List of foreign ships wrecked or lost in the Spanish Civil War

Summary

The following is a list of foreign ships wrecked or lost during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Only one of these vessels lost belonged to a foreign navy – Chasseur 91, a French antisubmarine patrol boat – the remainder being civilian ships from different countries, most of them merchantmen involved in maritime trade with the Spanish Republic.

List of ships edit

Foreign ships sunk, wrecked or lost while involved in shipping along Spain from July 1936 to April 1939.[1]

British flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of incident Aftermath
  African Mariner, 6,581 ton
22 January 1939
  African & Continental, London Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships on 18 April 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Montjuich
  Alcira, 1,387 ton
4 February 1938
  J. Bruce & Co., Glasgow Air attack off Barcelona Sunk in deep waters
  Arlon, 4,903 ton
27 June 1938
  Arlon S.S. Co. Air attack at Valencia Set ablaze - Towed outside the port and sunk
  Blue Shadow, 34 ton
9 August 1936
  Eloise Drake Surface action - Shelled by the Nationalist cruiser
Almirante Cervera at Gijon
Yacht wrecked, skipper killed. American owner Eloise Drake and two members of the crew wounded, rescued by destroyer HMS Comet.[2][3][nb 1]
  Dellwyn, 1,451 ton
27 July 1938
  Dillwyn S. S. Co., Swansea Air attack at Gandia Raised by Nationalist ships on 10 May 1939, confiscated and renamed Castilla Montesa
  Eleni, 1,138 ton
30 November 1938
  Inter Levant Co. Ltd. Air attack at Águilas Raised by Nationalist ships in 1940, confiscated and renamed Castillo Vera
  Endymion, 887 ton
21 January 1938
  Verano S.S. Co., Gibraltar Torpedoed and sunk by the Nationalist submarine
General Sanjurjo off Cape Tiñoso
Sunk in deep waters. Submarine's commander dismissed after British protest
  English Tanker, 5,387 ton
6 June 1938
  Spanish Republic
Campsa-Gentibus, Madrid
Air attack at Alicante Raised by Nationalist ships on 26 April 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Almenara
  Farnham, 4,793 ton
27 June 1938
  Alpha S.S. Co., London Air attack at Alicante Raised by Nationalist ships on 27 June 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Montiel
  Foynes, 822 ton
27 June 1937
  Limerick S.S. Co., Limerick Air attack at Valencia Raised by Nationalist ships in 1940, confiscated and renamed Castillo Riaza
  Greatend, 1,495 ton
28 May 1938
  NewbiginS.S. Co., Newcastle Air attack at Valencia Raised by Nationalist ships on 24 November 1938, confiscated and renamed Castillo Noreña
  Isadora, 1,324
9 June 1938
  Stone & Rolfe, Belfast Air attack at Castellon Raised by Nationalist ships in 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Frías
  Jean Weems, 2,349 tons
30 October 1937
  Thameside Ship Co., London Air attack off Santander Sunk in deep waters
  Lake Lugano, 2,120 ton
28 January 1939
  Strubin & Co., London
  • Damaged by air attack on 6 August 1938; abandoned and eventually beached off Palamos
  • Surface action - Shelled and wrecked in situ by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Mar Negro[5][nb 2]
Sunk in shallow waters
  Lucky, 1,235 ton
10 February 1938
  Toussi Ship Co., Gibraltar Air attack at Valencia Raised by Nationalist ships on 24 May 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Benisano
  Miocene, 2,153 ton
24 January 1939
  Spanish Republic
Campsa-Gentibus, Madrid
Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships in 1940 and confiscated, but eventually scrapped in 1944
  Penthames, 3,995 ton
31 May 1938
  D. P. Barnett, London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
  St. Winifred, 5,683 ton
6 June 1938
  Barry Shipping Co. Ltd. Air attack at Alicante Heavily damaged. Hull sold to an Italian company which rebuilt her as Capo Vita.[7]
  Stanburgh, 1,095 ton
4 November 1938
  Billmeir, London Internal explosion off Sète, France, while on passage to Barcelona Beached and later scrapped
  Stancroft, 1,407 ton
27 December 1938
  Billmeir, London Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships on 24 April 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Almansa
  Standale, 2,456 ton
12 May 1937
  Billmeir, London Foundered off Berlengas islands while bound to Cartagena Sank in deep waters
  Stangrove, 516 ton
23 February 1939
  Billmeir, London Surface action - Shelled and seized by the Nationalist gunboat Dato off Cap de Creus[8] Ran aground in a gale while in custody at Palma de Mallorca. Skipper killed in the wreckage.[9] Raised by Nationalist ships in 1941, confiscated and renamed Castilla del Oro
(Condestable in 1944)[10]
  Sunion, 3,054 ton
22 June 1938
  African & Continental S.S. Co., London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
  Thorpehall, 1,251 ton
25 May 1938
  Westcliff S.S., London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
  Thorpeheaven, 3,683 ton
10 June 1938
  Westcliff S.S. Co., London Air attack at Alicante Raised by Nationalist ships on 18 May 1938, confiscated and renamed Castillo Guadalest
  Thorpeness, 4,798 ton
21 June 1938
  Westcliff S.S. Co., London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
  Ulmus, 2,733 ton
18 January 1939
  Reardon Smith, Cardiff Accidental fire at the Strait of Gibraltar[11] Abandoned. Salvaged and towed to Gibraltar.[nb 3]
  Woodford, 6,987 ton
1 September 1937
  Spanish Republic
Cº Primera de Navegación, Ltd.
Torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Diaspro off Columbretes islands Sunk in deep waters
  Yorkbrook, 1,370 ton
13 October 1938
  Angel Sons & Co., Cardiff Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships on 16 January 1940, confiscated and renamed Castillo Monteagudo.[nb 4]

French flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Artois, 439 ton
14 August 1938
  Marseille Maritime, Marseilles Hit a mine while en route from Marseilles to Oran Sank in depth waters
  Aunis, 439 ton
15 January 1939
  Marseille Maritime, Marseilles Surface action - Seized by the Nationalist gunboat Dato Confiscated, renamed Castillo Valldemosa
  Azelma, 177 ton
25 January 1939
  unknown Air attack at Sant Feliu de Guíxols Raised by Nationalist ships in 1940, confiscated and renamed Castillo Javier
  Belle Hirondelle
2 May 1937
  unknown Internal explosion off Palma de Mallorca Sank in deep waters
  Brisbane, 4,004 ton
8 June 1938
  André Puech, Paris Air attack off Denia Beached, total loss
  Cap Bear, 212 ton
15 June 1938
  G. Ciamoni, Marseilles Air attack at Valencia Total loss
  Chausser 91
20 October 1938
  Marine Nationale Air attack at Fornells Total loss
  El Djem, 2,575 ton
30 May 1938
  Soc. Maritime Nationale, Paris Air attack off El Grau, Valencia Total loss
  Francois, 3,457 ton
21 December 1937
  Soc. Commerciale d'afrettements et Commissiones, Paris Surface action - Seized by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Mallorca at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Andrade
  Gaulois, 500 tons
15 June 1938
  Enterprise Cotière des Transports Maritimes, Marseille Air attack at Valencia Raised by Nationalist ships on 28 September 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Turégano
  Guaruja, 4,282 ton
2 January 1938
  Transports Maritimes, Paris Grounded at Punta Polacra Total loss
  La Corse, 643 ton
4 November 1938
  S.A.R. Louis Carlini, Marseilles Air attack off Cape Matara Raised by Nationalist ships, confiscated and renamed Castillo Jarandilla
  Liberte
6 July 1937
  La Peche Française, Fecamp Surface action - Seized by the Nationalist cruiser Almirante Cervera Confiscated and renamed Castillo Almodóvar
  Oued Mellah, 2,414 ton
24 October 1937
  Cia. de Navigation Paquet, Marseilles Air attack off Balearic Islands Sunk in deep waters
  Saint Prosper, 4,330 ton
8 March 1939
  Soc. Navale de L'Ouest Hit a mine while bound for Algiers Sank with all hands
  Sydney, 4,937 ton
17 December 1937
  Soc. Commerciale d'afrettements et Commissiones, Paris Surface action - Seized by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Lázaro at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Simancas
  Tregastel, 1,046 ton
28 September 1938
  France Navegation, Paris Grounded at Cadaqués Total loss
  Yolande, 1,733 ton
26 January 1939
  R. Gardellá, Paris Air attack at Barcelona Total loss

