Franco'S Pirates

The Spanish Civil War was won and lost on the high seas, with the Nationalists having an uninterrupted flow of men and materials due to attacks by Fascist warships, submarines, and aircraft. The worst affected was the British merchant marine, which dominated Spanish trade. The naval war involved the German and Italian navies, attacking Spanish ships and then British warships and merchantmen.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2024
Publisher: Casemate Publishers

The Spanish Civil War was a complex and multifaceted conflict that took place primarily on the high seas. While the Nationalists had a significant advantage in terms of men and materials, the Republican sea lanes were constantly attacked by Fascist forces, including warships, submarines, and aircraft. These attacks not only disrupted the flow of supplies to the Republican forces but also involved dozens of foreign merchantmen and warships, including American and British vessels.

The British merchant marine, which dominated Spanish trade, was particularly hard hit by these attacks. Some owners resorted to using rust buckets to maximize profits, resulting in the loss of 66 British lives. The naval element of the war was marked by a series of events, including a rebellion, a mutiny, and a massacre. Both the German and Italian navies became involved in the naval war, attacking Spanish ships and then British warships and merchantmen.

A blockade in the north led to confrontations between the Royal Navy and the Nationalist Navy, with the latter launching a series of daring raids on British shipping. The mining of a British liner and the tales of daring among determined British master mariners further highlighted the intensity of the naval conflict.

Later in the war, Italian surface warships, submarines, and aircraft began attacking foreign shipping in the Mediterranean and Aegean, leading to the British and French threatening pirate submarines. This period saw the first aerial campaign against shipping and the first operational use of sonar against a submarine.

The Spanish Civil War was a story of exploitation, heroism, chauvinism, piracy, international inaction, and espionage that has never been fully told. It encompasses a range of historical events and narratives that highlight the complexities and challenges of warfare at sea. The naval aspect of the war was particularly significant, as it played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the conflict.

In conclusion, the Spanish Civil War was a complex and multifaceted conflict that took place primarily on the high seas. While the Nationalists had a significant advantage in terms of men and materials, the Republican sea lanes were constantly attacked by Fascist forces, including warships, submarines, and aircraft. The British merchant marine, which dominated Spanish trade, was particularly hard hit by these attacks, resulting in the loss of 66 British lives. The naval element of the war was marked by a series of events, including a rebellion, a mutiny, and a massacre. Later in the war, Italian surface warships, submarines, and aircraft began attacking foreign shipping in the Mediterranean and Aegean, leading to the British and French threatening pirate submarines. This period saw the first aerial campaign against shipping and the first operational use of sonar against a submarine. The Spanish Civil War was a story of exploitation, heroism, chauvinism, piracy, international inaction, and espionage that has never been fully told.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781636242750