Battle of Cape Palos The Battle of Cape Palos , also known as the Second Battle of Cape Palos , was the biggest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War , fought on the night of March 5 – 6 , 1938 , east of Cape Palos near Cartagena , Spain . Leadup to the battle . On March 5 , 1938 the two Nationalist heavy cruiser s , " Canarias " and " Baleares " , sortied from the naval base at Palma de Mallorca , in company with the light cruiser " Almirante Cervera " , and three destroyers . The squadron acted as a distant escort of a convoy bearing war equipment from Italy . On the same day , forces of the Spanish Republican Navy , led by Admiral Luis González de Ubieta and consisting of two light cruisers ( the new " Libertad " and the older " Méndez Núñez " ) and five destroyers , sailed from Cartagena . At night , the Nationalist destroyers returned to base , while the cruisers remained on course . The battle . The squadrons , going in opposite directions , met by chance in the dead of night of 5 – 6 March 1938 . A Republican destroyer fired torpedo es but missed , and both fleets passed each other by . Nationalist Rear Admiral de Vierna preferred to wait until dawn , which would enable him to use his ships ' superior artillery , but Republican Vice Admiral de Ubieta decided to turn and pursue the enemy . The forces met again at about 02 : 15 . the Nationalist cruisers commenced fire on " Libertad " from a range of about 5 , 000 m ( 5 , 500 yd ) and the Republican cruisers returned fire . As the cruisers duelled , three Republican destroyers , probably unseen by the Nationalists , detached from escorting " Libertad " . At about 3 , 000 m ( 3 , 300 yd ) , " Sanchéz Barcáiztegui " , " Lepanto " , and " Almirante Antequera " each fired four torpedo es . Two or three torpedoes hit " Baleares " between ' A ' and ' B ' turrets and detonated her forward magazine . The kill is generally credited to " Lepanto " , but also to the destroyer " Almirante Antequera " by some authors . The two surviving Nationalist cruisers quickly cleared the area , leaving " Baleares " to her fate . The stern remained afloat and it was from this part of the ship that survivors were rescued , thanks to the efforts of the British Royal Navy destroyers " Kempenfelt " and " Boreas " , under Captain McGrigor , who made towards the scene of the action from 74 km ( 40 nm ) away . Only 441 out of her crew of 1 , 206 were saved . The Nationalist cruisers returned at dawn and survivors rescued by " Boreas " were transferred to them by boats . An air attack by Republican bombers interrupted the proceedings and caused one British fatality . The sinking of rebel heavy cruiser " Baleares " was hailed as a great victory by the republican government and Luis González de Ubieta , the commander of the republican fleet , was awarded the Laureate Plate of Madrid " ( Placa Laureada de Madrid ) " , the highest military award for gallantry of the Second Spanish Republic . The " Distintivo de Madrid " , which had been established by the Spanish Republic in order to reward courage , was given to cruisers " Libertad " and " Méndez Núñez " , and destroyers " Lepanto " , " Almirante Antequera " and " Sánchez Barcáiztegui " , as well as to their crew members . These ships would thenceforward fly a special pennant and the men would wear a special badge on their uniforms with the old Coat of arms of Madrid . The Battle of Cape Palos was the last Republican victory of the war . Although the action was the largest naval battle of the Spanish Civil War and an important Republican victory , it had little noticeable long - term effect on the war .