The Battle of Cape Cherchell was a sea battle between the Nationalist heavy cruiser Baleares and the Republican light cruisers Libertad and Méndez Núñez in the Spanish Civil War. In the early morning hours of September 7, 1937, Baleares unexpectedly met a Republican convoy consisting of several merchant ships escorted by Republican cruisers and destroyers. Baleares was beaten off and badly damaged in the engagement. The Spanish Civil War (July 18th 1936–April 1st 1939) was a conflict in which the elected Second Spanish Republic and political left-wing groups fought against a right-wing nationalist putsch led by General Francisco Franco, who eventually succeeded in ousting the Republican government and establishing a personal dictatorship. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Satellite image The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean almost completely enclosed by land, on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. ... Cherchell or Cherchel is a seaport of Algeria. ... History of Spain series Prehistoric Spain Roman Spain Medieval Spain -Visigoths -Al-Andalus -Age of Reconquest Age of Expansion Age of Enlightenment Reaction and Revolution First Spanish Republic The Restoration Second Spanish Republic Spanish Civil War The Dictatorship Modern Spain Topics Economic History Military History Social History Flag of the... The Spanish State (Estado Español) was the formal name of Spain from 1936 to 1978, under the régime of Generalísimo Francisco Franco (d. ... The Spanish Civil War (July 18th 1936–April 1st 1939) was a conflict in which the elected Second Spanish Republic and political left-wing groups fought against a right-wing nationalist putsch led by General Francisco Franco, who eventually succeeded in ousting the Republican government and establishing a personal dictatorship. ... Combatants Second Spanish Republic Nationalist Spain Commanders Ildefonso Puigdendolas Juan Yagüe Carlos Asensio Antonio Castejón Strength 5,000 militia 2,250 regulars 750 Moroccan regulares 30 guns Casualties 4,500 dead, wounded, or captured 2,000 dead or wounded The Battle of Badajoz was one of the first... The Guadalajara Offensive (8 March – 23 March 1937) was an engagement in the Spanish Civil War. ... Picassos Guernica Guernica after the bombing. ... Battle of El Mazuco Conflict Spanish Civil War Date 1937 Place El Mazuco, near Llanes Result Nationalist victory; leading to the fall of Asturias The Battle of El Mazuco was fought in September 1937, between the Republican (government) and Nationalist (rebel) armies of the Spanish Civil War. ... The Battle of Cape Palos, also known as the Second Battle of Cape Palos, was the biggest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War, fought on the night of March 5 - 6 1938, 70 miles east of Cape Palos near Cartagena, Spain. ... The Battle of the Ebro was the last great offensive of the Spanish Republicans in the Spanish civil war. ... The Spanish State (Estado Español) was the formal name of Spain from 1936 to 1978, under the régime of Generalísimo Francisco Franco (d. ... A heavy cruiser is a type of large warship which originated with the British Hawkins class during World War I. They entered service after the war. ... History of Spain series Prehistoric Spain Roman Spain Medieval Spain -Visigoths -Al-Andalus -Age of Reconquest Age of Expansion Age of Enlightenment Reaction and Revolution First Spanish Republic The Restoration Second Spanish Republic Spanish Civil War The Dictatorship Modern Spain Topics Economic History Military History Social History Flag of the... The Spanish Civil War (July 18th 1936–April 1st 1939) was a conflict in which the elected Second Spanish Republic and political left-wing groups fought against a right-wing nationalist putsch led by General Francisco Franco, who eventually succeeded in ousting the Republican government and establishing a personal dictatorship. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... A convoy is a group of vehicles or ships traveling together for mutual support. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ...

The biggest danger for the convoy was not the Baleares itself, but Nationalist shore-based aircraft that might have appeared once the Nationalists had radioed the convoy's location. Because of this, the four destroyers quickly broke off the engagement and continued as escorts for the merchant convoy.

While these ships steamed ahead, Republican cruisers Libertad and Méndez Núñez engaged Baleares. A crashing volley from the Libertad smashed Baleares' electronics, temporarily disabling the cruiser's guns. But the Nationalists repaired the damage and the wounded Baleares renewed its pursuit.

The ships met again in the afternoon, Libertad scoring two more hits on critical areas of the Baleares. Baleares then limped off to wait for her sister-ship Canarias. The retreating Republican ships were later attacked, ineffectively, by several Nationalist airplanes, including Italian planes from the Non-Intervention-Committee blockade on Spain. A blockade is any effort to prevent supplies, troops, information or aid from reaching an opposing force. ...