At about 2:15 a.m. on 6 March 1938, Baleares, Canarias, and Almirante Cervera engaged Libertad, Méndez Núñez, and five Republican destroyers off Cartagena. The cruisers fought an ineffective gunnery duel at long range while maneuvering heavily. Luis González de Ubieta, judged here to be among the Republican Navy's most capable officers, used that distraction to move three destroyers out of the escort screen. They closed to roughly 300 yards and each launched four torpedoes. The attack struck Baleares near the forward magazines and led to her loss. The action illustrates how a destroyer force could exploit a confused night engagement against a stronger cruiser force.
Chapter · 27:37-31:48
Destroyer torpedoes at the Battle of Cape Palos
Baleares was lost after Republican destroyers used a close-range torpedo attack during the confused night action at Cape Palos.