Spanish Army Reduction in numbers, to improve equipment

Gladius

New Member
The application of the Royal Decree 416/2006 of April 11, will imply the dissolution of 40 battalions (of 195), the reduction of around 20000 troops and the transfer to different units for 16000 professional soldiers.

The changes introduced by the Royal Decree, include the dissolution of the two existing divisional structures, the establishment of the brigade as the fundamental unit of maneuver and the reduction of 25% in the number of professional soldiers. The main objective of this reorganization is to promote the flexibility, and the character of projection of the Spanish Army.

The new plan foresees a force of 60.000 professional soldiers and 26.000 command staff, with support and complement of a Voluntary Reserve.

The new structure and deploy will be the following one:

Headquarters NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (NRDC-Sp).
· Headquarters and HQ Battalion, Bétera (Valencia).
· Command Support Group, Valencia.

Land Force

Headquarters, Sevilla.


Heavy Forces

Headquarters, Burgos.

Mechanized Brigade "Guzmán El Bueno X", Córdoba:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· Armored Infantry Regiment.
· Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
· Campaign Artillery Group.
· Reconnoissance Group.
· Sappers Battalion.
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.

Mechanized Brigade, "Extremadura XI", Badajoz:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· Mechanized Infantry Regiment.
· Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
· Campaign Artillery Group.
· Reconnoissance Group.
· Sappers Battalion.
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.

Mechanized Brigade "Guadarrama XII", Madrid:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· Armored Infantry Regiment "Alcázar de Toledo Nº61".
· Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
· Campaign Artillery Group.
· Reconnoissance Group.
· Sappers Battalion.
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.


Light Forces

Headquarters, Alcalá de Henares (Madrid).


Light Infantry Brigade "Galicia VII", Pontevedra:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· Light Infantry Regiment “Príncipe Nº3", Siero (Asturias).
· Light Infantry Battalion.
· Reconnoissance Group
· Campaign Artillery Group.
· Sappers Battalion
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.

Infantry Brigade "Rey Alfonso XIII", Viator (Almería):
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· Tercio* "Juan de Austria" 3rd of the Legion.
· Tercio* "Alejandro Farnesio" 4th of the Legion, Ronda (Málaga).
· Reconnoissance Group
· Campaign Artillery Group.
· Sappers Battalion
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.

Paratroops Brigade "Almogávares VI", Paracuellos del Jarama (Madrid):
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· Airborne Flag** "Roger de Flor I".
· Air Assault Flag** "Roger de Lauria II".
· Parachutist Infantry Flag** "Ortiz de Zárate III", Javalí Nuevo (Murcia).
· Campaign Artillery Group.
· Sappers Battalion
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.

Mountain Troops Command.
· Headquarters, Jaca (Huesca).
· High Mountain Regiment “Arapiles Nº 62", San Clemente de Sasebas (Gerona) & Barcelona.
· High Mountain Regiment "América Nº 66", Aizoaín (Navarra) & Jaca (Huesca).
· Support Group, Huesca.

Light Infantry Brigade "San Marcial V", Vitoria (Álava):
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· Light Infantry Regiment, "Tercio Viejo de Sicilia Nº67", San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa).
· Light Infantry Regiment, "Garellano Nº45", Munguía (Vizcaya).
· Main Battle Tank Battalion, “Flandes IV/45", Vitoria (Álava).
· Campaign Artillery Group Nº5.
· Sappers Battalion
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.

Cavalry Brigade "Castillejos II", Zaragoza:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Group.
· Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Numancia Nº9" or "España Nº11".
· Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Lusitania Nº8", Marines (Valencia).
· Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Farnesio Nº12", Santovenia del Pisuerga (Valladolid).
· Campaign Artillery Regiment Nº20.
· Sappers Battalion
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.


General Command of Balearic Islands

Headquarters, Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands).

Mixed Group, Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands).


General Command of Ceuta (North Africa)

Headquarters.

