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90-749: The Guard contains a diverse mix of units: a Marine Infantry company from the Navy, a paratroop company from the Air and Space Force and an Infantry company from the Army, among others. Some units served in Afghanistan and Bosnia. The history of the Royal Guard dates back to medieval times . The senior unit and one of the oldest guards corps in the world is the Corps of Gentlemen of the Chamber,

180-737: A full-fledged military air base. In 1919 General Francisco Echagüe replaced Kindelán as leader of the Aeronáutica Española . In 1920 two Nieuport 80 and one Caudron G.3 were first painted with squadron identification numbers and the Spanish Air Force roundel . Shortly thereafter the Aeronáutica Naval , the air branch of the Spanish Navy , already established through a Royal decree four years earlier, became functional in El Prat , in

270-467: A man, and answering to the name of Antonio Maria de Soto, enlisted in the 6th company of 11° Battalion of the Navy, being licensed with pension and honors in 1798, when she was discovered to be a woman. The major actions they took part in during this period were: The increasing efficiency of the naval artillery made boarding obsolete after the Napoleonic Wars, the marine infantry and marine artillery

360-530: A numerical) including the aviation squadrons and a flight operations support squadron. An operations group is normally composed of two or three escuadrones ( squadrons ), each one normally consisting of 18 to 24 aircraft. Thus, Ala 15, with its base in Zaragoza Air Base , is formed by two squadrons with 18 F/A-18s each. Another group within the wing is the Grupo de Material , providing maintenance and repairs to

450-542: A unit with a high strategic value. Adding to this a high degree of training, and the capability to deploy swiftly in international waters, results in a potent dissuasive force available at a short notice in distant regions. One of the main characteristics of a marine is the uniform that he wears. On the sleeves of the Spanish Marines are the three "Sardinetas", which marks it as a member of the Royal House Corps. This

540-487: Is classified as an Aerodromo Militar (military airfield), such as the Aerodromo Militar de Pollensa . 18A+ Germany, Spain , United Kingdom All units sent to 49th Wing for SAR operations. Germany, Spain , United Kingdom (delivery 2026 to 2030) The Spanish Air and Space Force has its own alphanumeric system for identifying aircraft. This forms a prefix to the airframe serial number, usually marked on

630-620: Is replacing older aircraft in the inventory with newer ones including Eurofighter Typhoon and the recently introduced Airbus A400M Atlas airlifter. Both are manufactured with Spanish participation; EADS CASA makes the Eurofighter's right wing and leading edge slats, and participates in the testing and assembly of the airlifter. Unlike the air forces of most major NATO member states, the Spanish Air and Space Force currently do not operate any AEW&C aircraft. Its aerobatic display team

720-799: Is the Patrulla Aguila , which flies the CASA C-101 Aviojet . Its helicopter display team, Patrulla Aspa , flies the Eurocopter EC-120 Colibrí . In July 2014 the Spanish Air Force joined the European Air Transport Command , headquartered at Eindhoven Airbase in the Netherlands . The Spanish Government announced in June 2022 that the Spanish Air Force would be renamed as the Spanish Air and Space Force. On January 9, 2024,

810-614: Is the military band of the Marine Infantry and the larger Spanish Navy. For this, it has the Music Band, created in 1950, it is made up of a select group of non-commissioned officers and professional musicians. Its first performance was in the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid on 1 April 1951. It marches in both military ceremonies and parades, as well as in civil events. Based in Madrid it serves as

900-557: Is the naval infantry branch of the Spanish Navy responsible for conducting amphibious warfare . Fully integrated into the Spanish Navy's structure, the branch's history dates back to 1537 when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor formed the Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles , making it the oldest marine unit in existence. The Infantería de Armada (Navy Infantry) was created by Charles V in 1537, when he permanently assigned

990-588: Is the special operations force of the Spanish Navy specializing in maritime, land and coastal environments. It is made up of the former Special Naval Warfare Command, which comprised the Special Operations Unit (UOE) of the Tercio de Armada and the Special Combat Divers Unit (UEBC). These units are grouped into elements with the following main tasks: The Compañía Mar Océano de la Guardia Real

