Spain had only two ships of this type, and they were expected to form the fleet's core. The Civil War demonstrated the consequence by reducing that pair to one while also leaving a dreadnought badly damaged. The cruisers were showpieces more than practical warships. Despite their nominal heavy-cruiser status, many cruiser classes could plausibly defeat them because their protection was so weak. A scarce flagship needed a design that reflected the strategic cost of losing it, rather than one built around impressive specifications.
Notable Point · 43:34-45:25
Why two flagship showpieces were the wrong force-structure bet
A navy with only two heavy cruisers needed practical survivability more than impressive classification and appearance.