Soviet flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Blagoev, 3,100 ton
3 September 1937
  Sovietflot Torpedoed and sunk off Skyros by the Italian submarine Settembrini Sunk in deep waters
  Katayama, 3,209 ton
17 October 1938
  Sovietflot Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist minelayer Vulcano Confiscated, renamed
Castillo Ampudia
  Komsomol, 5,109 ton
14 December 1936
  Sovietflot Surface action - Shelled and sunk by the Nationalist cruiser Canarias Sunk in deep waters[nb 5]
  Lensovet, 4,718 ton
19 March 1938
  Sovietflot Surface action - Captured by Nationalist patrol boats at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed
Castillo Bellver
  Max Hoels, 3,472 ton
2 November 1938
  Sovietflot Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist minelayer Vulcano Confiscated, renamed
Castillo Montealegre
  Potishev, 3,545 ton
31 May 1938
  Sovietflot Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Vicente Puchol Confiscated, renamed
Castillo de Olite[nb 6]
  Skvortzov Stepanov, 2,152 ton
26 May 1938
  Sovietflot Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist cruiser Canarias Confiscated, renamed
Castillo Maqueda
  Smidovich, 2,485 ton
10 January 1937
  Sovietflot Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist destroyer Velasco off Bilbao Confiscated, renamed
Castillo Peñafiel
  Timiryazev, 2,151 ton
31 August 1937
  Sovietflot Surface action - Torpedoed and sunk by the Italian destroyer Turbine off Tigzirt Sunk in deep waters
  Tsyurupa, 2,081
23 October 1938
  Sovietflot Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist cruiser Almirante Cervera Confiscated, renamed
Castillo Villafranca

Greek flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Ellinico Vuono, 3,667 ton
19 May 1938
  T. Papadimitrou, Pireus Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist cruiser Canarias near Cape Passero Confiscated, renamed Castillo Mombeltrán
  Gardelaki, 2,282 ton
28 March 1937
  E. Theophilatos, Ithaca Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Uad Kert on the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Tarifa
  Lena, 1,735 ton
30 March 1938
  Jean Milonas, Paris Torpedoed by a submarine - apparently the Nationalist General Mola[14] Towed to Barcelona, and sank there in shallow waters. Raised by Nationalist ships, confiscated, and renamed Castillo Moncada
  Loukia, 2,143 ton
4 March 1937
  Mavris & Diacon Zadeh, Istanbul Hit a mine off Cape San Sebastian Sank in deep waters
  Loulis, 330 ton
25 February 1939
  unknown Hit a mine off Cap de Creus Sank in deep waters
  Nagos, 1,926 ton
5 April 1937
  J.G. Livanos, Chios Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Maria Teresa at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated and renamed Castillo Monforte
  Nicolau Eleni, 4,528 ton
9 November 1938
  Georgios Nicolau, Pireus Surface action - Captured by a Nationalist patrol boat at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated and renamed Castillo Madrigal
  Poli, 2,861 ton
2 April 1937
  E. Vintiades, Genoa Surface action - Shelled and sunk by the Nationalist cruiser Baleares Sunk in deep waters
  Victoria, 6,600 ton
11 November 1938
  Georgios Nicolau, London Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Mar Cantábrico Confiscated, renamed Castillo Oropesa

