Spanish Army

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Emblem of the Spanish Army.
Emblem of the Spanish Army.

The Spanish Army (Ejército de Tierra in Spanish; literally, "Land Army") is one of oldest active armies in the world and a branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, in charge of land operations.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

The Spanish Army has existed continuously since the reign of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella (late 15th century). The oldest and largest of the three services, its mission was the defense of peninsular Spain, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Melilla, Ceuta and the Spanish islands and rocks off the northern coast of Africa. The army is completing a major reorganization. It had previously been organized into nine regional operational commands. These were reduced to six commands in conjunction with a revised deployment of forces: Central Command, Southern Command, Levante Command, Eastern Pyrenees Command, Northwestern Command, and Western Pyrenees Command. In addition there were the two military zones of the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. Ceuta and Melilla fell within the Southern Command. At the head of each regional and zonal command was an officer of three-star rank. Although his authority had been reduced, the regional commander, who held the title of captain general, was still among the most senior officers of the army.

Under its earlier organization, the army was grouped into two basic categories: the Immediate Intervention Forces and the Territorial Operational Defence Forces. In theory, the former, consisting of three divisions and ten brigades, had the missions of defending the Pyrenean and the Gibraltar frontiers and of fulfilling Spain's security commitments abroad. The latter force, consisting of two mountain divisions and fourteen brigades, had the missions of maintaining security in the regional commands and of reinforcing the Civil Guard and the police against subversion and terrorism. In reality, most of the Immediate Intervention Forces were not positioned to carry out their ostensible mission of protecting the nation's borders. Many units were stationed near major cities--as a matter of convenience for officers who held part-time jobs--from which they also could be called upon to curb disturbances or unrest.

In a gradual process that had not been fully completed, the division of the army into the Immediate Intervention Forces and the Territorial Operational Defence Forces was being abolished. The brigade had become the fundamental tactical unit. The total number of brigades had been reduced from twenty-four to fifteen by the dismantling of nine territorial defence brigades. Eleven of the brigades had been organized within the existing five divisions; three brigades were to be independent, and one was to be in general reserve.

The best equipped of the five was the First Division, the Brunete Armored Division, with its armored brigade in the Madrid area and its mechanized brigade farther to the southwest near Badajoz. The motorized Second Division, Guzman el Bueno Division, which had acquired a third brigade as a result of the reorganization, was the major defensive force in the south, with full capability for rapid maneuver. The mechanized Third Division, the Maestrazgo Division, under the Levante Command, consisted of two brigades considered to have a moderate degree of mobility. The two mountain divisions, the Fourth Division--or Urgel Division and the Fifth Division--or Navarra Division, each consisting of two mountain brigades, remained in the Pyrenees border area of the north. Two of the four independent brigades were armored cavalry, one was an airborne brigade, and one was a paratroop brigade (in general reserve).

Numerous other changes were introduced as well, including the reorganization of artillery forces not included in the major combat units. This involved the creation of a field artillery command that consisted of a restructured and consolidated former artillery brigade, the creation of a single straits coastal artillery command that replaced two former coastal artillery regiments, and the introduction of an antiaircraft artillery command that was expected to benefit from significant modernizing of its weapons inventory.

The personnel strength of the army, which previously had been maintained at about 280,000, including 170,000 conscripts, had been trimmed to 240,000 by 1987. This was achieved through lower intakes of conscripts and volunteers and through cuts in the table of organization for officers and NCOs. The government's goal was a smaller but more capable army of 195,000 effective by 1991. Outside peninsular Spain, about 19,000 troops were stationed in Ceuta and Melilla. These included, in addition to the Spanish Legion and other specialized units, four regular regiments of North Africans. An additional 5,800 troops were assigned to the Balearic Islands, and 10,000 were in the Canary Islands.

The Spanish Legion, founded in Morocco in 1920, has always been under the direct command of the chief of the army staff. It has had a reputation as the toughest combat unit in the service, although modelled after the French Foreign Legion, reduced in size in 1987, as a result of successive reorganizations, the legion was scheduled to undergo further cuts to an overall strength of 6,500. It had a higher number of career soldiers than other units, but it was manned mostly by conscripts who had volunteered for the legion. Recruitment of non-Spanish personnel, who had never exceeded 10 percent of the group's manpower, ended in 1986. Foreign legionnaires already in the service were not affected.

The Spanish Legion is grouped into four tercios (sing., tercio), a unit intermediate between a regiment and a brigade, each commanded by a colonel. The first and the second tercios constituted the core of the military garrisons at Melilla and Ceuta (North Africa). Each had been reduced by a motorized battalion, leaving it with a single motorized battalion, a mechanized battalion, an antitank company, and a headquarters company. They were equipped with BMR armored personnel carriers. The Third Tercio, stationed in the Canary Islands, consisted of two motorized battalions and a headquarters company. The Fourth Tercio was being converted from a support role to a combat unit at the legion headquarters in Ronda near Malaga. Although, probably not as "glamorous" outside Spain as their French counterparts, the Spanish legion has nothing to envy in professionalism and "fiercy" to any other elite force in the world.

