this part of the ship that survivors were rescued, thanks to the efforts of the British Royal Navy destroyers and , under Captain McGrigor, who made towards the scene of the action from away. Only 441 out of her crew of 1,206 were saved with Admiral Vierna among those who went down with the ship. 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. Aftermath The sinking of the 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 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 one of the last Republican victories 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. The Republican Navy failed to press their advantage, and the loss of Baleares was partially offset when the modernised cruiser Navarra joined the Nationalist fleet some months later. See also Spanish Civil War Republican ship classes List of classes of Spanish Nationalist ships of the Spanish Civil War References Bibliography Michael Alpert, La Guerra Civil española en el mar, Editorial Critica, External links El hundimiento del crucero Baleares (Spanish) Cape Palos Palos 1938 in Spain Cape Palos March 1938 events