| Original caption: “This photo show bombing and sinking of the ten thousand ton cruiser Baleares, pride of the Spanish insurgent Navy, March 6, with a loss of six hundred of its crew of eight hundred. This remarkable exclusive photo hows the reared stern of the vessel in its final plunge. Heads of swimming survivors may be seen at left.” The España Armada (“Spanish Navy”) heavy cruiser Baleares (“Balearic Islands”) was laid down on August 15, 1928, by Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval but wasn’t completed until December 28, 1936, with its 4th and final turret installed until June 1937. Fitting out in El Ferrol, the birthplace of Spanish Dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco (December 4, 1892 – November 20, 1975), the ship was seized by the Nationalists in 1936. Baleares fought in several battles. With her sister ship, Canarias, on March 5-6, 1938, she participated in the 2nd Battle of Cape Palos. The cruisers, with escorts, were conveying troops and equipment from North Africa to Spain when they ran into Republican forces at 0215 Hours. Baleares was hit by torpedoes between A and B turrets, detonating her forward magazine. Royal Navy destroyers rescued 441 survivors, but 765 Spanish officers and men, including commanding Admiral Manuel Vierna Belando (August 4, 1884 – March 6, 1938). 1 British sailor was killed in the morning by Republican bombers as they effected rescue operations. United Kingdom Royal Navy Lieutenant Archibald J. F. Milne-Home (May 4, 1909 – 1993), Gunnery Officer aboard HMS Kempenfelt, took this photo as his ship approached the sinking stern of Baleares. Milne-Home sold them to the London Express. After the Kempenfelt made port at Gibraltar, his shots were rushed to Tangier on a chartered tug, then flown to Marseilles and on another plane to London in time to catch the Steamship Europa on March 11, arriving in New York, Friday, March 18. This photo, 1 of a series of 14 images, appeared in the London Illustrated News on March 19, 1938; and was internationally syndicated the same day. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0810.jpg |
| Image Size | 179.39 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1834 x 1436 |
| Photographer | Archibald J. F. Milne-Home |
| Photographer Title | United Kingdom Royal Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | March 6, 1938 |
| Location | |
| City | Cartagena |
| State or Province | Murcia |
| Country | Spain |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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