The Ministry of Defence was planning the creation of a rapid deployment force composed entirely of volunteers. This force, which would include the Spanish Legion, the Paratroop Brigade, the Airborne Brigade, and Marine units, would be available for use in trouble spots on twelve hours' notice. Lack of adequate air and naval transport would, however, be a limiting factor.

In spite of new procurement programs, introduced in the mid-1980s, arms and equipment were not in sufficient supply, and they were not up to the standards of other NATO armies. The inventory of medium tanks was made up of nearly 700 American models, as well as about Franco-Spanish 300 AMX-30s manufactured in Spain between 1974 and 1983. Although the military felt that it was essential to adopt a new main battle tank for the 1990s, some considerations led to a postponement of the decision and the upgrading of the AMX-30s with new German-designed diesel engines and transmissions, reactive armor panels, and laser fire-control systems.

Armored troop carriers included about 1,200 American-designed M-113s as well as AML-60s and AML-90s of French design. The Spanish army is in the process of being equipped with more than 1,200 BMRs, a new armored vehicle designed and manufactured in Spain. A variety of towed and self-propelled artillery was available, ranging from 105mm to 203mm guns and howitzers. The main antitank weapons were recoilless rifles; 88.9mm rocket launchers; Milan, Cobra, and Dragon missiles; and a small number of TOW (tube-launched, optically tracked, wireguided ) and HOT (high subsonic, optically guided, tube-launched) antitank missile systems. A considerable quantity of additional antitank missiles and rocket launchers was on order. The army aircraft inventory included about 280 helicopters, about 40 of which were armed with 20mm guns or HOT antitank missiles.

[edit] Manpower

The army will be increased to about 135.000 troops (50.000 officers and 85.000 soldiers) by the end of 2007. Before 2001 mandatory military service was still in use. Currently, the Spanish Army is a fully professionalized force. In case of war or siege state, an additional force of 80,000 Civil Guards comes under the Ministry of Defence command.

[edit] Ranks

The enlisted military ranks of the Spanish Army are as follows below, (for a comparison with other NATO ranks, see Ranks and Insignia of NATO.

NATO Code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF-D- Student Officer
Flag of Spain Spain
(Edit)		 No Equivalent No Equivalent
Capitán general1 General de Ejército Teniente general General de división General de brigada Coronel Teniente coronel Comandante Capitán Teniente Alférez
  • 1 Retained by His Majesty the King of Spain as his constitutional role.
NATO Code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Flag of Spain Spain
(Edit)
Suboficial mayor Subteniente Brigada Sargento primero Sargento Cabo mayor Cabo primero Cabo Soldado de primera Soldado

[edit] 1985: situation and equipment

In this year Spanish Army had started a reorganization that included a 45,000 unit reduction in organic. It had, at the time, 1 Armoured division (2 armoured brigades and one as reserve), one Mechanized division, one motorized, and other five brigades (paratroopers, armored, air-lifted, infantry, heavy artillery). These units, together with some regiments, were in FII, while FDOT had:

  • 2 Mountain divisions
  • 1 Alpine brigade
  • 9 infantry brigades (each based on: three bataloons, one artillery group, one scout company, one genius company, one transmission company)
  • 4 Tercio regiments
  • 1 artillery brigade
  • 1 brigade and five regiments coastal artillery
  • 2 heavy artillery regiments, and some minor units.

Other forces were: Baleares (three infantry regiments and support units), Canarias (one Tercio regiment and three infantry regiments), Ceuta and Melilla (2 regiments African troops and three Tercio).

Weapons were (SP means Self Propelled):

  • tanks: M47E/E1/E2, M48A5E, AMX-30E, M41
  • Armoured: AML-60, AML-90, VEC, BMR-600, BLR, M113
  • Artillery: M108 SP, Model 56 (105 mm), M109 SP, M44 SP, M114, M59 (155 mm), M107 SP(175 mm), M110 SP (203 mm), MLR Teruel 1 (140 mm), L21 (216 mm), L10(300 mm).
  • Coastal artillery: 88, 152, 203, 305, 381 mm
  • Mortars: Esperanza 60, 81, 120 mm, M125 SP(81 mm), M125A1 SP(120 mm)
  • A.A. Weapons: M55 12,7 mm, GAO-B1 20 mm, GDF 35 mm, L70 40 mm, M117 90 mm. SAM AMX-30 Roland, HAWK, Nike Hercules.

A.T weapons: rocket launchers M65 89 mm, M 40 RLC 106 mm, ATGW Cobra, MILAN, HOT, TOW, M 47 Dragon

  • Infantry weapons: M41/59 7,62 mm, CETME automatic rifles 7,62 mm.
  • Aviation: UH-1B/H, Aluette III, BO 105, AB.212, O-58, CH-47

[edit] 1991: situation and reorganization

At that time there was a plan called META, in Spanish Modernization of Army, that was discussed between 1982 and 1988. Military regions were reduced from 9 to 6, FII and DOT (Field Army and Territorial Army) were joined and the brigades were reduced from 24 to 15. Men were recently reduced from 279,000 to 230,000.

