Calling all Spanish Canarias-class fans

[Willie]

Decommissioning.

But time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much.

By the mid 1970�s Canarias was well beyond her life expectancy, and her capabilities were not worth the money that she was costing. Other than this, the new American Gearing destroyers freshly come to our Navy, and the construction of the new Baleares/Knox missile frigates, a huge step ahead in our Navy, made Canarias redundant at all effects, and the decision was taken to decommission her, always a sad moment.

This was Canarias on July 2nd. 1975 at C�diz, about to begin her last outing:

And here her last crew. What a different feeling when comparing this picture with that of Baleares crew:

And at last, Canarias entering Ferrol Bay for the last time on July 4th. 1975, being welcome by all kinds of ships:

And here she is getting into Ferrol Arsenal docks, ready for mooring alongside, again for the last time as a fighting unit. In the background, Empresa Nacional Baz�n shipyard, the former SECN, where she had been built a lifetime ago�

After this last trip, she was decommissioned on December 17th..

A plan was considered to preserve the ship as a floating museum, but the idea did not succeed. It has happened with many other historical warships of many other navies before (think of Yavuz !!!!) so, sadly, why should it have been different with Canarias.

Eventually, she was auctioned and sold for scrap on September 14th. 1977.

And then Canarias was gone�
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[Willie]

The aftermath.

In spite of so much History, very few pieces of Canarias have survived: the name plate at Navy Museum, Ferrol:

One of her main turrets has also been preserved as a monument at the Escuela Naval Militar, the Spanish Naval Academy, in Mar�n, very close to my town.

And as far as I know, the last piece is a 120 mm. a/a gun that is preserved in a public park is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where else:

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[Willie]

The legacy.

But the legacy went on. Baleares gave her name to a new frigate class, the first of the batch being named Baleares F71 herself :

And Canarias F86 is also the name of the last ship of our OHP frigates batch, here in the Mediterranean, sailing the waters where her namesake won most of her battle honors:

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[Willie]

The honor.

And always preserving honor: the flag cruiser Canarias served for almost five decades:

Sic transit gloria mundi. After serving with distinction in one of the most difficult moments of our country, and many years afterwards, the heavy cruisers Canarias and Baleares are gone.

They were key elements in my love for the navies and warships of all kinds; I drew their lines in the back covers of my school notebooks; my father used to tell me the last night of Baleares when I was a kid and already in bed before kissing me good night; they were the first models that I ever built, first with Lego and later with scraps of wood.

What beautiful cruisers...

Long live Canarias and Baleares !!!! [/size]

[Sparrow]

Impressive documentation work Willie.
Im really eager to see the actual modelling process. Knowing your skills I�m sure it will be a most inspiring experience!

Best regards!

�Un fuerte abrazo amigo!

[tomcat Fanatic]

Interesting reading and informations.. thx for shareing..

[maxim]

Thank you very much! I have a model of Canarias started.

[Gcj]

In case any fans missed the post on the main forum upcomming resin releases page Seed Hobby are to release a 1/700 Canarias. Hobby easy has it up for preorder

https://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/kjjll ... rmddx.html

Looks like a decent model albiet rather PE heavy. With shields around the secondaries and 6 twin AA looks like a 1940s fit. Hope it does well and raises awareness of these rather wonderful ships.