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Méndez Núñes 1939

Ships

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

Technical data

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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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     Méndez Núñes to beginning of Civil war became outdated, had worn out machinery, insufficient speed (no more than 26kts) and short-range artillery: effective firing range of main guns did not exceed by then 12000m.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.

1939