Five divisions had 11 of these brigades. They were

  • 1st Armoured Division BRUNETE (XI mechanized brigade and XII armoured brigade)
  • 2nd Motorized division GUZMAN EL BUENO (XXI mechanized brigade and XXII and XXIII motorized brigades)
  • 3rd mechanized division MAESTRAZGO (XXXII and XXXIII Mechanized brigades)
  • 4th Mountain division URGEL (XLI and XLII mountain brigades)
  • 5th Mountain division NAVARRA (LI mountain brigade and LII Motorized brigade).

Three indipendend brigades were: the Air-lifted Brigade, JARAMA and CASTILLEJOS armoured brigades, and Paratrooper brigade BRICAP, this latter with the General Reserve. Minor units with 14,000 men were in Canaries, 9,000 in Baleares, 7,000 in Ceuta and Melilla. Six groups and three companies were devoted to special operations (GOE and COE). Standard divisional structure was:

12,000-17,000 men, with one HQ, one light armoured cavalry regiment, two or three brigades, artillery regiment on two groups (12 or 18 pieces each), one Bofors group and several support units (genius, NBC, transport).

Brigades were organized with a 3-5000 strength, 3 or 4 bataloons, one artillery group and support units.

As for weapons, at that time there was a total of 850 tanks: 299 AMX-30E. 164 M-48 A5E1, 325 M-47 E1 and 46 M-47E2. The CFE agreements downed it to a 794 maximum, but this was not happened at this time.

AMX-30E were license-built by Empresa Nacional Santa Barbara between 1974 and 1983. They were the mainstay of the Army, and despite their recent age they were below aspectatives because trasmission problems. 150 were predicted to be upgraded to AMX-30E2 with enhanced protection (with ERA bricks), fire-control systems (based on laser and ballistic computers), mobility improvements. Total cost was planned 30 billions pesetas. Over 80% of this bill was about the replacement of Hispano-Suiza HA-110 engine and mechanical transmission, with the same of Leopard 1 (MTU 833, 840hp) and ZF LSG-3000 automatic transmission. FCS is Hughes Mk 9, while ERA is BLAZER, Israeli-made.

M-47 E1 and E2 had diesel engines instead of originals ran with gasoline, M-47 E2 and M-48 A5E1 had 105 mm guns, and the latters had computerized FCS Hughes Mk 7. Advanced night-vision sistems were also in program. To replace many of these tanks there was a program for 272 M60A1 and 260 M60A3 ex-US Army. This meant that all M-47 and M-48 will been phased out and sent arguably to Pakistan and Bolivia.

Cavalry had at the time 13 regiments (infantry had around 40), 7 light (RCLAC), 4 armoured (RCAC) and one school. They had several units: 1 with M113 and one tank squadron with 30 vehicles (13 tanks and 17 M113 basic or with 120 mm SP mortar). BMR VEC were the mainstay of cavalry squadrons (three for each regiment). These 6x6 armoured were built in Spain, had OTO-Melara turrets and different weapons: 20 had the relatively weak 20 mm Rh-202, while 70 had Cockerill 90 mm gun, far powerful also for anti-tank actions. But the mainstay had M-242 Bushmaster gun, the same of M2 Bradley (Without DU ammunitions), for a total of 208 out 298. M242 have range and power to threat many tanks and all light AFV with APDS ammunitions. Other valuable machines were 1,200 M113, included special versions like 81 and 120 mortar-carriers.

MAAA (Anti-aircraft Command) and MACA (Field artillery command) were also commanded by General Reserve, directly dependant by ET HQ.

The six regiments of MAAA had 12 groups. Six had Bofors guns, 3 had Oerlikon 35 mm, 1 HAWK and NIKE-HERCULES, 1 Roland, and 1 with TOLEDO, a combination of 35/90 mm gun and ASPIDE missiles.

All the units had:

  • SAM: 9 launchers for Hercules, the heavier and older of all the Army a.a. weapons. This normally served in Air forces, but in Spain it's used by Army. 24 HAWK launchers (recently modernized, with 5 billions pesetas) were a minimal force with around four batteries fielded. Mistral missile was evaluated at the time together with Stinger and RBS-70, and resulted in a first order of 500 missiles and 100 launchers. They were the first for ET, before never equipped with SHORAD systems. As medium-range missiles, there were also Aspide and Roland. Roland was in 71th regiment. There were 19 launchers, 16 of them used for the armoured division. Only nine had all-weather capability with AMX-30 chassis, that allowed high mobility. All the program (19 AMX-30 launchers, and 414 missiles) cost 29 billions pesetas. Aspide missiles were for 73 Regiment, with three batteries: 12 x 35 mm guns and 12 quad-launchers for Aspide missiles. The system was called TOLEDO and had Super-Fledermaus radars. 13 ASPIDE launchers were bough, with 200 missiles and 7 Super-Fledermaus FCS. Total cost, 22 billions (average cost for each Aspide, twice than Roland). Aspide are much less mobile, and used for static target defences, like Cartagena naval base, and 3nd Division.
  • Guns: on the contrary, the successful Bofors L/70 guns were well 243, produced in Spain under license. Their production took place between 1956 and 1962, and the modernization at the time was planned for 1,6 billions pesetas. This program was about 164 artilleries, 82 fire-direction FELIS, PFHE ammunitions, LPD-20 radars, and the boosting from 230 to 300 rpm. FELIS was projected by CETME and produced by INISEL. LPD-20 radar was already in service (34 pieces) in 35mm batteries, with Super-Fledermaus FCS.

