The sinking of The Baleares, 1938

All along the Spanish Civil War, the republican navy tried to break the blockade run by the national ships in the mediterranean coasts, mainly by cruisers like Baleares, Canarias and Cervera. The republican command plans to run a torpedo attack with fast ships provided by Russia. Short after the ships left the docks to start the raid, the order was given for them to abort and return to Portman docks. In the meantime, the Baleares, Canarias and admiral Cervera had left Palma Bay to escort a convoy. The republican fleet regroups and begins the way back to Cartagena, when both fleets meet and start firing at each other without any results. The two parts lose contact ant 00:55, the national cruisers continue the escort and the republicans head towards home base. At 2:13 admiral Vierna launches flares for the other national cruisers to see, this signs are sighted by republican warships. They immediately prepare for attack. From the Baleares, the dark vague spots of enemy warships are seen, so they decide to launch further flares to light up the setup, in this very moment, the Sánchez Barcáztegui fires four torpedoes, the Antequera five and the Lepanto three. The Baleares received a heavy damage due to the explosion of cannons munitions depot reached by a torpedo blast and at 2:20 begins sinking. The republican fleet continues way to Cartagena and the Canarias and Cervera carry on the escort mission of the convoy. Two british destroyers that were in the area, Boreas and Kempenfelt help the survivors of the sunk warship. At 7:20 Cruisers Canarias and Cervera return to take charge of survivors, surprised at 8:58 by an air raid of a group of Tupolev SB-2 "Katiuska", that damaged the british destroyer Boreas. 469 men were rescued, the deads raised to 788, admiral Viernas among them.