Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII

Alfonso XIII was a Reina Regente-class first-class protected cruiser in the Spanish Navy, operational from 1896 until the early 20th century. Built at Ferrol, Spain, she was laid down in 1891, launched on August 31, 1891, and entered service in 1896 as a training ship in an incomplete state. She was fully completed and commissioned on May 18, 1900.

The Reina Regente-class cruisers were designed for heavy armament and high speed despite their small displacement. Alfonso XIII had modifications to address the lead ship's stability issues, including reducing her main gun size. However, these changes resulted in a lightly armed, slow, and unstable vessel in rough seas. Her armament included 7.9-inch guns in single mounts fore and aft, 4.7-inch guns in a central battery, and five fixed torpedo tubes above water.

During the Spanish-American War, Alfonso XIII was incomplete and remained at Cadiz after being left behind by her squadron in June 1898. She saw no combat during the war and returned to Spain after the conflict. Despite her completion and commissioning in 1900, Alfonso XIII struggled with seaworthiness, leading to a short career. She was eventually stricken and scrapped.

References include works by Roger Chesneau and Albert A. Nofi on naval history and the Spanish-American War.