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1080-457: The Compañías Viejas del Mar de Nápoles (Old Sea Companies of Naples ) to the Escuadras de Galeras del Mediterráneo (Mediterranean Galley Squadrons). But it was Philip II who established today's concept of a landing force . This was a pure naval power projection ashore by forces deployed from ships that could maintain their ability to fight despite being based on board. This is the period of

1170-413: The Grupo 22 operates P-3 Orion aircraft in the maritime patrol and ASW role and correspondingly there are two separate maintenance squadrons for the two aircraft types. Smaller operational units are the separate groups. They are also army regiment equivalents, but unlike the wings they are composite units, in which the operational aircraft, the maintenance and the air base squadrons report directly to

1260-705: The Monteros de Espinosa , dating to 1006 and created by Sancho Garcia of the House of Castile . Even before the time of the first monarch of Spain, the Catholic Monarchs formed the Guardias Viejas de Castilla ("Old Guards of Castile "). Later on, the first monarch of Spain, Charles V ordered that a company of those guards to reside and continuously stand guard in his palace, denominating it Los Cien Continos ("The Continuous Hundred"). Later, Charles V's father, Philip

1350-770: The Córdoba front. In August Heinkel He 51 fighters were also deployed. These planes helped the rebel army to gain full control of the air, as did the German and Italian expeditionary forces, the Condor Legion and the Aviazione Legionaria . At first, the Spanish Republican Air Force had the control of great swathes of Spanish territory using a motley selection of planes, but the unwavering help received by Francisco Franco from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy reversed

1440-581: The F-104 Starfighter , F-4C Phantom and F-5 Freedom Fighter After the death of dictator Franco in 1975 and the ensuing Spanish transition to democracy years, the organization and equipment of the Spanish Air Force was again modernised to prepare for Spain 's membership of NATO in 1982. Planes like the Mirage III and Mirage F1 were bought from France and became the backbone of the Air Force during

1530-811: The Grupo Mecanizado Anfibio del Tercio de Armada (the Mechanized Amphibious Group of the Navy Tercio). The Marines of Spain are not only a fleet force, as the Spanish Royal Marine Guard Company are responsible for the defense and security forces of naval bases and facilities, naval schools and training units, and all facilities that support the Marines themselves. In June 2009, the Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE)

1620-611: The Philippine Revolution and the Spanish–American War the marines fought as part of army divisions. Though Spain's empire was dismembered in the nineteenth century the marines continued to be active abroad. Its most important actions in this period were: These actions were carried out by the Batallones Expedicionarios (Expeditionary Battalions), some of them campaigning abroad for up to ten years. At

1710-604: The Spanish Army . Captain Alfredo Kindelán was named Chief of Aviation, Jefe de Aviación . On 17 December 1913, during the war with Morocco , a Spanish expeditionary squadron of the Aeronáutica Española became the first organized military air unit to see combat during the first systematic bombing in history by dropping aerial bombs from a Lohner Flecha (Arrow) airplane on the plain of Ben Karrix in Morocco . During

1800-699: The VIII Fliegerkorps , Luftflotte 2 . During the first years after World War II the Spanish Francoist Air Force consisted largely of German and Italian planes and copies of them. An interesting example was the HA-1112-M1L Buchón ( Pouter ), this was essentially a licensed production of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 re-engined with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45 for use in Spain. In March 1946

1890-514: The ... Air Force Base ( Agrupación de la Base Aérea de ... ). Three such examples are the Agrupación de la Base Aérea de Torrejon , the Agrupación de la Base Aérea de Cuatro Vientos and the Agrupación de la Base Aérea de Zaragoza . An agrupación could be responsible for the support of air force operations at more than one airfield (military or civilian). As an example the Groupment of

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1980-649: The 1970s and part of the 1980s. French fighters formed the air force's mainstay until the arrival of the American F/A-18 . Spanish F/A-18s participated in the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War under NATO command, based in Aviano , Italy . Assisted by USAF F-16s , Spanish Air Force EF-18As dropped laser-guided bombs on Bosnian Serb ammunition depots at Pale , on 25 and 26 May 1994 . The Spanish Air and Space Force

2070-699: The 1970s. The CASA 352 and the CASA 352L were developments built by CASA in the 1950s. Links were established in the 1950s with the United States. Spain received its first jets, like the F-86 Sabre and Lockheed T-33 together with training and transport planes like the T-6 Texan , C-47 and C-54 , and the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor . The first series of American jets was replaced in the 1960s by newer fighters like

