Spanish destroyer José Luis Díez
Encyclopedia
José Luis Díez was a Churruca-class
destroyer
in the Spanish Navy
. She took part in the Spanish Civil War
on the government side.
She was named after Teniente de Navío José Luis Díez y Pérez Muñoz.
in 1936 and was anchored off Santurce
for some time. She received the nickname Pepe el del puerto ("Joe of the harbor"), for her perceived inactivity.
On 20 April 1937, she was involved in a friendly fire
incident when her anti-aircraft guns shot down Felipe del Río's Polikarpov I-15
. The gunners mistook the aircraft for a German fighter.
On 31 May of the same year, the Police
and the Marina de Guerra Auxiliar de Euzkadi took control of the José Luis Díez and the Císcar. At the request of the Republican government, the ships embarked more than 200 sailors of the auxiliary Navy from Euzkadi
to replace their original crews, who had been deemed untrustworthy. The ships were eventually returned to their original crews.
On 10 June 1937, Císcar, under the command of Alférez de Navío Juan Antonio Castro and Jose Luis Díez commanded by teniente de navío Evaristo Lopez engaged the cruiser Cervera
(capitán de navío Manuel Moreu). The result was inconclusive.
Jose Luis Díez and Ciscar left Bilbao on 15 June 1937, heading for France
. They were loaded with refugees and several civilian and military personalities, shortly before the Nationalists entered Bilbao
. Both ships went on to Santander
, and after its fall, to Gijon
. The Jose Luis Díez then took refuge in Falmouth
, England
where, among others, the commander, the engine room chief and the navigator deserted. Subsequently, the destroyer sailed to Le Havre
, France
.
She then used her strong resemblance to a British destroyer as part of a ruse in an attempt to break the blockade of the Gibraltar Strait and return to the Mediterranean Sea
in June 1938. During the trip, she sank two Nationalist-flagged trawlers. The ship was painted with the pennant number
of HMS Grenville
and used the Royal Navy
flag, but she was intercepted by the heavy cruiser Canarias
and other ships. After two frustrated attempts, she was badly hit and forced into Gibraltar
on 29 August 1938, where she underwent repairs while looking for an opportunity to try again.
On the night of 29/30 December, she left Gibraltar prepared for a new attempt, but was spotted by the gunboat Calvo Sotelo. A close-range battle ensued between the destroyer and several rebel ships, including the gunboat-minelayer Vulcano
. She was beached at Catalan Bay
in Gibraltar to avoid being sunk or captured. The crew were returned to the Republican side by the British.
José Luis Díez was decommissioned and scrapped in 1965.
Churruca class destroyer
Churruca was a Spanish destroyer class built for the Spanish Navy based on a British design. Eighteen ships were built, two sold to Argentina.The ships were authorized on 17 February 1915 by Navy Minister Augusto Miranda y Godoy...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in the Spanish Navy
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
. She took part in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
on the government side.
She was named after Teniente de Navío José Luis Díez y Pérez Muñoz.
Civil War
The ship sailed into BiscayBiscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
in 1936 and was anchored off Santurce
Santurtzi
Santurtzi is a port town in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, Spain. It is located in the Bilbao Abra bay, near the mouth of the Nervión river, on its left bank, 14km downriver from Bilbao and forms part of the Greater Bilbao agglomeration...
for some time. She received the nickname Pepe el del puerto ("Joe of the harbor"), for her perceived inactivity.
On 20 April 1937, she was involved in a friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
incident when her anti-aircraft guns shot down Felipe del Río's Polikarpov I-15
Polikarpov I-15
The Polikarpov I-15 was a Soviet biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s. Nicknamed Chaika because of its gulled upper wings, it was operated in large numbers by the Soviet Air Force, and together with the Polikarpov I-16 monoplane, was one of the standard fighters of the Spanish Republicans during...
. The gunners mistook the aircraft for a German fighter.
On 31 May of the same year, the Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and the Marina de Guerra Auxiliar de Euzkadi took control of the José Luis Díez and the Císcar. At the request of the Republican government, the ships embarked more than 200 sailors of the auxiliary Navy from Euzkadi
Euzkadi
Euzkadi may refer to:*Basque Country *Euzkadi , a Basque nationalist newspaper published from 1913 to 1937*Euzkadi, a Mexican tire manufacturer...
to replace their original crews, who had been deemed untrustworthy. The ships were eventually returned to their original crews.
On 10 June 1937, Císcar, under the command of Alférez de Navío Juan Antonio Castro and Jose Luis Díez commanded by teniente de navío Evaristo Lopez engaged the cruiser Cervera
Spanish cruiser Almirante Cervera
Almirante Cervera was a light cruiser of the Cervera class of the Spanish Navy. She was named after the Spanish admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete, commander of the Spanish naval forces in Cuba during the Spanish-American War...
(capitán de navío Manuel Moreu). The result was inconclusive.
Jose Luis Díez and Ciscar left Bilbao on 15 June 1937, heading for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They were loaded with refugees and several civilian and military personalities, shortly before the Nationalists entered Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
. Both ships went on to Santander
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
, and after its fall, to Gijon
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
. The Jose Luis Díez then took refuge in Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where, among others, the commander, the engine room chief and the navigator deserted. Subsequently, the destroyer sailed to Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
She then used her strong resemblance to a British destroyer as part of a ruse in an attempt to break the blockade of the Gibraltar Strait and return to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
in June 1938. During the trip, she sank two Nationalist-flagged trawlers. The ship was painted with the pennant number
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
of HMS Grenville
HMS Grenville (H03)
HMS Grenville was the flotilla leader for the G-class destroyers, built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. She spent most of the pre-war period as part of the Mediterranean Fleet. The ship was transferred to the British Isles to escort shipping in local waters shortly after the beginning of...
and used the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
flag, but she was intercepted by the heavy cruiser Canarias
Canarias
Canarias may mean:* The Spanish Canary Islands * The Canarias class cruiser* The Spanish cruiser Canarias...
and other ships. After two frustrated attempts, she was badly hit and forced into Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
on 29 August 1938, where she underwent repairs while looking for an opportunity to try again.
On the night of 29/30 December, she left Gibraltar prepared for a new attempt, but was spotted by the gunboat Calvo Sotelo. A close-range battle ensued between the destroyer and several rebel ships, including the gunboat-minelayer Vulcano
Jupiter class minelayer
Jupiter Class minelayers was a group of four vessels of the Spanish Navy built during the Spanish Republic. Three of them came into service during the Civil War after joining the rebel side.-Civil War:...
. She was beached at Catalan Bay
Catalan Bay
Catalan Bay is a small bay and fishing village in Gibraltar, on the eastern side of The Rock away from the main city.-Etymology:The true origin of the name of Catalan Bay is unknown, but a couple of theories exist...
in Gibraltar to avoid being sunk or captured. The crew were returned to the Republican side by the British.
Post Civil War
In March 1939 the British government, delivered the ship to the Nationalists. She was taken back by the gunboat Calvo Sotelo.José Luis Díez was decommissioned and scrapped in 1965.