and three
destroyers, providing distant escort for a convoy that was bringing supplies from
Italy to Spain. The Nationalist cruisers lost their destroyer escort during the
evening of the 5th as they returned to base to refuel; this would cost the
Baleares dearly.
.P Just after midnight on the 6th, when off the coast of Spain, near Cartagena,
they stumbled across a Republican naval force that consisted of the light
cruisers Libertad and Méndez Núñez and five destroyers. The Republican destroyers
were able to fire a torpedo salvo but without effect. Over the next two hours the
two fleets remained apart and when they came together again at around 0200hrs,
the two heavy cruisers were able to bring their heavier ordnance to bear first.
However, in doing so, they made their positions plainly visible to the enemy
ships. While the two cruiser forces exchanged fire, three of the destroyers,
Barcaiztegui, Lepanto and Almirante Antequera were able to get into position to
fire their torpedoes at the unsuspecting Baleares.
.P A number of torpedoes found their target, exploding in her forward magazine,
causing catastrophic damage to the whole forward half of the ship. With the
protection of the convoy uppermost in mind, the two remaining Nationalist
cruisers departed the scene rapidly. Surprisingly, the Republican vessels did not
pursue them.
.P Baleares was quickly, and uncontrollably ablaze, and alerted by the burning
vessel, two Royal Navy destroyers came to the aid of the survivors. Even so,
almost 800 of her crew perished with her.
.P As she was sunk during the Spanish Civil War, the Baleares counter is only
available if playing with Days of Decision.
< Message edited by warspite1 -- 8/15/2010 3:50:05 PM >
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RE: Just for fun - 
Guess I don't qualify for the Marines.... 
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