General information

The painting instructions for Spanish ships can be found here: LINK. This page contains only basic information about the models and ships, along with the painting scheme that should be applied (the instructions on the linked page show what the specific scheme looks like).

Spain was one of the oldest colonial empires in the world, but by the mid-nineteenth century only remnants of that former fame and power remained. Admittedly, with the advent of ironclads, the Spaniards made an effort to build many modern ships, which made their fleet one of the most powerful ironclad fleets of the 1860s, but the country’s economic weakness and internal conflicts made them very quickly start stand out. The construction of some ships dragged on for many years, there was a shortage of funds, there was no coherent vision. Armada Española entered the war with the USA in 1898 underinvested, with great shortcomings. The Spaniards were not able to bring all the ships they owned to technical efficiency.
Importantly, they had to divide their fleet into three distant theaters. European waters, the Caribbean and the Philippines. Initially, it was decided that the Caribbean would be the most important, and a strong squadron of cruisers was sent there. Apart from a small squadron in the Philippines, the rest of the reasonably operational ships, including the only battleship – Pelayo – were kept in Spain.
The defeat in the battles of Santiago and Manila made the outcome of the naval war a doomed one. The Spaniards began to fear the expedition of the American fleet to the shores of Spain itself.
It is definitely a demanding fleet. A fleet for those who like challenges. The heaviest ships are missing here, but it is better among the 2nd class cruisers. But the strength of this fleet can be light ships – if used properly. Are you ready to take the challenge and take command of the toughest navy?

6th Era – predrednoughts

GMT-SPA-001 Spanish Navy Squadron

This is the perfect set for the beginning of the adventure with the Spanish fleet. It includes the following:

Ship models:
– Cristobal Colon armoured cruiser,
– Infanta Maria Teresa class armoured cruiser,
– Alfonso XII class cruiser,
– Aragon class cruiser,
– 4 Furor class destroyers (2 for each base)

Dial sets x6
Ship’s cards x7
Card sleeves x7
HDF bases for ships x6

GMT-SPA-002 Cristobal Colon armoured cruiser

Class: 2.
Base length: 12 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish, with minor changes. Black superstructures and cannons (only a wooden bridge), white boats, chimneys and fans ochre.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.

Cristóbal Colón was a Giuseppe Garibaldi-class armoured cruiser of the Spanish Navy that fought at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War.

Cristóbal Colón was built in Italy under the name Giuseppe Garibaldi, being the second ship of the class to be laid down with that name.

She was designed to be an intermediate type of ship between extant battleships and cruisers, powerful enough to function as a part of a battle fleet and yet fast enough to outrun more powerful ships, and in this sense was the Spanish Navy’s first true armoured cruiser. 

A heavily armed and armoured Cristobal Colon will be the terror of any enemy cruiser.

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GMT-SPA-003 Infanta Maria Teresa class armoured cruiser

Class: 2.
Base length: 12 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish with some minor changes. White superstructures, wooden bridge, lower part of main artillery towers in white, upper part of main artillery towers in ocher color, white boats with wood-colored interior. Ocher chimneys, fans and masts.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.

The Infanta Maria Teresa class of three armoured cruisers were built for the Spanish Navy between 1889 and 1893. Ships of this class were the core of Admiral Cervera’s famous squadron at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, and Infanta Maria Teresa was his flagship.

Strong armament will allow you to fight any enemy cruiser, although it is worth keeping your distance in combat, as weak armor of this class will not provide sufficient protection. The heavy Infanta cannons, with a bit of luck, can even hurt battleships …

GMT-SPA-004 Aragon class cruiser

Class: 3.
Base length: 8 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish. Wooden-colored superstructure.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.

The Aragon class of unprotected cruisers was a series of three cruisers built between the late 1860s and early 1880s for service with the Spanish Navy. They were named for historic regions and kingdoms of Spain.

Good armament, but terrible armor, makes Aragon should fight against smaller enemy ships. Armed with torpedoes, it may allow her to try to attack larger ships, but getting close to the enemy will be a very dangerous task.

GMT-SPA-005 Reina Cristina (Alfonso XII) class cruiser

Class: 3.
Base length: 10 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish. Wood-colored upper deckhouse. Ocher chimneys, fans and masts.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.

The Alfonso XII class of unprotected cruisers was a series of three ships built during the 1880s for service with the Spanish Navy. They were named for a Spanish king and two Spanish queens.

The ships were designed for colonial service, and were not intended to fight the armoured and heavily armed ships. The lack of good armor is a disadvantage of these ships, but they can surprise many larger opponents with a torpedo attack.

GMT-SPA-006 Isla de Luzon class gunboat

Class: 4.
Base length: 6 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish. White superstructures, fans and cannon towers (black barrels), ocher chimneys.
Models in a set: 2.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 2.

Isla de Luzón was an Isla de Luzón-class protected cruiser of the Spanish Navy which fought in the Battle of Manila Bay. Isla de Luzón was built by Elswick in the United Kingdom. She was laid down on 25 February 1886, launched on 13 November 1886, and completed on 22 September 1887

This small ship can successfully deal with other, small enemy units, and can also surprise larger ships with its advantages, like torpedoes.

GMT-SPA-007 Velasco (Infanta Isabel) class gunboat

Class: 4.
Base length: 8 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish. White superstructures, fans and cannon towers (black barrels), ocher chimneys.
Models in a set: 2.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 2.

The Velasco class of unprotected cruisers was a series of eight cruisers built during the 1880s for service with the Spanish Navy. They were named after Luis Vicente de Velasco.

