Spanish Battleship Espana

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The Espana class of battleships was Spain's only dreadnought/modern battleship construction project, which yielded a total of three vessels. These battleships were among the smallest and most basic ever built as part of the dreadnought program, featuring eight 12-inch guns housed in two turrets on either side of the hull, along with a total length of 140 meters. Consequently, they stood alongside the South Carolina class in terms of size and firepower. The lead ship of this class was laid down in December 1909 and launched into service in February 1912. However, it took nine more years to complete the final vessel. During the Rif War with Morocco in 1923, the Espana encountered difficulties while navigating off the coast of Melilla due to dense fog, ultimately running aground. Despite efforts to salvage her, all attempts failed, resulting in her loss. Meanwhile, her sister ships played significant roles in the Spanish Civil War, with both vessels eventually being sunk during the conflict. The Jaime I met its demise due to an accidental magazine explosion in Cartagena, Colombia, whereas its companion ship suffered a different fate.