Here shown in Republican coulors. Designed by sir Philip Watts who used the British Emerald cruiser-class as a base.Of the Almirante Cervera-class with as sister ships the Almirante Cervera and the Principe Alfonso (later renamed Libertad and Galicia). Ordered in 1916 but due to the First World War not earlier launched as 17 May 1929 at the Sociedad Espanola de Construccion Naval at Ferrol, commissioned 10 February 1930 and stricken in 1964. The Miguel de Cervantes survived a torpedo attack by the submarine General Mola of the nationalists and a fire in 1943. In the 1940s partly rebuilt and strengthened by adding extra anti aircraft guns, replacing the single 6" mounting by twins and the 2x6"gun Q turret by a catapult to launched a seaplane. With a displacement of 7,475 long tons/7,595 tons standard and 9,237 long tons/ 9,385 tons full load with as dimensions 579 x 54 x 16'6". The Parsons geared turbines and 8 Yarrow boilers supplied 80,000 hp allowing a speed of 33 knots and with a speed of 15 knots a range of 5,000 nautical miles. The crew numbered 564 men. The original armament was 8x6" guns divided in 3x2 and 2x1, 4x4"guns, 3x47mm guns and 4x3-21" torpedo tubes. The armour consisted of a 2-3" belt, 1-2" deck and a 6" conning tower.