2160-608: The Air and Space') is the aerial and space warfare branch of the Spanish Armed Forces . Hot air balloons have been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán , Leonardo Torres Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located in Guadalajara . The new airship

2250-536: The Army, and the main body remained in the Navy becoming the Cuerpo de Batallones de Marina (Navy Battalions Corps). The battles that the marines served in during this period included: In 1717, the Cuerpo de Batallones de Marina was definitively settled and organized into a 12-battalion corps with a corresponding regimental HQ overseeing the supervision of these units. The first ones were named: Armada, Bajeles, Marina, Oceano, Mediterráneo and Barlovento . Their mission

2340-672: The B-2I (Heinkel 111, nicknamed "Pedro"), the C-4K (Spanish version of the Bf 109, nicknamed "Buchón"), and some others. Still, Grumman Albatross seaplanes and Sikorsky H-19B helicopters were used in rescue operations. This is why still now in present times, EdA maintains a policy of having jet fighters from two different origins, one first line fighter of North American origin, and one from French-European origin ( F-4C Phantom / Mirage F1 , Mirage III ; EF-18A / Eurofighter Typhoon ). Although in sheer numbers

2430-523: The EdA was impressive, at the end of World War II technically it had become more or less obsolete due to the progress in aviation technology during the war. For budget reasons Spain actually kept many of the old German aircraft operative well into the 1950s and 1960s. As an example the last Junkers Ju 52 used to operate in Escuadrón 721 training parachutists from Alcantarilla Air Base near Murcia , until well into

2520-676: The Guards was expanded into a fully independent army group reporting to the sovereign and the Royal Military Household with two full corps following the example of France's Napoleonic Imperial Guard and Borbon Restorationist Royal Guards: In the 1840s only the internal units of the Royal Guards remained as the others were disbanded or transferred to the regular Army. In 1868 the Halberdiers stood down, only to be reformed under King Amadeo I as

2610-557: The Handsome arrived in Spain in 1502, bringing with him his Guardia Borgoñona (" Burgundian Guards "). They were also called the Guardia de los Archeros (aka Guardia de Cuchilla > "Guards of the Blade") because they were armed with a glaive -type polearm called an archa , not because they were archers ( arqueros ). Their purpose was to secure the royal household by standing guard or patrolling

2700-516: The Marine Infantry), also known as the Himno de la Infantería de Marina is the official march of the Spanish Marines. It was authored by J. Raimundo and composed by Colonel Don Agustín Díez Guerrero. The text is as follows:   Marines let's go fight The Homeland enlarge and its glory increase nobility and bravery our emblems are: not abandon the ensign to the noise of

2790-636: The National Aviation School ( Escuela Nacional de Aviación (civil) ) in Getafe , near Madrid , under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport ( Ministerio de Fomento ). The established institution became militarized under the name Aeronáutica Española when Colonel Pedro Vives was chosen to lead it as director of the Aeronáutica Militar , Military Aeronautics, the name of the air arm of

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2880-798: The Philippines, in just one month. The expedition was flown with two Breguet 19 and known as the Escuadrilla Elcano or "Elcano Squadron". In 1930 the Aeronaval Base in San Javier was established and in the same year a pro-Republican revolt in the Cuatro Vientos military aerodrome near Madrid was quashed. After the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, General Luis Lombarte Serrano replaced Kindelán as chief-commander of

2970-433: The Republic during the civil war . Under Francisco Franco , by Decree of February 4, 1949, the Military House of the Generalissimo was reorganized and on the basis of the republican formations the Regiment of the Guards of His Excellency the Head of State ( Regimiento de la Guardia de Su Excelencia el Jefe del Estado ), later on the Guards Regiment of HE the Generalissimo ( Regimiento de la Guardia de S.E. el Generalísimo ),

3060-482: The Royal Guard Battalion of one infantry company and one cavalry troop and revived as a full battalion under his successor, Alfonso XII. The Guards were disbanded in 1931 as a result of the formation of the Second Republic and was replaced by the Presidential Horse Guards Squadron ( Escuadrón de Escolta Presidencial ), which was a cavalry formation. By 1936, it included the infantry Presidential Guards Battalion ( Batallón de Guardia Presidencial ), which remained loyal to