MACA was organized with an HQ and several regiments: 61 localization Regiment, 62 MLR Regiment and 63 Artillery Regiment. 62 was organized with one group TERUEL MLR (12 140 mm launchers, 40 tubes each) and two groups with old 122/46 mm guns. 63th had one group with 122 mm guns and one with 203/25 M115 guns. Programs at the time saw the increasing to 64 TERUEL launchers and 60 new cannons with two different Spanish models, Santa Barbara REMA (155/39 mm) and SITECSA ST-102 with longer range , 40 km with Base-Bleed projectiles(155/45 mm) compared to 30 km of REMA gun. FCS for artillery was AN/TPQ-36 (four) and SORAS (Swedish model).

Totally, at the time ET had: 90 OTO Model 56 howitzers (105/26 mm), 64 122/46 mm, 64 203/25 mm M-115, 12 M110A2, 48 M108 (105/30 mm), 96 M-109, 12 TERUEL for a total of 442 pieces. Cleary, the field artillery of ET was obsolete and modest compared with a.a artillery. Other artilleries were in Command coastal defence, serving in 30 batteries. These weapons were obsolete but powerful having 150, 152, 305 and even 381 mm guns. Also for them it was planned a replacement with missiles and modern artilleries. Many small weapons were projected or manifactured in Spain, among them 40 mm grenade-launchers and ECIA 81 mm mortars, both self propelled and ground used. CETMA 7,62 mm automatic rifles were the standard.

FAMET was also a part of General Reserve. This service had as main tasks the air mobility, recognition and attack for the Army and was organized with several units, among them five support and six flight units. One attack bataloon was BHELA I (mainly with BO-105), One BHELTRA for transport (CH-47 and Hueys), four BELMHA multi-role. Over 180 helicopters were in charge, making FAMET one of the most modern and effective among the ET forces. 71 BO-105, 17 OH-58, 60 UH-1H, 6 AB-212, 18 CH-47, 18 Super Puma (under license mounted by CASA). Weapons were HOT missiles (for 28 BO-105), 20 mm guns (for 18 BO-105), 70 mm M-158 and M-9 launchers, 7,62 (also gatling model) and 12,7 mm weapons, 40 mm Mk 94 automatic grenade-launchers.

Spanish Legion had 7,000 men among SLEG and four Tercios: 1, 2, 3, 4.

