Ships Blas de Lezo and Méndez Núñez were laid down in 1917, showing considerable British design influence and resembling contemporary British C-class cruisers. But as Admiral Méndez Núñez's namesake ship couldn't be completed in time for the Admiral's 100th anniversary in 1924, the names of the two ships were switched. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the crew of cruiser Méndez Núñez chose to stay loyal to the Republicans. During the war, the cruiser escorted merchant ships and took part in the Battle at Cape Palos. In 1938, Méndez Núñez was damaged during an air raid by rebel bombers.