Battle of Cape Spartel (1936) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Cape Spartel |
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| Part of the Spanish Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Republic |
 Nationalist Spain |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Fernando Navarro Capdevila | Francisco Moreno Fernández | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2 destroyers | 1 heavy cruiser 1 light cruiser |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 destroyer sunk 1 destroyer damaged |
None | ||||||
The Battle of Cape Spartel (also known as Cabo Espartel in Spanish) was a key naval battle during the Spanish Civil War. It took place on September 29, 1936. This battle helped the Nationalists break through a blockade set up by the Republicans. This blockade was in the Strait of Gibraltar. By winning, the Nationalists secured a vital sea route to Spanish Morocco. This route was important for getting supplies early in the war. The battle involved two Nationalist cruisers and two Republican destroyers.
Background to the Battle
In July 1936, rebels took control of the naval base in Ferrol, Galicia. This was a big win, but it came with a high cost. Many naval officers who supported the rebels were killed by sailors loyal to the Republic.
At Ferrol, the Nationalists gained several ships. These included the old battleship España. They also got the cruiser Almirante Cervera. Two new cruisers, Canarias and Baleares, were still being built. Another cruiser, Navarra, was being repaired. They also took one destroyer, some torpedo boats, and sloops. In September, a small group of these ships, including Almirante Cervera and Canarias, sailed from Ferrol. Their goal was to fight the Republican navy.
At the start of the war, the Spanish Republican Navy was quite strong. They had the battleship Jaime I. They also had three light cruisers and 14 destroyers. Plus, they had five submarines. The Nationalists had fewer ships at first. But by the next year, they finished building Baleares and Canarias. They also bought four destroyers and two submarines from Italy. The Nationalists tried to block the Republican coastline throughout the war. However, they didn't have enough ships to make this blockade fully effective.
The Battle Itself
The battle began shortly after 6:30 am. Nationalist ships met a group of Republican destroyers. These destroyers were at the western end of the Straits. The Republican destroyer Gravina was near Cape Spartel. Her sister ship, Almirante Ferrándiz, was patrolling off Ceuta.
A fierce exchange of gunfire followed. The Nationalist cruiser Canarias chased the destroyer Almirante Ferrándiz. After about 40 minutes, Canarias sank Almirante Ferrándiz in the Alboran Sea. Meanwhile, Almirante Cervera chased Gravina. Gravina was hit twice along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The main guns of Canarias were very accurate. They hit their target from about 11 nautical miles away with their second shot. The guns of Almirante Cervera did not perform as well.
The surviving Republican destroyer, Gravina, retreated towards Casablanca. The Almirante Ferrándiz was hit six times. It then exploded and sank about 18 nautical miles south of Calaburras. Thirty-one sailors from Almirante Ferrándiz were saved by Canarias. Another 26 sailors, including their commander, José Luis Barbastro Jiménez, were rescued by the French ship Koutubia. This battle was very important. It opened the Strait of Gibraltar for the Nationalist ships to move supplies.
See also
- List of classes of Spanish Nationalist ships of the Spanish Civil War
- Spanish Civil War Republican ship classe
- Convoy de la victoria
