Almirante Cervera-class cruiser

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Almirante Cervera in 1927
Class overview
Name	Almirante Cervera class
Builders	Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval, Ferrol
Operators	Spanish Navy Spanish Republican Navy Spanish Nationalist Navy
Preceded by	Blas de Lezo class
Succeeded by	Canarias class
Built	1923–1929
In commission	1925–1970
Completed	3
Retired	3
General characteristics
Type	Light Cruiser
Displacement	7,475 long tons (7,595 t) standard 9,237 long tons (9,385 t) full load
Length	579 ft (176 m)
Beam	54 ft (16 m)
Draught	16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
Propulsion	4 shafts, Parsons-type geared turbines, 8 Yarrow-type boilers, 80,000 hp (60,000 kW)
Speed	33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range	5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	564
Armament	8 × 6-inch (152 mm) Vickers-Carraca guns in 3 twin turrets and 2 single mountings 4 × 4-inch (102 mm) AA guns 2 × 47 mm (1.9 in) Hotchkiss 3-pdr light AA guns 12 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes in triple tubes above water
Armour	Belt 3–2 in (76–51 mm) Deck 1–2 in (25–51 mm) Conning tower 6 in (150 mm)

The Almirante Cervera class (or Alfonso class) were three light cruisers built for the Spanish Navy in the 1920s. The ships were built by Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval in Ferrol which had strong British links and were designed by Sir Philip Watts. It has often been stated that the design was based on the British Emerald-class cruiser, but this seems not in fact to have been the case,^[1] although they were clearly an inspiration for the concept of the Spanish ships. The main armament comprised Vickers pattern 6-inch guns with single mountings in "A" and "Y" positions and twin turrets in "B", "Q" and "X" positions. The programme was initially authorised in 1915 but was delayed by World War I with construction of the first ship starting in 1917.

Galicia and Miguel de Cervantes had substantial refits in the 1940s. The 6-inch turret in "Q" position was replaced by a catapult for a seaplane and the single 6-inch mountings were replaced by twins to retain an 8 gun broadside. Extra AA guns were fitted in all three ships.