The Velasco-class cruisers generally were assigned to colonial service. They were an ill-fated class, with two lost at sea and three more sunk during the Spanish–American War.

It is definitely a very inconspicuous ship. But how many times has it happened that something inconspicuous changed the fate of the world completely? 🙂

GMT-SPA-008 Furor class destroyer

Class: 4.
Base length: 8 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish. Black superstructures, fans, cannons, torpedoes. White boats, ocher chimneys.
Models in a set: 4.
Models on one base: 2.
Cards in a set: 2.

The Furor class was a type of destroyers of the Spanish Navy, similar to the units of the A class, or 27 knotters, of the British Royal Navy. Commissioned in 1896 they were the first destroyers of the Spanish Navy.

The Furor class’ main function was to serve as escort to the larger capital ships and protect them against the torpedo boats, while also hunting the latter.

Fast and well-armed, Furor will be the pride of your fleet and the terror of even large enemy ships.

GMT-SPA-009 Pelayo battleship

Class: 2.
Base length: 12 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 2.

Pelayo battleship, built in the second half of the 1880s, it was based on the design of the French battleship Marceau. By the end of the 19th century the Pelayo was quite antiquated but still a serious force, armed with two 12,6 inch and 2 11 inch cannons, not counting many lighter guns, she could reach 16 knots speed. Her very thick armor, which was superior to that of many later battleships, was still very impressive.

Pelayo will definitely be a valuable addition to the Spanish fleet, giving it completely new tactical possibilities, especially when fighting with battleships.

GMT-SPA-010 Reina Regente (Alfonso XIII) protected cruiser

Class: 2.
Base length: 10 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 2.

Reina Regente-class protected cruiser has two separate cards in the set. One will be for the cruiser Reina Regente. Armed with 4 cannons of 240 mm caliber, she turned out to be unstable and sank during a storm off the coast of Spain.

Based on the experience of this tragedy, the Spaniards decided to change the armament on the other two cruisers, arming them with smaller guns. Alfonso XIII and Lepanto therefore had lighter armament than Reina, and this option will be shown on the second card. Players will therefore be able to choose whether they want to field a single “poor seakeeping” ship armed with heavy cannons (with the slow load trait) or a class of less heavily armed cruisers (but with slightly better armor.

GMT-SPA-011 Emperador Carlos V armoured cruiser

Class: 2.
Base length: 14 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.

Emperador Carlos V was an armoured cruiser of the Spanish Navy. The money intended to build torpedo boats was used to build a 9,000-ton cruiser, deriving this cruiser from the British Blake class.

She was weakly armoured, relying mostly on her armoured deck for protection. 

When the Spanish–American War broke out in April in 1898 Emperador Carlos V was rushed into service and assigned to the 2nd Squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral Manuel de Camara, but the expedition of this squadron to the Philippines was returned to Spain.

While poorly armoured, this vessel is fast and well-armed, making it an excellent addition to the other cruisers in the Spanish player’s fleet.

GMT-SPA-012 Numancia ironclad (1885&1900)

Class: 2.
Base length: 10 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 2.

The Spanish ironclad Numancia was an armoured frigate bought from France during the 1860s for service with the Royal Spanish Navy (Armada Real).

In 1866 the ship was a core of Spanish escadre sent to Eastern Pacific participating in the Chincha Islands War, and shelling Valparaíso and Callao. On the way back she became the first ironclad to circumnavigate the Earth for this, she earned the motto: “Enloricata navis que primo terram circuivit” – “First ironclad ship to sail around the world”.

Although Numancia lags behind in capabilities compared to many newer vessels, her strong armour still provides good protection, and decent armament ensures defence against smaller enemy ships. This historically significant vessel will be a valuable addition to the Spanish player’s fleet.

The set includes cards for two versions of this ship, after modernization in 1885 and after reconstruction in 1900.

GMT-SPA-013 Ariete class torpedo boat

Class: 2.
Base length: 6 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish.
Models in a set: 4.
Models on one base: 2.
Cards in a set: 2.

The Ariete was a torpedo vessel, leading the Ariete class were torpedo boats, belonging to the Spanish Navy. Together with its twin, the Rayo, it formed the second pair of authorised torpedo vessels in 1886. The contract for its construction was signed with the British company Thornycroft on May 18, 1886.

Ariete underwent trials on the River Thames on July 8, 1887, setting a world speed record at 27.376 knots. This event caused some international stir, with the French press commenting that the figure was exaggerated, and the British press suggesting that the best products of their industry should remain in the country.

The Ariete will be a valuable vessel for the Spanish Navy; her high speed, compact size, and torpedo armament will pose a significant threat to larger enemy vessels.

GMT-TRA-003 Rapido auxiliary cruiser

Class: 2.
Base length: 14 cm.
Color scheme: Standard Spanish.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 3.

SS Columbia was a commercial passenger ship, which served later as an Spanish auxiliary cruiser Rapido, and Russian auxiliary cruiser Terek. She was launched on 27 February 1889 and was delivered to Hamburg America Line soon thereafter.

On 8 April 1898, the Spanish Navy purchased Columbia from Hamburg America for Spanish–American War service as an auxiliary cruiser. Armed and renamed Rapido, she was commissioned on 20 April 1898. Rapido became part of the relief expedition for the Philippines. The war ended in August 1898 without Rapido seeing combat.

Due to her size, speed and hull points, this vessel can play many roles in the player’s fleet.

The set includes cards for three versions of this ship, as the Rapido, the Russian auxiliary cruiser Terek and the passenger ship Columbia.