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The following is a list of foreign ships lost or wrecked 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[]

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

British flag[]

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
United Kingdom African Mariner, 6,581 ton
22 January 1939
United Kingdom African & Continental, London Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships on 18 April 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Montjuich
United Kingdom Alcira, 1,387 ton
4 February 1938
United Kingdom J. Bruce & Co., Glasgow Air attack off Barcelona Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom Arlon, 4,903 ton
27 June 1938
United Kingdom Arlon S.S. Co. Air attack at Valencia Set ablaze - Towed outside the port and sunk
United Kingdom Blue Shadow, 34 ton
9 August 1936
United States 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]
United Kingdom Dellwyn, 1,451 ton
27 July 1938
United Kingdom Dillwyn S. S. Co., Swansea Air attack at Gandia Raised by Nationalist ships on 10 May 1939, confiscated and renamed Castilla Montesa
United Kingdom Eleni, 1,138 ton
30 November 1938
United Kingdom Inter Levant Co. Ltd. Air attack at Águilas Raised by Nationalist ships in 1940, confiscated and renamed Castillo Vera
United Kingdom Endymion, 887 ton
21 January 1938
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom English Tanker, 5,387 ton
6 June 1938
Flag of Spain 1931 1939 Spanish Republic
Campsa-Gentibus, Madrid
Air attack at Alicante Raised by Nationalist ships on 26 April 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Almenara
United Kingdom Farnham, 4,793 ton
27 June 1938
United Kingdom Alpha S.S. Co., London Air attack at Alicante Raised by Nationalist ships on 27 June 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Montiel
United Kingdom Foynes, 822 ton
27 June 1937
Flag of Ireland Limerick S.S. Co., Limerick Air attack at Valencia Raised by Nationalist ships in 1940, confiscated and renamed Castillo Riaza
United Kingdom Greatend, 1,495 ton
28 May 1938
United Kingdom NewbiginS.S. Co., Newcastle Air attack at Valencia Raised by Nationalist ships on 24 November 1938, confiscated and renamed Castillo Noreña
United Kingdom Isadora, 1,324
9 June 1938
United Kingdom Stone & Rolfe, Belfast Air attack at Castellon Raised by Nationalist ships in 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Frías
United Kingdom Jean Weems, 2,349 tons
30 October 1937
United Kingdom Thameside Ship Co., London Air attack off Santander Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom Lake Lugano, 2,120 ton
6 August 1938
United Kingdom Strubin & Co., London Air attack off Palamos Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom Lucky, 1,235 ton
10 February 1938
United Kingdom Toussi Ship Co., Gibraltar Air attack at Valencia Raised by Nationalist ships on 24 May 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Benisano
United Kingdom Miocene, 2,153 ton
24 January 1939
Flag of Spain 1931 1939 Spanish Republic
Campsa-Gentibus, Madrid
Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships in 1940 and confiscated, but eventually scrapped in 1944
United Kingdom Penthames, 3,995 ton
31 May 1938
United Kingdom D. P. Barnett, London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom St. Winifred, 5,683 ton
6 June 1938
United Kingdom Barry Shipping Co. Ltd. Air attack at Alicante Heavily damaged. Hull sold to an Italian company which rebuilt her as Capo Vita.[5]
United Kingdom Stanburgh, 1,095 ton
4 November 1938
United Kingdom Billmeir, London Internal explosion off Sète, France, while on passage to Barcelona Beached and later scrapped
United Kingdom Stancroft, 1,407 ton
27 December 1938
United Kingdom Billmeir, London Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships on 24 April 1939, confiscated and renamed Castillo Almansa
United Kingdom Standale, 2,456 ton
12 May 1937
United Kingdom Billmeir, London Foundered off Berlengas islands while bound to Cartagena Sank in deep waters
United Kingdom Stangrove, 516 ton
23 February 1939
United Kingdom Billmeir, London Surface action - Shelled and seized by the Nationalist gunboat Dato off Cap de Creus[6] Ran aground in a gale while in custody at Palma de Mallorca. Skipper killed in the wreckage.[7] Raised by Nationalist ships in 1939, confiscated and renamed Castilla del Oro (later Condestable)
United Kingdom Sunion, 3,054 ton
22 June 1938
United Kingdom African & Continental S.S. Co., London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom Thorpehall, 1,251 ton
25 May 1938
United Kingdom Westcliff S.S., London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom Thorpeheaven, 3,683 ton
10 June 1938
United Kingdom Westcliff S.S. Co., London Air attack at Alicante Raised by Nationalist ships on 18 May 1938, confiscated and renamed Castillo Guadalest
United Kingdom Thorpeness, 4,798 ton
21 June 1938
United Kingdom Westcliff S.S. Co., London Air attack off Valencia Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom Ulmus, 2,733 ton
18 January 1939
United Kingdom Reardon Smith, Cardiff Accidental fire at the Strait of Gibraltar[8] Abandoned. Salvaged by Nationalist warships, towed to Barcelona.[nb 2]
United Kingdom Woodford, 6,987 ton
1 September 1937
Flag of Spain 1931 1939 Spanish Republic
Cº Primera de Navegación, Ltd.
Torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Diaspro off Columbretes islands Sunk in deep waters
United Kingdom Yorkbrook, 1,370 ton
13 October 1938
United Kingdom Angel Sons & Co., Cardiff Air attack at Barcelona Raised by Nationalist ships on 16 January 1940, confiscated and renamed Castillo Monteagudo.[nb 3]

