 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2013) |
.jpg) Méndez Núñez after her 1944 refit
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Blas de Lezo class |
| Builders | Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval in Ferrol |
| Operators |  Spanish Navy |
| Preceded by | Navarra |
| Succeeded by | Almirante Cervera-class cruiser |
| In commission | 1924–1963 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Lost | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 462 ft (141 m) |
| Beam | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Draught | 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 shafts, Parsons Type geared turbines, 12 Yarrow Type boilers, 45,000 hp |
| Speed | 29 knots (54 km/h) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 13 kn (24 km/h) |
| Complement | 320 |
| Armament |
|
| Armour | 3 - 2 inch belt, 1 inch deck, 6 inch conning tower |
The Blas de Lezo-class cruisers were a group of two cruisers, built for the Spanish Navy in the 1920s. The ships were ordered in 1915 but construction proceeded slowly due to material shortages during World War I. The ships were built by Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval in Ferrol and showed considerable British design influence, resembling contemporary British C-class cruisers.
Mendez Nunez was reconstructed into an anti-aircraft cruiser in 1944. She was re-armed with 8 - 120mm Vickers anti-aircraft guns in single mountings, 4 × 2 37mm and 2 × 4 20mm light AA guns of German origin. The superstructure was completely rebuilt and fitted with modern fire control equipment. Two triple banks of torpedo tubes were retained.