[edit] Current units and structure

  • Spanish Units are actually separated in two fighting forces, as a result of the 2005 reorganization according to the instruction no. 59/2005, of 4th April, from the Chief of the Army Staff on Army Organisation and Function Regulations
    • The main fighting force, the Fuerza de Maniobra (Manoeuvre Force), FMA, comprises a mechanized division, a light division plus two independent brigades (mountain and cavalry) and support troops
      • Cuartel General de la FMA y Núcleo de Apoyo (FMA Headquarters and Support Core)
        • Brigada de Transmisiones (Communications Brigade)
        • Mando de Ingenieros (Engineer Command)
          • Regimiento de Especialidades de Ingenieros 11 (11th Engineer Regiment)
          • Regimiento de Pontoneros 12 (12th Pontoneer Regiment)
          • Regimiento de Ferrocarriles 13 (13th Railroad Sapper Regiment)
        • Mando de Operaciones Especiales (Special Operations Command)
          • Grupo de Operaciones Especiales "Valencia" III (3rd Special Operations Group)
          • Grupo de Operaciones Especiales "Tercio del Ampurdán" IV (4th Special Operations Group)
        • Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra (FAMET) (Army Airmobile Force)
        • Mando de Artillería de Campaña (Field Artillery Command)
      • Brigada de Caballería "Castillejos" II (2nd Cavalry Brigade)
        • Rgto. de Caballería Ligera Acorazada "España" 11 (11th Light Armored Cavalry Regiment)
        • Rgto. de Caballería Ligera Acorazada "Numancia" 9 (9th Light Armored Cavalry Regiment)
        • Rgto. de Caballería Acorazada "Pavía" 4 (4th Heavy Cavalry Regiment)
        • Regimiento de Artillería de Campaña 20 (20th Field Artillery Regiment)
        • Grupo Logístico 22 (22nd Logistic Battalion)
        • Unidad de Zapadores Acorazada 22 (22nd Armored Sapper Company)
        • Batallón de Cuartel General II (Second Brigade's Headquarter Group)
      • Brigada de Cazadores de Montaña "Aragón" I (1st Mountain Brigade)
        • Regimiento de Cazadores de Montaña "Galicia" 64 (64th Mountain Regiment)
        • Regimiento de Cazadores de Montaña "America" 66 (66th Mountain Regiment)
        • Grupo de Artillería de Montaña I (1st Mountain Artillery Battalion)
        • Grupo Logístico de Montaña I (1st Mountain Logistic Battalion)
        • Batallón de Cuartel General I (1st Headquarters Battalion)
        • Unidad de Zapadores de Montaña 1 (1st Mountain Sapper Company)
      • División de Infantería Mecanizada "Brunete" 1 (First Mechanized Division)
        • Núcleo de Tropas Divisionario (Divisional Troop Core)
          • Cuartel General de la División (Divisional Headquarters)
          • Rgto. de Caballería Ligera Acorazada Farnesio 12 (12th Light Armored Cavalry Regiment)
          • Regimiento de Artillería de Campaña 11 (11th Field Artillery Regiment)
          • Regimiento de Artillería Antiaérea 82 (82nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment)
          • Regimiento de Ingenieros 1 (1st Engineer Regiment)
          • Agrupación Logística Divisionaria (Divisional Logistic Group)
        • Brigada de Infantería Mecanizada "Guzmán el Bueno" X (10th Mechanized Brigade)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Mecanizada "La Reina" 2 (2nd Mechanized Regiment)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Mecanizada "Córdoba" 10 (10th Mechanized Regiment)
          • Grupo de Artillería de Campaña Autopropulsada X (10th Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion)
          • Grupo Logístico X (10th Logistic Battalion)
          • Batallón de Cuartel General X (10th Headquarters Battalion)
          • Unidad de Zapadores 10 (10th Mechanized Sapper Company)
        • Brigada de Infantería Mecanizada "Extremadura" XI (11th Mechanized Brigade)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Mecanizada "Saboya" 6 (6th Mechanized Infantry Regiment)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Mecanizada "Castilla" 16 (16th Mechanized Infantry Regiment)
          • Grupo de Artillería de Campaña Autopropulsada XI (11th Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion)
          • Grupo Logístico XI (11th Logistic Battalion)
          • 11th Headquarters Battalion
          • Unidad de Zapadores 11 (11th Mechanized Sapper Company)
        • Brigada de Infantería Acorazada "Guadarrama" XII (12th Armored Brigade)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Mecanizada "Asturias" 31 (31st Mechanized Regiment)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Acorazada "Alcázar de Toledo" 61 (61st Armored Regiment)
          • Grupo de Artillería de Campaña Autopropulsada XII (12th Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion)
          • Grupo Logístico XII (12th Logistic Battalion)
          • Batallón de Cuartel General XII (12th Headquarter Battalion)
          • Unidad de Zapadores Acorazada 12 (12th Armored Sapper Company)
      • One light division, known as the Fuerza de Acción Rápida (Rapid Action Task Force), made up of:
        • Brigada de Infantería Ligera Aerotransportada "Galicia" VII (7th Airborne Light Infantry Brigade)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Ligera Aerotransportada "Príncipe" 3 (3rd Airborne Regiment)
          • Rgto. de Infantería Ligera Aerotransportada "Isabel la Católica"29 (29th Airborne Regiment)
          • Grupo de Artillería Aerotransportada VII (7th Airborne Artillery Battalion)
          • Grupo Logístico Aerotransportado VII (7th Airborne Logistic Battalion)
          • Batallón de Cuartel General VII (7th Headquarters Battalion)
          • Unidad de Zapadores Aerotransportada 7 (7th Airborne Sapper Company)
        • Brigada Paracaidista "Almogávares" VI (6th Parachute Light Infantry Brigade)
          • Bandera Paracaidista "Roger de Flor" I (First Parachute Battalion)
          • Bandera Paracaidista "Roger de Lauria" II (Second Parachute Battalion)
          • Bandera Paracaidista "Ortiz de Zárate" III (Third Parachute Battalion)
          • Grupo de Artillería Paracaidista VI (6th Parachute Artillery Battalion)
          • Grupo Logístico Paracaidista VI (6th Parachute Logistic Battalion)
          • Unidad de Zapadores Paracaidista 6 (6th Parachute Sapper Company)
          • Batallón de Instrucción Paracaidista (Parachute Instruction Battalion)
        • Brigada de la Legión "Rey Alfonso XIII" (Brigade of the Spanish Legion)
          • Tercio "Don Juan de Austria", tercero de la Legión (Legion's Third Tercio)
          • Tercio "Alejandro Farnesio", cuarto de la Legión (Legion's Fourth Tercio)
          • Batallón de Cuartel General de la Legión (Legion's Headquarter Battalion)
          • Grupo de Artillería (Legion's Artillery Battalion)
          • Unidad de Zapadores de la Legión (Legion's Sapper Company)
    • The Fuerza Terrestre (Land Force) comprises the rest of the fighting units. It's often regarded as the national garrison, while the FMA acts as a deployable unit. The 52nd Light Infantry Regiment "Regulares", stationed in Melilla, commemorates the Moorish colonial troops who played a major role in the Spanish Civil War.

