Luis de la Sierra Fernández (1920 in Santander – 11 October 2014 in Palma de Mallorca) was a Spanish writer, historian and sailor mostly known for his naval military history and travelling books.[1]

Luis de la Sierra
Born
Luis de la Sierra Fernández

1920 (1920)
Santander, Spain
DiedOctober 11, 2016(2016-10-11) (aged 95–96)
NationalitySpanish
Alma materEscuela Naval Militar
Occupation(s)Historian, writer and military personnel

Biography

edit

When he was 17 years old, during the Spanish Civil War, he enrolled as a sailor on the National Navy serving in the light cruiser Almirante Cervera. When the war was over, he was accepted in the Escuela Naval Militar (Military Navy School) of San Fernando (Cádiz), where, in 1943, he obtained the rank of alférez de navío (ensign). He specialized in submarine warfare and Torpedoes. During his long career he served in several minelayers, cruisers and the schoolships Galatea and Juan Sebastián Elcano.[2] He finished his military career teaching at the Escuela de Armas Submarinas (Submarine Arms School) until 1982.[3]

His first book was the renowned "Buques suicidas. Historia de los submarinos de bolsillo, torpedos humanos y botes explosivos en el siglo XX" published by the Spanish Navy and winner of a Virgen del Carmen prize in 1963.[4] Its success paved the way for his writing career, mainly made of naval history books, particularly the naval engagements of both world wars,[5] traveling books and guides along with a few translations to Spanish of international authors. During his writing career he frequently moved between Almería, Barcelona, Cádiz, Cartagena, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca and Santander to complete his research.[6]

Books

edit

Most of his books are yet to translated into English, consequently the original title in Spanish has been preserved.[7]

 
The cruiser Almirante Cervera in 1928.
edit
  • Buques suicidas. Historia de los submarinos de bolsillo, torpedos humanos y botes explosivos en el siglo XX. Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1958. ISBN 978-84-261-0022-1.
  • Titanes azules. Acciones navales de la segunda guerra mundial. Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1963. ISBN 978-84-261-0727-5.
  • Corsarios alemanes en la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1969. ISBN 978-84-261-0726-8.
  • La guerra naval en el Atlántico (1939–1945). Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1974. ISBN 978-84-261-5715-7.
  • La guerra naval en el Mediterráneo (1940–1943). Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1976. ISBN 978-84-261-0264-5.
  • La guerra naval en el Pacífico (1940–1943). Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1979. ISBN 978-84-261-1590-4.
  • El mar en la Gran Guerra (1914–1918). Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1984. ISBN 978-84-261-2023-6.
  • Corsarios alemanes en la gran guerra (1914–1918). Barcelona, España: Juventud. 1985. ISBN 978-84-261-2147-9.
 
The school ship Galatea in 1975.

Travel

edit

Translations

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Luis de la Sierra". www.librarything.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Fallece el historiador naval santanderino, Luis de la Sierra". Escritores Cántabros. 2014.
  3. ^ "La muerte de Luis de la Sierra Fernandez, marino ilustre y español ejemplar – Alerta Digital". www.alertadigital.com. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  4. ^ Mallorca, Noticias de. "Fallece en Palma Luis de la Sierra". Noticias de Mallorca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. ^ ""La guerra naval en el Atlántico"". abc (in Spanish). 31 August 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  6. ^ Hernández, Jesús (2008). "¡ES LA GUERRA!: Homenaje a Luis de la Sierra". ¡ES LA GUERRA!. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Luis de la Sierra". www.librarything.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.