Panamanian flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Andra, 1,384 ton
6 April 1937
  Socdeco, Antwerp Surface action - Shelled and sunk by the Nationalist armed trawler Galerna off Santoña Sunk in deep waters
  Authorpe, 274 ton
6 January 1939
  Marseille Maritime, Marseilles Air attack at Alicante Raised by Nationalist ships in 1939, confiscated and renamed Alhucemas
  Geo McKnight, 12,442 ton
15 August 1937
  Waried Tankschiff
(Esso affiliated)
Surface action - Shelled and torpedoed by the Italian destroyer Freccia off Tunis Ran aground after being abandoned[nb 7]
  Hordena, 2,667 ton
16 April 1937
  Scotia Corp., Paris Surface action - Captured by Nationalist cruiser Almirante Cervera Confiscated and renamed Castillo la Mota
  Janu, 1,347 ton
14 March 1937
  Socdeco, Antwerp Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Huelva Confiscated and renamed Castillo Arévalo y Tarifa
  Nausicaa, 5,005 ton
27 May 1938
  Veniselos, Pireus Air attack south of Menorca Sunk in deep waters
  Reina, 1,436 ton
19 October 1937
  Scotia Corp., Paris Air attack at Gijon Raised by Nationalist ships on 30 June 1938, confiscated and renamed Castillo Olmedo
  Wintonia, 168 ton
30 May 1938
  C. Calunietti, Ciudad de Panama Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist cruiser squadron Confiscated, renamed Castillo Rio Seco y Finisterre

Danish flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Bodil, 844 ton
29 July 1938
  J. Lauritzen A/S, Copenhagen Air attack at Palamos Sunk in deep waters
  Edith, 1,566 ton
13 August 1938
  J. Lauritzen, Copenhaguen Air attack off Balearic Islands Sunk in deep waters
  Jan, 1,739 ton
26 May 1938
  Holm & Wonsild, Copenhaguen Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Iñasi Confiscated, renamed Castillo Coca

Norwegian flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Alix, 1,115 ton
30 March 1938
  A.S. Salvesen, Oslo Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Huelva off Gibraltar Grounded and lost off Santoña
  Gulnes, 1,195 ton
7 December 1936
  H. Storaas, Bergen Bombed by Republican aircraft at Seville[17] Broken up in Vado Ligure, Italy, in May 1937
  Skottland, 736 ton
1 January 1938
  A.S. Skottland, Norddbo Struck a reef off Santander Total loss
  Skulda, 1,105 ton
21 July 1938
  W. Hanseu, Bergen Surface action - Captured by Nationalist patrol boats at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Daroca

Dutch flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Hanna, 3,730 ton
11 November 1938
  F.W. Vittenbogaart, Rotterdam Torpedoed and sunk by the Nationalist submarine General Mola off Cape San Antonio Sunk in deep waters
  Jonge Jacobus, 1,757 ton
27 January 1937
  Midelansch Zeevart, Rotterdam Foundered off Berlengas Islands Sank in deep waters

Estonian flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Juss, 1,187 ton
22 January 1938
unknown Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Mallorca at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Gibralfaro
  Pomaron, 1,743 ton
21 January 1938
  Strubin & Co., London Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Vicente Puchol at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Butrón

German flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Luise Leonhardt, 4,475 ton
3 January 1938
  Leonhardt & Blumberg, Hamburg Foundered at Melilla Total loss
  Süd IV, 248 ton
12 April 1938
  Walfang-Kontor, Hamburg Stranded at Cape Gando Total loss

Belgian flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Arctic, 147 ton
30 January 1938
  Brunet & Co., Ostend Grounded near Corunna Total loss

Italian flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Iolanda, 1,243 ton
1 March 1937
  unknown Foundered off Cadiz Sank in deep waters

Latvian flag edit

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
  Everards, 3,075 ton
19 November 1938
  F. Grauds, Riga Surface action - Captured by Nationalist patrol boats off Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Fuensaldaña

