IRN Mendez Nunez (CL-1919)
The Nunez class was supposed to be ordered and built at the same time as the super-dreadnought, Jaime 1. The intervention of WW1 meant that the required parts to build the ship were tied up. This worked to some advantage as the Nunez class were supposed to be units 3 and 4 of the Almirante Cervera class. The six inch guns for the ships were supposed to have been supplied through Vickers-Armstrong Group, but they were heavily involved in war production. This led to the founding of the medium gun foundry at Rota that would produce Iberias 9.2" and smaller guns from 1917-18 onwards. The first commission for the foundry is the production of the 6" guns for this class.
The delay in the construction of these two cruisers allowed them to be of the latest design of the "D Type" cruisers of the Royal Navy. Of a size with the previous Cervera class, the re-arrangement of the main armament meant that with three less guns the ships had the same broadside. The 6" guns were a direct reverse engineered copy of the guns mounted on the Cerveras. Both ships were due to be taken in hand for major refurbishment work late 1939 early 1940 but only minor refits were allowed with the outbreak of WW2. The above shows the ships at completion, the main refit items being the addition of AA guns. The two single 2 pounder guns are replaced with a quad mounting in the same position. Twin and single 20mm are also added with a total of twelve guns having space found for them. The most major work done to the ships during the 1930's is the replacement of the 18" triple torpedo tubes with two sets of 21" tubes.
| Displacement | 6,500 tons std, 7,850 tons full load |
| Length | 474 ft |
| Breadth | 46 ft |
| Draught | 15 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft geared turbines, 45,000shp |
| Speed | 30 knots |
| Range | 4000 at 12 knots |
| Armour | 3" side, 1" deck |
| Armament | 6 x 6" (6x1) 3 x 3" (3x1) 2 x 2pd (2x1) |
| Torpedoes | 12 x 18" (4x3) |
| Complement | 390 |
| Notes | IRN
Mendez Nunez IRN Principe Alfonso |
Visit of ships of the Royal Navy on their round the world tour of the 1920's. The Mendez is berthed ahead of Repulse. Other large ships are berthed on the other side of the wharf, with large masts showing.