At Málaga, Cartagena, Port Mahon, and aboard individual ships, the Republican navy had to rebuild its operations staff after war began. Officers suspected of divided loyalties were removed, but competent replacements were scarce. Junior personnel therefore received commands far beyond their normal experience, including destroyers and the battleship Jaime I. Political mistrust became an operational problem because bases, staffs, and ships still needed qualified commanders.
Chapter · 1:37-4:04
Republican naval command under political suspicion
A passage on Republican reorganization shows how loyalty fears and a shortage of qualified officers could push junior personnel into commands far beyond their normal experience.