[edit] Future units and structure

The Spanish Army is currently undertaking a major restructuring; augmenting its capabilities and expanding its strength. The reorganization started in 2006 and it is scheduled to finish by early 2009. The new Structure is:

Future Structure of the Spanish Army (click to enlarge).
Future Structure of the Spanish Army (click to enlarge).

[edit] Land Forces Command

[edit] 1st Land Force Command – Heavy Forces

  • 10th Mechanized Infantry Brigade “Guzmán el Bueno” (Cerro Muriano, Córdoba)
    • HQ Battalion
    • 1/2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion “Princesa”
    • 10th Armoured Infantry Rgt. “Córdoba”
      • 2/10th Tank Infantry Battalion “Almansa”
      • 3/10th Tank Infantry Battalion “Málaga"
    • 10th Reconnaissance Battalion
    • 10th Self Propelled Field Artillery Battery
    • 10th Armoured Engineer Battalion
    • 10th Logistics Group
    • 10th Signals Company
  • 11th Mechanized Infantry Brigade “Extremadura” (Botoa, Badajoz).
    • HQ Battalion
    • 3/16th Mechanized Infantry Battalion “Alcántara”
    • 6th Mechanized Infantry Rgt. “Saboya”
      • 1/6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion “Cantabria”
      • 2/6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion “Las Navas”
    • 11th Reconnaissance Battalion
    • 11th Self Propelled Field Artillery Battery
    • 11th Armoured Engineer Battalion
    • 11th Logistics Group
    • 11th Signals Company
  • 12th Mechanized Infantry Brigade “Guadarrama” (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid).
    • HQ Battalion
    • 1/31st Mechanized Infantry Battalion “Covadonga”
    • 61st Armoured Infantry Rgt. “Alcázar de Toledo”
      • 2/61st Tank Infantry Battalion “Wad-Ras”
      • 3/61st Tank Infantry Battalion “León”
    • 12th Reconnaissance Battalion
    • 12th Self Propelled Field Artillery Battery
    • 12th Armoured Engineer Battalion
    • 12th Logistics Group
    • 12th Signals Company

[edit] 2nd Land Force Command – Light Forces

  • 2nd Cavalry Brigade “Castillejos” (Zaragoza)
    • HQ Battalion
    • 8th Light Armoured Cavalry Rgt. “Lusitania” (Marines, Valencia)
    • 11th Light Armoured Cavalry Rgt. “España”
    • 12th Light Armoured Cavalry Rgt. “Farnesio” (Santovenia de Pisuerga, Valladolid)
    • 20th Field Artillery Rgt.
    • 22nd Armoured Engineer Battalion
    • 2nd Logistics Group
    • 2nd Signals Company
  • 5th Light Infantry Brigade “San Marcial” (Vitoria, Alava)
    • HQ Battalion
    • 1/5th Tank Infantry Battalion “Flandes”
    • 45th Light Infantry Rgt. “Garellano” (Munguía, Vizcaya)
    • 67th Light Infantry Rgt. “Tercio Viejo de Sicilia” (San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa)
      • 3/67th Light Infantry Battalion “Legazpi”
      • 4/67th Light Infantry Battalion “Colón”
    • 5th Reconnaissance Battalion
    • 5th Field Artillery Battery
    • 5th Engineer Battalion
    • 5th Logistics Group
    • 5th Signals Company
  • 7th Light Infantry Brigade “Galicia” (Figueirido, Pontevedra)
    • HQ Battalion
    • 3/29th Light Infantry Battalion “Zaragoza” (Figueirido)
    • 3rd Light Infantry Rgt. “Príncipe” (Siero, Asturias)
      • 1/3rd Light Infantry Battalion “Toledo”
      • 2/3rd Light Infantry Battalion “San Quintín”
    • 7th Reconnaissance Battalion
    • 7th Field Artillery Battery
    • 7th Engineer Battalion
    • 7th Logistics Group
    • 7th Signals Company
  • 6th Parachute Infantry Brigade “Almogávares” (Paracuellos del Jarama, Madrid)
    • HQ Battalion
    • 1st Air- Transportable Battalion “Roger de Flor”
    • 2nd Air-Assault Battalion “Roger de Lauria”
    • 3rd Parachute Infantry Battalion “Ortiz de Zárate” (Murcia)
    • 6th Parachute Artillery Battery Paracaidista
    • 6th Parachute Engineer Battalion Paracaidista
    • 6th Logistics Group
    • 6th Signals Company
  • Mountain Units Command (Jaca, Huesca)
    • Support Battalion
    • 62nd Mountain Infantry Rgt. “Arapiles” (San Clemente de Sasebas, Gerona)
    • 66th Mountain Infantry Rgt. “América” (Pamplona)
      • 1/64th Mountain Infantry Battalion “Pirineos” (Jaca, Huesca)
      • 2/66th Mountain Infantry Battalion “Montejurra”
    • Skiing and Climbing Company
    • 1st Mountain Artillery Battery
    • 1st Mountain Engineer Battalion
    • 1st Logistics Group
    • 1st Mountain Signals Company