3150-406: The Royal Guards Land Army Company deployed to Kosovo as part of peacekeeping efforts there. The following year, a platoon from the Royal Guards Air & Space Force Company and a platoon from the Naval Infantry Marine Company of the Royal Guards also joined the peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo and was stationed there throughout the year. In 2005, a section from the Land Army Company of

3240-417: The Royal Guards deployed again to Kosovo. In 2006, a platoon from the Royal Guards Air & Space Force Company deployed to Afghanistan. In 2007, a mixed section (made up of members from all the branches) of the Royal Guards deployed again to Kosovo. The primary function of the Royal Guard is to provide military security for the monarchy. In addition to protecting members of the Spanish royal family,

3330-469: The Section was dismantled and its members assigned to other units. Even though the ranks of the Marine Infantry are similar to Spanish Army ranks they wear also sleeve and cuff insignia to recognize them as part of the naval establishment, aside from shoulder rank insignia. The rank insignia of commissioned officers . The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel . The Marcha Heroica de la Infanteria de Marina (Heroic March of

3420-407: The Soviet Union in the mid-stages of the war, the Spanish Republican Air Force was no longer able to control the Spanish skies nor match the power of the German and Italian expeditionary forces in specific combat situations. The Spanish Republican Air Force became practically irrelevant after the Battle of the Ebro in 1938 when the root of the Spanish Republican Armed Forces was broken. Finally it

3510-429: The Space Command was formally established. The basic organization of the Air and Space Force is the following: The main operational formation of the SAF is the ala ( wing ), roughly equivalent to an army brigade. An ala is normally composed of three grupos (groups, army regiment equivalents) - an operations group called Grupo de Fuerzas Aéreas (Air Force Group, shortened to Grupo and followed by

3600-466: The Zaragoza Air Force Base is responsible for the mixed use military / civilian airfields of Zaragoza, Logroño-Agoncillo and Huesca-Pirineos. An air force base, which does not house flying units is classified as an Acuartelamiento Aéreo (roughly translated as Air Force Installation in English, one such example is the Acuartelamiento Aéreo Bardenas , supporting the Bardenas Reales training range) and an airfield, which does not house permanently flying units

3690-465: The actions of allied forces. The current base for the Spanish Marines is in San Fernando . The Spanish Marine Infantry have been deployed to various NATO operations such as Afghanistan. The Spanish Marine Infantry is an elite corps, highly specialised in amphibious warfare , that is, to project an amphibious force onto a hostile, or potentially hostile, coast. Its ability to embark on a short term notice with (land, air and naval) Navy assets, makes it

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3780-606: The air force, but he would be quickly succeeded by Commander Ramón Franco , younger brother of later dictator Francisco Franco . Captain Cipriano Rodríguez Díaz and Lieutenant Carlos de Haya González flew non-stop to Equatorial Guinea , then a Spanish colonial outpost. Under Capitan Warlela cadastral surveys of Spain were carried out using modern methods of aerial photography in 1933. The following year Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva took off and landed on seaplane carrier Dédalo with his autogyro C-30P. In 1934 Commander Eduardo Sáenz de Buruaga became new chief-commander of

3870-461: The air force. Following a Government decree dated 2d October 1935, the Dirección General de Aeronáutica was placed under the authority of the War Ministry, Ministerio de la Guerra , instead of under the Presidencia del Gobierno , following which in 1936 the Air Force regional units became restructured. Accordingly, the Spanish Navy -based Escuadra model was replaced by Región Militar divisions which are still operative today. After

3960-424: The aircraft, their weapons and systems. The Grupo de Apoyo completes the typical wing structure and it is the air base group, providing the functioning of the air base as a military installation. A variation of the wing structure is the Ala 11 in Morón de la Frontera air base, which has not one, but two operational groups. The Grupo 11 operates Eurofighter aircraft in the multi-mission fighter role, while

4050-421: The assault. Owing to its high-profile action in the unpopular Rif Wars , the Spanish Navy Marine corps was branded as a leftover of the Spanish colonial era . After the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, the reforms of the armed forces introduced by newly nominated Republican Minister of War Manuel Azaña within the first months of the new government sought to disband the corps. Before it

