Cartagena (general military photos and a bit of history)

 Cartagena 

General military photos and a bit of history 

My wife has been promissing me a trip to Cartagena for over 10yrs, we`ve had the house nearly 9 and lived out here nearly 4 - we finally made it on 30th April 2024.

Cartagena has a long history, founded by the Cartheginians in around 227 BC; then conquered by the Romans around 209 BC (Punic Wars), Emporer Augustus had the ampitheatre built (5BC - 1 AD). The city and its important trading port eventually became part of the Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by the Visigoths around 624 AD.

The Arabs arrived around 734 AD and the city stayed under their control until driven out by the Christian forces of Ferdinand under the command of Alfonso X (the Wise). 

King Felipe II fortified the city building on previous Punic, Roman and Arabic fortifications and the City and port became a major naval base by 1668. 

The city was besieged during the 3rd Carlist War by forces of the Liberals who wanted the whole of Spain to remain united and not splinter into regions, by January 1876 the City surrendered, but not before nearly 20,000 shells had been fired into it by the besiegers!!

In 1888 the world`s first electric powered submarine designed and developed by Isaac Peral a Spanish naval officer and engineer and native of Cartagena who had fought during the 3rd Carlist War and in Cuba was launched.

1936-38 the city stayed loyal to the Republic and became the main naval base for the republican navay during the Civil War, it was bombed repeatedly by Nationalist aircraft.

What follows are some general military photos from around the city.

Memorial to those naval and marine personel who died in Cuba

Situated near the Ayuntamiento and the Naval Museum by the port.

Bronze sailor coming ashore on leave

Situated on the main pavement close the monument above

Bronze marine waiting to embark

Situated infront of the memorial above

CASA C-101 Aviojet - Advanced trainer and light attack aircraft

This aircraft was donated by the Ejército del Aire to the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena and can be found on display near the bullring

Arsenal gate

Bronze Marine marching 

Situated opposite the Arsenal Gate

Model of the Castillo de la Concepción

Various bits of armour found in the Castillo Museum

Spanish Frigate in the harbour

Spanish Submarine in the harbour

Old Submarine pens

Parade