The Isaac Peral (A-0) was the first operational submarine deployed by the Spanish Navy. It was build in the United States in Fore River Shipyard based on the design of the USS M-1. The ship was purchased under the terms of the "Ley Miranda" and had a career spanning 15 years during which it saw action in the Rif War.[1]
The submarine was identical to the American USS M-1, a Holland-class 903-L series. It had a displacement of 500 tonnes (742 when submerged). Its length was of 60.01 meters, beam of 5.8 meters and 5,10 of depth under keel. Its maximum depth was 50 meters. Its maximum crew capacity was 28 seamen.[2][3]
It was equipped with two "NLSECO" 600 CV diesel engines and two 340 CV electric motors which gave it a top speed of 15 knots in surface and 10.5 knots while submerged. It had an autonomy of 3700 miles at 11 knots on the surface and 80 miles at 4.5 knots while submerged. It's maximum depth was 50 meters.[4]
It was armed with a partially retractable 3-inch/23-caliber deck gun developed by Bethlehem Steel Co. and four 450 mm torpedo tubes mounted at the bow with 8 torpedoes in total.[5]
Development
Spanish Navy submarine tender Kanguro next to submarines in Pasaia (1922)
The Spanish government officially approved the acquisition of its first submarines the 17th of February 1915. Under the "Ley Miranda", so called in honor of its promoter, the admiral and then Minister of the Navy: Augusto Miranda.[6][7]
The original plan called for the construction of 28 units, however, the government felt the need to accelerate the creation of a submarine force and consequently, authorized Miranda to buy the first 4 units from other nations, along with all the equipment needed to maintain and train the personnel needed to create a submarine force for the nation.[8]
The first to be acquired was the so called "Isaac Peral". Named after the Spanish Navy officer and inventor. It was ordered from Fore River & Co in 1915. Construction began in September and lasted 10 months. The total cost was of 3.383.500 Pta.[9]
Operational History
Photography of the Peñón Vélez de Gomera in 1920.
The submarine was launched the 22nd of July 1916 from the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy.[10][dead link]
In 1917, near the end of its testing, and fearing the requisition of the submarine by the USA (who was then embroiled in the First World War in contrast to the neutrality of Spain), it was decided to prematurely abandon Boston. It first reached Spain the 28th of April 1917, arriving at Puerto de la Luz, in the Canary Islands. Having sailed for 4,000 nautical miles and suffering damages in both its hull and machine room, it had to be repaired by The Grand Canary Slipway & Engineering Co.[11]
During April 1922, in the early phase of the Riff War, the A-0, along with the B-1 carried the evacuation of non-combatants and wounded personnel of the Peñón Vélez de la Gomera. Under the command of Mateo García de los Reyes, and escorted by the battleship España, the night of the 17th of April both submarines travelled from Melilla to Veléz de la Gomera. There, during two nights and under enemy fire, the submarines evacuated 106 people before returning to Cartagena. This was the first combat operation carried by the Spanish submarine service. Later, in June and July 1922, the A-0 and B-1 provided escort to convoys supplying the garrison of the Peñón de Alhucemas, then under siege by Riffian forces.[12]
In January 1927 the submarine was careened and modernized in Ferrol. The letter P was added to the side of its hull.
The 28th of August 1930 its name was formally changed from Isaac Peral to A-0.
Its service life came to an end the 18th of May 1932, when it was stricken and sold for scrapp for 35.000 Pta.
List of Commanders
During its 15 years of operations, the submarine was under command of the following officers:
The 28th of April 2015, during the VI Jornadas Navales, the town of Puerto de la Luz commemorated 98 years from the transit of the submarine on its way to Cartagena. A plaque was placed in the harbour in an act with presence from local authority and industry and Spanish Navy representatives.[13]
References
↑Ramírez Gabarrús, Manuel (1983). El arma submarina española (in Spanish) (1sted.). Barcelona: PLAZA & JANES. ISBN9788450092677.
↑García Flórez, Dionisio (2020). Buques históricos de la Armada Española. Submarinos Isaac Peral A-0 y clase A (in Spanish). Ikonos Press, S.L. ISBN9788412118148.
↑Rodríguez Martín-Granizo, Gonzalo; González-Aller Hierro, José Ignacio (2003). "Antecedentes". Submarinos Republicanos en la Guerra Civil Española[Republican Submarines in the Spanish Civil War] (in Spanish) (2nded.). Madrid: Librería Gabriel Molina - M.Abella y Asociados. pp.21–44. ISBN84-95804-01-8.
↑Castellano, Alberto (2015-04-25). "El rincón del 'Isaac Peral A-0'". La Provincia - Diario de Las Palmas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-06-17.
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