4140-404: The black and white Saint Andrew's Cross ( Spanish : Aspa de San Andrés ) fin flash , the tail insignia of Franco's air force, as well as of the Aviazione Legionaria of Fascist Italy and the Condor Legion of Nazi Germany , is still in use in the present-day Spanish Air Force. After the changes introduced at the beginning of Franco's regime the Air Regions and their Command centres were

4230-407: The brave that by sea and land heroically they died defending his flag Let's follow their example of unparalleled bravery that the Marines gloriously they know how to succeed Its official motto is "Valientes por Tierra y por Mar" ("Braves by Land and Sea"), which is similar to other mottos used by marine units such as the Royal Marines . The Music Band of the Marines

4320-416: The cannon why die for it It is our obligation. Don't cry to me, my mother if in the fight I have to stay what is the duty of the Spanish for my country! your blood spill To fight, to fight brave Marines to win or die for defending the noble Spain For his honor, for his honor let's all fight incessantly until we achieve our soil the admiration of

4410-399: The devastation and the human casualties caused by the bombing of the Basque city of Guernica in 1937, known by the Luftwaffe as Operation Rügen , Hitler insisted that his longterm designs in Spain were peaceful. He called his strategy "Blumenkrieg" (Flower War), as evidenced in a January 1937 speech. The international outcry over Guernica, however, would not bring about any increase in

4500-401: The end of the World War I , the Battle of Gallipoli made almost all countries abandon the idea of amphibious assault. The world's marine corps fell into a deep crisis, with the Spanish Marine Infantry being no exception, though it enjoyed success during the Third Rif War in its innovative Alhucemas amphibious assault in 1925, when it employed coordinated air and naval gunfire to support

4590-594: The exercise of their functions they will have the character of agents of the authority. The Compañía de Reconocimiento y Adquisición de Blancos (Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance, TAR) was created in 2012, replacing the Reconnaissance Unit (URECON) assigned to the Headquarters Battalion. Its mission is the reconnaissance for the Marine Infantry Brigade (BRIMAR) operations. Its tasks are observation and reconnaissance, target acquisition, control of fire support (artillery and air strikes), close air support (helicopter precision marksmanship), direct action and mobility. For this,

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4680-615: The famous Tercios (literally "One Third", due to its organisation: one third of musketeers , one third of swordsmen and the final third of pikemen ): Of the Tercios above, the first is considered the core of the Spanish Marine Infantry, and it bears in its coat of arms two crossed anchors that became the Corps' coat of arms until 1931. In 1704, the Tercios became regiments: Regimiento de Bajeles (Vessel's Regiments), Regimiento de la Armada (Navy Regiment), R. del Mar de Nápoles (Naples' Sea Regiment), and R. de Marina de Sicilia (Sicily's Navy Regiment), detaching some small units to

4770-476: The fifteenth type of fighter that arrived in the Spanish Air and Space Force (the Eurofighter is the C.16) and is the eighth example of this type to enter the SAF. On the nose or fuselage the aircraft has a numeral specific to the unit in which it is based. Variants of planes in service, for example two-seater versions or tanker versions of transports planes, add another letter to differentiate their function, and have their own sequence of serial numbers separate from

4860-422: The first Spanish military paratroop unit, the Primera Bandera de la Primera Legión de Tropas de Aviación , was established in Alcalá de Henares . It first saw action in the Ifni War during 1957 and 1958. Because of US Government objection to use airplanes manufactured in the US in her colonial struggles after World War II, Spain used at first old German aircraft, such as the T-2 (Junkers 52, nicknamed "Pava"),

4950-407: The following: The Blue Squadron ( Escuadrillas Azules ) was an air unit that fought alongside the Axis Powers at the time of the Blue Division, Division Azul Spanish volunteer formation in World War II . The Escuadrilla azul operated with the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front and took part in the battle of Kursk . This squadron was the " 15 Spanische Staffel "/ JG 27 Afrika of

5040-474: The government, the new military structure of the republic merged the Aeronáutica Militar and the Aeronáutica Naval , the former being the air arm of the Spanish Republican Army and the latter the naval aviation of the Spanish Republican Navy , and formed the Spanish Republican Air Force . The Republican tricolor roundel was replaced by red bands for identification purposes, an insignia that had previously been used on Aeronáutica Naval aircraft during