[edit] Ceuta General Command

  • Infantry Brigade “Teniente Ruiz”
    • HQ Battalion
    • 2nd Tercio “Duque de Alba”
    • 54th Regulares Light Infantry Rgt. “Ceuta”
    • 3rd Armored Cavalry Rgt. “Montesa”
    • 30th Mixed Artillery Rgt. (Field & Air Defence Artillery)
    • 7th Engineer Rgt.
    • 23rd Logistics Group
    • Signals Company

[edit] Melilla General Command

  • Infantry Brigade “Melilla”
    • HQ Battalion
    • 1st Tercio “Grán Capitán”
    • 52nd Regulares Light Infantry Rgt. “Melilla”
    • 10th Armored Cavalry Rgt. “Alcántara”
    • 32th Mixed Artillery Rgt. (Field & Air Defence Artillery)
    • 8th Engineer Rgt.
    • 24rd Logistics Group
    • Signals Company

[edit] Baleares General Command

    • 1/47th Light Infantry Battalion “Filipinas”
    • 91st Mixed Artillery Battery (Field & Air Defence Artillery)

[edit] Support Units of the Land Forces:

  • Special Forces Command
    • HQ Battalion
    • Special Forces Battalion "Valencia" III
    • Special Forces Battalion "Tercio del Ampurdán" IV
    • Special Forces Battalion "Maderal Oleaga" XIX
    • Signals Company
  • Field Artillery Command (San Andrés del Rabanedo), León)
    • 11th Field Artillery Rgt. (Castrillo del Val, Burgos)
      • 1/11th Self Propelled Field Artillery Battery
      • 2/11th Self Propelled Field Artillery Battery
    • 62nd MLRS & Field Artillery Rgt. (Astorga, León)
      • 1/62nd MLRS Battery
      • 2/62nd Field Artillery Battery
    • 63rd Field Artillery Rgt.
      • 1/63rd Self Propelled Field Artillery Battery (M110A2)
      • 2/63rd Self Propelled Field Artillery Battery (M110A2)
      • 3/63rd Light Field Artillery Battery
  • Coastal Artillery Command (Tarifa, Cádiz)
    • 4th Coastal Artillery Rgt. (San Fernando, Cádiz)
      • 1/4th Coastal Artillery Battery
      • 2/4th Coastal Artillery Battery
    • 5th Surveillance & Acquisition Battery (San Roque, Cádiz)
  • Air Defence Command (Madrid)
    • 71st Air Defence Artillery Rgt.
    • 72nd Air Defence Artillery Rgt. (Zaragoza)
    • 73rd Air Defence Artillery Rgt. (Cartagena, Murcia)
    • 74th Air Defence Artillery Rgt. (Dos Hermanas, Sevilla)
    • 81st Air Defence Artillery Rgt. (Marines, Valencia)
    • Air Defence Artillery Rgt. (San Fernando, Cádiz)
    • Signals Platoon (Madrid)
  • Engineer Command (Salamanca)
    • 1st Engineer Rgt. (Cáceres)
    • 11th Special Engineer Rgt.
      • Road Building Battalion
      • Shelter Building Battalion
    • 12th Special and Bridging Engineer Rgt. (Zaragoza)
  • Airmobile Forces of the Army “FAMET”
    • 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion (Almagro, Ciudad Real)
    • 3rd Manoeuvre Battalion” (Agoncillo, La Rioja)
    • 4th Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion (El Copero, Sevilla)
    • 5th Transport Helicopter Battalion (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid)
    • FAMET Signals Battalion (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid)
    • FAMET Logistic Battalion (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid)

Other Units of the Land Forces:

  • 1st Guards Rgt. “Inmemorial del Rey” (Madrid)
  • 1st. NBC Rgt. “Valencia” (Valencia)
  • Civil Affairs Bn. (Valencia)
  • 3rd Signals Rgt. (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid)

[edit] Canarias General Command

  • Light Infantry Brigade “Canarias” (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas)
    • HQ Battalion
    • 9th Light Infantry Rgt. “Soria” (Fuerteventura, Las Palmas)
    • 49th Light Infantry Rgt. “Tenerife” (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife)
    • 50th Light Infantry Rgt. “Canarias”
    • 93rd Field Artillery Rgt. (San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife)
    • 94th Air Defence Artillery Rgt.
    • 15th Engineer Battalion (San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife)
    • 82nd Logistics Group
    • 6th Helicopter Battalion (San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife)
    • Signals Company

