Spanish Battleship España - The Baby Dreadnought

The Espana-class battleships are an...interesting set of ships. The smallest dreadnoughts. Unlucky to a fault. The best Spain could hope to manage. All of that and more.

In today's video, we'll look at the background of their design. That design itself. And the service history of the name ship, and first to be lost, Espana. It's an interesting story, I feel.

Further Reading:

[juancortapan]

Thanks for covering this ship. As a spanish who lives in the port where this ship was born i grew up seeing the armour plates and other relics of the ship in my local museum. My interest in warships came from this ship and it has a special place in my heart, even if it was not the best dreadnought by a long shot

[waynedavis]

Might not have been the best ships, but they got the job done. So I guess Spain got what they needed. Very interesting video. I had never heard of these ships. Very small battle ship . Very interesting.

[robertsolomielke]

TY-I knew of the lop sided fight with the USN, but the rest is new and great via Espana !

[george_]

When the 8-gun broadside is needed in battle I think damage to the deck is not really a concern. Different of course during training.

[BrockRuby]

A very great vid on a subject that I would have to swim through the library to research. Can't wait for more on the Spanish navy?! Thanks!!

[alephalon]

That's so unlucky. And her name went to her sister ship. That's even more unlucky. Like, cursed, even.

[JGCR]

I think some of the guns of Espana still exist as coastal batteries but I might be mistaken. Interestingly Spain was the last country ever to fire live ammo from a battleship caliber gun when they last fired their 15 in coastal guns in the 2000s

[ARGONUAT]

Are there any more modern pictures of what’s left of the wreck today off Morocco?

[mikearmstrong]

The second ship took so long to build that it was laid down as Alfonso XIII, launched as Alfonso XIV, commissioned as Alfonso XV, and sailed on its sea trials as the Francisco Franco.

[irvingsteinberg]

Great video. Maybe you can cover USS Allan DD 66?

[andrewmosher-lect]

Not much smaller than the South Carolina

[alexzenz]

An ocean going coastel defense. Better than a CA exept speed. 👍🏻

[icqme]

Did any of these ships take part in the civil war? Navy split apart and it would be interesting to hear about any battles if there were any.

[mikearmstrong]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but based on the illustrations shown, I don't see how they could do cross deck fire for an 8 gun broadside.
The barrels are too long, and the masts and funnel get in the way of turning the turret to fire across deck. I'm sure it must have been capable of doing so or they wouldn't have turrets en echelon, but it's not showing as possible in these drawings.
To quote Mr. Zorg, "anyone care to explain?".

[George_M_]

They look like northern european coastal defense battleships. Only more outdated - can't stand those staggered turtets.

[jessicalovin]

They were useful ships
I listened to a few minutes
And you were still bagging on Spain
And hadnt said a thing about the boat

Keep this up and you lose this subscriber

[JJbm]

Absolutely fantastic great video. My apologies but does anyone know if you have a video on the British Pacific fleet in 1944-1945? The British Pacific fleet, and the performance of her amazing Illustrious class armoured aircraft carrier.