5130-444: The grounds on horseback. These group of Royal Guards with their Burgundian style, together with two units of alabarderos ("halberdiers"), would remain in service until the reorganization of the Troops of the Royal Household ( Tropas de Casa Real ) by Philip V . During his reign, the Royal Guards were organized into: In the 19th century the Guards were reinforced by the Spanish Marine Infantry , which formed its own unit. In 1824-25

5220-433: The group. Such example is the 47/o. Grupo Mixto de Fuerzas Aéreas (47th Air Force Composite Group) a mixed intelligence, electronic warfare and aerial navigation systems calibration unit at Torrejón de Ardoz air base. When an air base houses more than one ala or multiple separate grupos , the function of a lodger unit is provided by an air force installation unit (an army regiment equivalent) called Groupment of

5310-417: The gunners manned the ship cannons. As needed landing parties were formed. Both corps also garrisoned the navy's coastal fortresses. During the War of Spanish Independence both the marine infantry and the marine artillery was reorganized as an administrative division of seven regiments, mainly fighting on land as part of army divisions in an operational role. In a 1793, a woman, Ana Maria de Soto, disguised as

5400-538: The hijack of the fishing vessel Alakrana in Somali waters. The main fighting Force of the Spanish Marine Infantry is the Marine Infantry Brigade, which includes the following units: The Protection Force (FUPRO) is in charge of ensuring the security of naval and other designated facilities and contains around 2000 troops. FUPRO is commanded by a brigadier general and is made up of the following battalion sized Tercios (En:Thirds): See article: Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial The Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial (FGNE)

5490-404: The main amphibious unit and has experienced several restructures that led to the E-01 Plan, which defines the requirements and structures from the year 2000 for the Spanish Marine Infantry. The Spanish Marines have been present in Europe, Central America and Asia in an anonymous role as an "emergency force" ready to evacuate civilians in conflict areas, or as a deterrence force in providing cover for

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5580-488: The main branches of Spain's military. It is involved in the changing of the guard ceremony (Cambio de la Guardia) at the Royal Palace. It is present at military parades in the national capital of Madrid on official holidays including Fiesta Nacional de España and Día de la Constitución . Annually, it has a troop review during the Pascua Militar ceremony on 6 January. Spanish Marine Infantry The Marine Infantry ( Spanish : Infantería de Marina )

5670-420: The marine infantry academy, the Academia General Central de Infantería de Marina was founded. The colonial wars in the Philippines and on Cuba, with constant landing operations, lead to a reorganization of the marines into three brigades of two regiments each. In 1886 the marines contained four brigades, each with four tercios, while the reorganization of 1893 created three regiments of two battalions each. During

5760-442: The military help provided to the beleaguered Spanish Republic.The pilots of the Spanish Republican Air Force, often young and poorly trained were unable to check the Nazi German and Fascist Italian modern-warfare attacks. Despite Franco's claim that both air forces were equal, and despite the help of foreign pilots, Spanish Republican planes were mostly obsolete and often in a bad state of disrepair. Even after acquiring more planes from

5850-429: The military rebellion that triggered the Spanish Civil War , Spanish military aviation was divided into the Air Force of the Spanish republican government and the National Aviation ( Aviación Nacional ), established by the rebel army. In July 1936, right after the coup, the first German Junkers Ju 52 and Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 arrived to help the rebels and the Fiat CR.32 fighters began operating in

5940-500: The monarchy in the 1920s, before the time of the Republic. Many innovative, and often lethal, aeronautical bombing techniques were tested by Germany's Condor Legion forces on Spanish soil against the areas that remained loyal to the Republican Government with the permission of Generalísimo Franco. Nazi help to the Nationalist Air Force was part of Hitler's German re-armament strategy and the techniques that German Nazi pilots learned in Spain would later be used in World War II . Despite

6030-421: The most veteran marines train in insertion / extraction using skydiving and diving techniques. While she remained active, the Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias (R11) had an assigned section of embarked Marines who were responsible for the security and control of the vessel, conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) using helicopters or RIBs . Once the ship began its decommissioning process,

6120-411: The new army under the king, forming the basis of what is now the modern day Guardia Real - the Royal Guards Regiment ( Regimento de la Guardia Real ), which is responsible to the king through the Ministry of Defense. In the 1980s it grew into a three-battalion regiment. Today it is a four-battalion unit that serves as the protocol and security service of the Spanish royal family. In 2002, a section from