[edit] Logistic Operation Forces

  • Logistic Support Command (Valencia)
  • 1st Logistics Forces (Sevilla)
    • 11th Logistic Support Group (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid).
    • 21st Logistic Support Group
    • 81st Logistic Support Group (San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
    • 22nd Logistic & Service Support Group (Granada)
  • 2nd Logistics Forces (Zaragoza)
    • 31st Logistic Support Group (Paterna, Valencia)
    • 41st Logistic Support Group
    • 61st Logistic Support Group (Valladolid)
  • Medical Brigade (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid)
    • 1st Medical Battalion
    • 2nd Medical Battalion (Mislata, Valencia)
    • 3rd Medical Battalion (Zaragoza)
    • Field Hospital
    • Medical Support Battalion

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Weapons

  • Star 30M 9mm Pistol
  • Llama M-82 Pistol
  • HK G36E - 5.56 mm assault rifle in the G36E variant (no red dot sight, 1.5x day scope)and other variants like G-36K & G-36C for Special forces and other singular units, some units have been equipped with .4x day scope, aimpoint and holografic variants.
  • CETME L - 5.56 mm NATO assault rifle, currently being replaced by the G36E. Its LC (short barreled) and LV (Marksman rifle) versions are still in use.
  • Ameli - (Acronym of AMEtralladora LIgera - Light machine gun) 5.56 mm light machine gun
  • MG3 - 7.62 mm NATO air-cooled medium machine gun
  • Browning M2 HB - 12.70 mm heavy machine gun
  • HK MG4 light machine gun
  • SB-40 LAG M1 (spanish grenade launcher 40 mm)
  • Instalaza Alhambra-DO hand grenade
  • Instalaza C-100 Alcotán - 100 mm anti-tank grenade launcher
  • Instalaza C-90 CR (M3) - 90 mm disposable anti-tank grenade launcher
  • M-82 semi-automatic pistol - 9 mm Para reglementary service pistol
  • Barrett M95 - 12.7 mm heavy sniper rifle
  • Accuracy AW - 7.62 mm NATO sniper rifle
  • ECIA L65/60 60 mm light mortar
  • ECIA L65/81 mortar - 81mm medium mortar
  • ECIA L65/105 mortar - 105 mm medium mortar
  • ECIA L65/120 mortar - 120 mm heavy mortar

[edit] Combat vehicles

  • 90 AMX 30E Main Battle Tank. To be retired
  • 244 M60A3TTS Main Battle Tank.To be retired
  • 108 Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank.
  • 219 Leopard 2E (A6) Main Battle Tank
  • 84 VRC-105B1 Centauro light wheeled tank
  • 356 Pizarro infantry fighting vehicle
  • 566 BMR-M1, a medium, six-wheeled APC used in peacekeeping deployments
  • 1213 M113A2 armored personnel carrier vehicles
  • 208 VEC-M1 cavalry scout vehicle
  • Alacran CZ25/10, combat engineer variant of the M60A1
  • TOM Bv206S mountain tracked vehicle
  • URO VAMTAC, high tactic mobility, all terrain 4x4 vehicle.
  • Santana Anibal, an all terrain 4x4 utilitary vehicle
  • Iveco Eurocargo all terrain utility vehicle
  • Iveco M250W.37

[edit] Artillery

  • M109 - 155/39 mm self-propelled howitzer, as the M109A5E
  • M110A2 - 203/40.5 mm self-propelled howitzer
  • 155/52 APU SBT - 155/52 mm howitzer
  • L-118A1 - 105/37 mm. light field howitzer
  • M56 - 105/14 mm pack howitzer
  • Vickers H 1912 - 305/50 mm coastal artillery piece
  • Vickers 1923 - 152.4/50 mm coastal artillery piece
  • Vickers 1926 - 381/45 mm coastal artillery piece
  • OERLIKON GDF-005 35/90 35 mm Anti-aircraft artillery piece
  • Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK - Surface-to-Air missile system
  • Raytheon MIM-104 Patriot - Surface-to-Air missile system
  • Roland air defense system - Mobile short-range Surface-to-Air missile system
  • Skyguard-Aspide - Anti-aircraft missile system
  • NASAMS - Anti-aircraft missile system
  • MBDA SATCP Mistral missile - Anti-aircraft infrared homing missile system
  • Teruel MRL - Self Propelled Multi Launch Rocket System
  • HIMARS - Self Propelled Multi Launch Rocket System

[edit] Helicopters

CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

Other types of helicopters include Bell 205 and Bell 212 Twin Huey. Planned to enter in service are 21 attack Eurocopter Tigre and 45 NHI NH-90 -tactical transport helicopters.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Instruction no. 59/2005, of 4 April 2005, from the Chief of the Army Staff on Army Organisation and Function Regulations, published in B.O.D. NO. 80 of 26 April 2005
  • Lehardy, Diego, Spanish Army in a difficult phase of its transformation, RID magazine, July 1991.

[edit] External links and Further Reading

v • d • e
Spanish Armed Forces