French flag[]

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

Soviet flag[]

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

Greek flag[]

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
Greece Ellinico Vuono, 3,667 ton
19 May 1938
Greece T. Papadimitrou, Pireus Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist cruiser Canarias near Cape Passero Confiscated, renamed Castillo Mombeltrán
Greece Gardelaki, 2,282 ton
28 March 1937
Greece E. Theophilatos, Ithaca Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Uad Kert on the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Tarifa
Greece Lena, 1,735 ton
30 March 1938
France Jean Milonas, Paris Torpedoed by a submarine - apparently the Nationalist General Mola[10] Towed to Barcelona, and sank there in shallow waters. Raised by Nationalist ships, confiscated, and renamed Castillo Moncada
Greece Loukia, 2,143 ton
4 March 1937
Turkey Mavris & Diacon Zadeh, Istanbul Hit a mine off Cape San Sebastian Sank in deep waters
Greece Loulis, 330 ton
25 February 1939
Greece unknown Hit a mine off Cap de Creus Sank in deep waters
Greece Nagos, 1,926 ton
5 April 1937
Greece J.G. Livanos, Chios Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Maria Teresa at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated and renamed Castillo Monforte
Greece Nicolau Eleni, 4,528 ton
9 November 1938
Greece Georgios Nicolau, Pireus Surface action - Captured by Nationalist patrol boat at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated and renamed Castillo Madrigal
Greece Poli, 2,861 ton
2 April 1937
Italy E. Vintiades, Genoa Surface action - Shelled and sunk by the Nationalist cruiser Baleares Sunk in deep waters
Greece Victoria, 6,600 ton
11 November 1938
United Kingdom Georgios Nicolau, London Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Mar Cantábrico Confiscated, renamed Castillo Oropesa

Panamanian flag[]

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

Danish flag[]

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

Norwegian flag[]

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
Norway Alix, 1,115 ton
30 March 1938
Norway A.S. Salvesen, Oslo Surface action - Captured by the Nationalist patrol boat Huelva off Gibraltar Grounded and lost off Santoña
Norway Gulnes, 1,195 ton
7 December 1936
Norway H. Storaas, Bergen Bombed by Republican aircraft at Seville[13] Broken up in Vado Ligure, Italy, in May 1937
Norway Skottland, 736 ton
1 January 1938
Norway A.S. Skottland, Norddbo Struck a reef off Santander Total loss
Norway Skulda, 1,105 ton
21 July 1938
Norway W. Hanseu, Bergen Surface action - Captured by Nationalist patrol boats at the Strait of Gibraltar Confiscated, renamed Castillo Daroca

Dutch flag[]

Name and date of loss Ship's owner Type of Incident Aftermath
Netherlands Hanna, 3,730 ton
11 November 1938
Netherlands F.W. Vittenbogaart, Rotterdam Torpedoed and sunk by the Nationalist submarine General Mola off

Cape San Antonio

Sunk in deep waters
Netherlands Jonge Jacobus, 1,757 ton
27 January 1937
Netherlands Midelansch Zeevart, Rotterdam Foundered off Berlengas Islands Sank in deep waters

Estonian flag[]

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

German flag[]

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

Belgian flag[]

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

Italian flag[]

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

Latvian flag[]

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

Footnotes[]

  1. The owner later salvaged the hull, which remained docked at England in 1939, after Ms. Drake purchased another yacht in 1938.[4]
  2. Seized by Italian authorities while being rebuilt at Savona in a shipyard on 10 June 1940, when Italy entered World War II
  3. 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
  4. Scuttled per Soviet sources[9]
  5. Sunk in March 1939 by Republican coastal batteries at Cartagena during a landing attempt
  6. While some authors[1][11] assess this tanker as a total loss, she actually served under British flag during World War II[12]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 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 (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. (Spanish)
  3. Evening Post, 11 August 1936
  4. The Palm Beach Post, 9 Aug 1939, pp. 1-2
  5. Heaton, Paul (1985).Welsh Blockade Runners in the Spanish Civil War. Starling press, Appendix 2. ISBN 0-9507714-5-7
  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. Ed. Alborán, p. 3064. ISBN 84-923691-0-8 (Spanish)
  7. House of Commons, Parlamentary debate of 20 March 1939
  8. 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
  9. Alpert, Michael (2008). La guerra civil española en el mar. Editorial Critica, p. 210,. ISBN 84-8432-975-5 (Spanish)
  10. General Mola by Daniel Prieto (Spanish)
  11. Gretton, Peter (1984). El Factor Olvidado: La Marina Británica y la Guerra Civil Española. Editorial San Martín, p. 308. ISBN 84-7140-224-6. (Spanish)
  12. Wynn, Kenneth (1997). U-boat Operations of the Second World War: Career histories, U1-U510. Chatham, p. 47. ISBN 1-86176-024-8
  13. "Gulnes (1091361)". Miramar Ship Index. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz. Retrieved 17 March 2012.  (subscription required)
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