6210-420: The present functions of the unit include the protection of foreign heads of state visiting Spain , and of royal palaces such as the Royal Palace of Madrid ( Palacio Real ), the Palace of El Pardo and the Palace of Zarzuela . The regiment is an active combat unit and has been deployed to Bosnia and Afghanistan . The Guard regularly takes part in military exercises organized in conjunction with all three of

6300-435: The primary versions. Example: "CE.15-02" will be the second F/A-18 two-seater (Fighter Trainer) delivered to the SAF. In addition, the aircraft used by the Spanish Air and Space Force usually carry a code consisting of one or two digits followed by a dash and two numbers, painted on the nose or fuselage. The first number corresponds to the unit to which they belong, and the second the order in which they entered service. Example:

6390-432: The regimental HQ, as well as support units and the band. The marine artillery was abolished in 1857. The five battalions of marine infantry were reorganized in 1869 to three regiments, one for each naval station. By this time, the mission of the marines changed from naval garrison troops, to a landing force serving mainly in the colonies. During the Third Carlist War 1872–1876 the marines fought as field infantry. In 1879,

6480-559: The same location as present-day Barcelona Airport . In 1921, following the Spanish defeat at Annual , known as Desastre de Annual in Spain, the Zeluán Aerodrome was taken over by the Rif army and another aerodrome was built at Nador . Lieutenant Colonel Kindelán was named Jefe Superior de Aeronáutica , becoming chief-commander of the air force in 1926, at the time when Spanish Morocco

6570-738: The sea. Photographer Robert Capa took pictures of the Spanish Marine Infantry in the Battle of the Segre . Republican Infantería de Marina Lieutenant Colonel Ambrosio Ristori de la Cuadra , killed in action during the Siege of Madrid , was posthumously awarded the Laureate Plate of Madrid . After the civil war, during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco , the strength of the Infantería Marina

6660-495: The situation. In September 1936 the Navy and Air Ministry, Ministerio de Marina y Aire , and the Air Undersecretariat, Subsecretaria del Aire were established under the command of Indalecio Prieto as minister. The first serious air combat took place over Madrid when Italian bombers attacked the city in a massive bombing operation. In the reorganization of the military in the areas of Spain that had remained loyal to

6750-876: The successor to bands of both that service and the whole of the Navy. The Madrid Marine Corps Battalion (AGRUMAD) Music Band, also based in Madrid, also serves this branch. Since 1990, which was the year of its reestablishment, it has participated in concerts organized by the aforementioned association as well as military festivals in Spain. In 1970, it performed in the International Contest of Military Music Bands held in Valencia in 1970, in which its bandsmen obtained 1st prize. It also has taken part in foreign activities in neighboring countries such as Belgium . Source: Notes Spanish Air and Space Force The Spanish Air and Space Force ( SASF ) ( Spanish : Ejército del Aire y del Espacio , lit.   'Army of

6840-449: The tail. The letter or letters, correspond to the use given. Thus, C means cazabombardero (fighter bomber); A, ataque (attack); P, patrulla (patrol); T, transporte (transport); E, enseñanza (training); D, search and rescue; H, helicopter; K, tanker; V, Vertical Take Off and Landing ( VTOL ); and U, utility. An example would be that the F/A-18 with "C.15-08" on the tail is

6930-464: The whole world Marines let's go fight The Homeland enlarge and its glory increase nobility and bravery our emblems are: not abandon the ensign to the noise of the cannon why die for it It is our obligation Don't cry to me, my mother if in the fight I have to stay what is the duty of the Spanish for my country! your blood spill Glory to

7020-637: The years that followed, most of the military activity of the Spanish Air Force would take place in Northern Morocco. In 1915 Spain's first seaplane base was opened at Los Alcazares on the Mar Menor in the Murcia region and Alfredo Kindelán was named Military Aeronautics Director, displacing Pedro Vives. The Catalan Flying School was established in Can Tunis , Barcelona the following year and Getafe Aerodrome became

7110-518: Was activated, which included a mounted squadron (the Guardia Mora ) which was first raised from surplus personnel of the Regulares . After several reorganizations, the unit would last until Franco's death as a combined arms guards regiment. Upon Franco's death and the ascension of King Juan Carlos I as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the guards regiment was integrated into

