The Auxiliary Navy of the Basque Country
(1936-39)

Ship

DONOSTIA

Class

Armed Trawlers

Commanders

• Com. Francisco Elortegi Ganbe (Dec.36-1938)
• TN Antonio Fernández Santos (1938)

Career

Trawler Virgen del Carmen seized by the Nationalist in Aug-36 and transformed into patrol boat with the same name. Her crew rebelled on 5/6-Dec-36 and sailed into Bilbao. Joined to the Basque Navy with the name Donostia. Fled to La Pallice on 12-Mar-37. Taken over by the Republican Navy on 1-Nov-37. Seized under French court orders in 1938. Returned to her owners in 1939.

Characteristics of the ship

Built	GRT	Length	Beam	Draught	Depth	Knots	Crew
1918	287	36’80	7’11	4’57	4’12	10	28-30

 

 

Armament

Jan/37 : 1-76’2mm(3”)/50 Vickers; 1-47mm/50 Vickers; 2 machine guns-8mm Steyr; 1 machine gun-9mm Hotchkiss; 6 depth charges

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