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ The owner later salvaged the hull, which remained docked at England in 1939, after Ms. Drake purchased another yacht in 1938.[4]
  2. ^ Republican sources claim that Lake Lugano was shelled by the heavy cruiser Canarias, but the only naval bombardment on a British freighter at Palamós recorded by Nationalist reports on this date was actually carried out by Mar Negro.[6]
  3. ^ Seized by Italian authorities while being rebuilt at Savona in a shipyard on 10 June 1940, when Italy entered World War II[12]
  4. ^ Captured by the Nationalist cruiser Canarias off Bilbao, rescued and forcibly taken to Bermeo by the Basque naval trawler Bizcaia on 4 March 1937. Captured again by Nationalist armed trawlers and minelayer Júpiter on 5 October 1938. Released 20 November
  5. ^ Scuttled per Soviet sources[13]
  6. ^ Sunk in March 1939 by Republican coastal batteries at Cartagena during a landing attempt
  7. ^ While some authors[1][15] assess Geo McKnight as a total loss, she was actually rescued while adrift off Bizerte by tugs of the Italian company Tripcovich, repaired and upgraded at Trieste and sold to a British company under the name Esso Edinburgh. The tanker served under British flag during World War II[16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b González Etchegaray, Rafael (1977). La Marina Mercante y el tráfico marítimo en la Guerra Civil. Ed. San Martín, Appendix two. ISBN 84-7140-150-9 (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Gretton, Peter (1984). El Factor Olvidado: La Marina Británica y la Guerra Civil Española. Editorial San Martín, p. 98. ISBN 84-7140-224-6. (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Evening Post, 11 August 1936
  4. ^ The Palm Beach Post, 9 Aug 1939, pp. 1-2
  5. ^ de Trijueque, Pere (17 September 2006). "Un pobre vaixell anomenat "Lake Lugano"" (PDF) (in Catalan). Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. ^ Moreno de Alborán y de Reyna, Salvador (1998). La guerra silenciosa y silenciada: historia de la campaña naval durante la guerra de 1936-39, Volume 4, Part 2, p. 2725. Ed. Alborán. ISBN 84-923691-0-8 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Heaton, Paul (1985).Welsh Blockade Runners in the Spanish Civil War. Starling press, Appendix 2. ISBN 0-9507714-5-7
  8. ^ Moreno de Alborán y de Reyna, Salvador (1998). La guerra silenciosa y silenciada: historia de la campaña naval durante la guerra de 1936-39, Volume 4, Part 2. Ed. Alborán, p. 3064. ISBN 84-923691-0-8 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ House of Commons, Parliamentary debate of 20 March 1939
  10. ^ Rodríguez Aguilar, Manuel (July 2013). "El vapor británico "Stangrove" en la Guerra Civil española y un poco de su historia". www.grijalvo.com (in Spanish). Revista General de Marina. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  11. ^ Besly, Edward (2004). For those in peril: civil decorations and lifesaving awards at the National Museums & Galleries of Wales. National Museum Wales, p. 74. ISBN 0-7200-0546-9
  12. ^ Screw steamer Ulmus built by Dunlop, Bremner & Co. Ltd. in 1926 from Scottish Built Ships website
  13. ^ Alpert, Michael (2008). La guerra civil española en el mar. Editorial Critica, p. 210,. ISBN 84-8432-975-5 (in Spanish)
  14. ^ General Mola by Daniel Prieto (in Spanish)
  15. ^ Gretton, Peter (1984). El Factor Olvidado: La Marina Británica y la Guerra Civil Española. Editorial San Martín, p. 308. ISBN 84-7140-224-6. (in Spanish)
  16. ^ Matessini, Francesco (2000) La Guerra Civile Spagnola e la Regia Marina Italiana. (in Italian). Soldiershop Publishing, pp. 163-70.ISBN 8893276143
  17. ^ "Gulnes (1091361)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 17 March 2012.