Cielo Español Armada
The Cielo Español Armada, Spanish Sky Navy, is not formally part of the Spanish Navy and is not officially crewed by naval officers or men. Most of the smaller craft are operated by the Army or the Tercio de Extranjeros, while the larger sky ships are owned by Los corsarios, or in English, the Privateers. Men such as Don Alonso Quixano, Captain Juan Fernandez O’Malley and Captain García Ordóñez, have no formal miltiary status yet command Spain's largest ships on Mars. Even Captain Diego Salvador Martinez Hernandez De La Cruz, a formal naval officer, is on long term leave from the Spanish Navy.
The dual roles of the Cielo Español Armada are to protect Villa Real and to harvest precious liftwood from the High Martian infested Electris Mountains for export back to Earth. As such all sky ships are screw galleys which are better suited for service in the highlands where winds can be fickle and temperamental.
Prince Halbranx
The flagship of the fleet, at least officially is the Prince Halbranx. It is a standard 700 ton Hullcutter screw galley from the very common Oenotrian design. It was built at Sirenia for Prince Halbaat, the previous ruler, and is beautifully maintained for the current Prince’s personal use. It has only Martian weaponry on board and a fully Martian crew. It rarely, if ever, is involved in combat and is very ceremonial in its duties.
Santo Screw Galleys
The main fighting ships of the fleet are the 500ton Santo class screw galleys. They are a locally produced design heavily influenced by the common Endtime class screw galley but with European weaponry instead of Martian guns. By not incorporating the heavy Martian lob gun mortar the operational ceiling of the vessel has been increased. Imported European breech-loaders, revolving cannon and machine guns replace the local weaponry giving the vessels good offensive capabilities. Unfortunately without expensively replacing the turn shaft propulsion the Santo screw galleys are always going to be relatively slow but this is not seen as a major issue. They are defensive in nature and are not meant to pursue other vessels but are instead well armed to protect themselves. Though based on the same general design the limitations of importing weaponry has meant that each vessel is slightly different to each other as they are armed with what is available at the time of commissioning. They are commanded by Spanish officers backed by Spanish soldiers and gunners.
San Patricio
The San Patricio is a Santo screw galley commanded by Captain Juan Fernandez O’Malley, the son of a wealthy Cuban plantation owner of Irish descent, who was one of the first volunteers for navy service on Mars. O’Malley has gained considerable experience as a galley captain and has used his family’s wealth to improve his command. The San Patricio has two Krupp 15cm cannon fitted fore and aft on naval mounts and two 6pdr Hotchkiss Revolving Cannons, port and starboard, along with 1" Gatling guns and 5-Barrelled Nordenfelts in broadsides. She is heavily armed and has gained a good reputation as a fighting ship, as pirates have found out.
San Diablo (The Lucky Devil)
The San Diablo is another Santo Class screw galley but this vessel is commanded by Don Alonso Quixano, a Spanish hidalgo of impeccable breeding but of blighted family wealth. He came to Mars to boost his family's prestige but mainly to fill its coffers; a task he has carried out very well indeed. The San Diablo has led more liftwood harvesting missions in to the Elektris Highlands than any other Spanish vessel and has earned more prize money to boot. She carries less heavy ordnance and more anti-crew weapons than the other Santo galleys and has more marines on board. She is believed to be a charmed ship and that Don Alonso has the devil’s luck.
San José de Cupertino
The San José de Cupertino is commanded by Captain Diego Salvador Martinez Hernandez De La Cruz, a popular career naval officer who volunteered for service on Mars. He was the second in command till less than a year ago when a High Martian killed his predecessor on a liftwood harvesting expedition in the Elektris Mountains. The San José de Cupertino is armed in a more conventional manner with six 9 cm Modelo 1878 Krupp cannons and 5-Barrelled Nordenfelts. She is popular as an escort vessel, having never lost a ship under her protection.
San Pedro de Marte
The San Pedro de Marte is commanded by Captain García Ordóñez who once wore the robes of Mother Church before picking up the sword to fight for the faith. Christian Brothers Garcia and Pedro came to Mars at the very start of Spanish exploration to spread the word of God to the heathens. Unfortunately Brother Pedrero was captured, tortured and martyred by Worm Cultists in the Electris Mountains. Brother Garcia felt he had no choice but to pick up the sword and fight the evil of the Worm Cult and High Martians in general; his ship is named after his fallen brother.
(San Hermenegildo)
The San Hermenegildo was lost on an exploration voyage to the Steppe beyond the Electris Mountains. It inexplicably crashed with the few survivors returning via ransom from the local Hill Martian nomads.