7200-483: Was completed successfully in 1908 and, named 'Torres Quevedo', made numerous test and exhibition flights. The Spanish Army 's air arm, however, took off formally in 1909 when Colonel Pedro Vives Vich and Captain Alfredo Kindelán made an official trip to different European cities to check the potential of introducing airships and airplanes in the Spanish Armed Forces. One year later a Royal decree established

7290-523: Was completely disbanded after the victory on April 1, 1939. The present Spanish Air Force ( Ejército del Aire , or EdA) was officially established on 7 October 1939, after the end of the Spanish Civil War . The EdA was a successor to the Nationalist and Republican Air Forces. Spanish Republican colors disappeared and the black roundel of the planes was replaced by a yellow and red roundel. However,

7380-511: Was created on 1 December 1981 as part of the Royal Guard . Its organization is that of a Rifle Company. The Naval Police Units are basically organized for the performance, both in peace and in war, of specific security and order missions. They fulfill the duties of surveillance of units and units of the Navy, custody, escort and regulation of transport and military convoys, protection of authorities, identification of personnel and vehicles, etc. In

7470-700: Was created through the fusion of the Special Operations Unit (UOE) of the Marine Infantry as well as the Special Combat Divers Unit (UEBC) and the Special Explosives Defusers Unit (UEDE) from the Navy Diving Center. The FGNE is organized inside the whole Navy. This unit has taken part in several operations including Atalanta in Somalia , United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon , Hispaniola in Haiti and

7560-536: Was given in recognition for a heroic last stand at the Morro Castle during the siege of Havana in 1762. The only other unit to wear the sardinetas and red trouser stripes is the Spanish Royal Guard . Spanish Marines have modern assets to comply with its mission, having personnel specialised in artillery , sapping , helicopters , special operations , communications, tanks , among others. Some vehicles form

7650-640: Was increased. In 1957, the Grupo Especial Anfibio (Amphibious Special Group) was created, and the Spanish Marine Infantry returned to its primary duty as a Landing Force Mission. In 1958 it established a beachhead in Spanish Sahara and Ifni during the Ifni War . The capabilities and strength of the Spanish Marine Infantry were increased: new amphibious vehicles, anti-tank weapons, individual equipment and artillery. The Tercio de Armada (TEAR) became

7740-516: Was merged in 1827 into a brigade, Brigada Real de Marina with focus on artillery. The brigade that consisted of two battalions was renamed the Real Cuerpo de Artillería de Marina in 1833. In the First Carlist War 1834-39, three battalions of marine infantry were organized, serving as field infantry, with an additional battalion raised to reinforce the Royal Guards in Madrid. In 1839 the corps

7830-651: Was officially disbanded, however, the Spanish Civil War intervened and the corps split and served both sides with the garrisons of Ferrol and Cádiz on the Nationalist side and the garrison of Cartagena , as well as a detachment in Madrid , on the Republican side . During the bitterly fought war the Marines performed garrison duties, led landing parties, and provided expert artillery and machine gun crews. The Republican 151 Brigada Mixta fought mostly inland battles far away from

7920-399: Was renamed Cuerpo de Artillería and Infanteriá de Marina . In 1841 the infantry was transferred to the army. The marine artillery remained in the navy under the name of Cuerpo de Artillería de Marina . However, in 1848, the naval infantry was re-established by the formation of a new Corps, Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina, , then as an infantry regiment organized into three battalions and

8010-564: Was retaken and the Rif War ended. In 1926 a crew of Spanish aviators, that included Ramón Franco , Julio Ruiz de Alda , Juan Manuel Duran and Pablo Rada , completed the first Trans-Atlantic flight between Spain and South America in January 1926 on the Plus Ultra . That same year, pilots González Gallarza, Joaquín Loriga Taboada and Rafael Martínez Esteve completed the first flight between Spain and

8100-506: Was to form the "Main body of landing columns and ship's soldiers tasks" in a time that boarding was still a critical part of battle at sea. They were also gun crews. In 1728 the battalion Mediterráneo and in 1731 the battalion Barlovento were disbanded. In 1741 there were eight battalions and ten years later another was added. In 1740 a marine artillery corps was founded. At mid 18th century there were 12,000 marine infantry and 3,000 marine gunners. The infantry formed boarding parties while

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