Infantry Brigade of Ceuta:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· 54th Group of "Regulares"***.
· Tercio* "Duque de Alba" 2nd of the Legión.
· Armored Cavalry Regiment "Montesa Nº3".
· Mixed Artillery Regiment Nº30.
· Sappers Battalion
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.


General Command of Melilla (North Africa)

Headquarters.

Infantry Brigade of Melilla:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Battalion.
· 52nd Group of "Regulares"***.
· Tercio* "Gran Capitán" 1st of the Legión.
· Armored Cavalry Regiment "Alcántara Nº10".
· Mixed Artillery Regiment Nº32.
· Sappers Battalion
· Logistic Group.
· Transmissions Company.


Other Units of Land Force:

Transmissions Brigade:

· Headquarters, Bétera (Valencia).
· Transmissions Regiment Nº1, Marines (Valencia).
· Transmissions Regiment Nº2, Castrillo del Val (Burgos) & Alcalá de Henares (Madrid).
· Electronic Warfare Regiment Nº31, Madrid.
· Electronic Warfare Regiment Nº32, Dos Hermanas (Sevilla).

Aeromobile Forces of the Army, Colmenar Viejo (Madrid):
· Headquarters.
· Attack Helicopters Battalion I, Almagro (Ciudad Real).
· Maneuver Helicopters Battalion III, Agoncillo (La Rioja).
· Maneuver Helicopters Battalion IV, Dos Hermanas (Sevilla).
· Transport Helicopters Battalion V.
· Transmissions Battalion.
· Logistic Group.

Campaign Artillery Command, San Andrés del Rabanedo (León):
· Headquarters.
· Campaign Artillery Regiment Nº63.
· Rocket Launcher Artillery Regiment Nº62, en Astorga (León).
· Campaign Artillery Regiment Nº11, en Castrillo del Val (Burgos).

Coastal Artillery Command, Straight of Gibraltar.
· Headquarters, Tarifa (Cádiz).
· Coastal Artillery Regiment Nº4, San Fernando (Cádiz).
· Group of Locating and Identification, en San Roque (Cádiz).

Antiair Artillery Command.
· Headquarters, Madrid.
· Antiair Artillery Regiment Nº71, Madrid.
· Antiair Artillery Regiment Nº72, San Fernando (Cádiz).
· Antiair Artillery Regiment Nº73, Cartagena (Murcia).
· Antiair Artillery Regiment Nº74, Dos Hermanas (Sevilla).
· Antiair Artillery Regiment Nº81, Marines (Valencia).
· Transmissions Unit, Madrid & Dos Hermanas (Sevilla).

Engineers Command:
· Headquarters, Salamanca.
· Engineers Regiment Nº11, Salamanca.
· Engineers Regiment Nº12, Zaragoza.
· Engineers Regiment ????, Cáceres.

Special Operations Command, Alicante:
· Headquarters.
· HQ Group.
· Special Ops. Group "Valencia III".
· Special Ops. Group "Ampurdán IV".
· Special Ops. Group "Maderal de Oleaga" XIX.
· Transmissions Company.

Others Support Units:
· NBQR Regiment, Valencia.
· Civilian Affairs Battalion, Valencia.
· Transmissions Regiment Nº22, Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid).


Canary Islands Command

Headquarters, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Canary Islands Infantry Brigade:

· Headquarters, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
· HQ Battalion, en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
· Light Infantry Regiment "Tenerife Nº49", Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
· Light Infantry Regiment "Soria Nº9", Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura (Las Palmas).
· Light Infantry Regiment "Canarias Nº50", Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
· Campaign Artillery Regiment Nº93, San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Santa Cruz de Tenerife).
· Antiair Artillery Regiment Nº94, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
· Sappers Battalion, San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) y Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
· Logistic Group, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).
· Maneuver Helicopters Unit, San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Santa Cruz de Tenerife).
· Transmissions Company, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).


Fuerza Logística Operativa

Headquarters, La Coruña.

Logistic Land Force 1:
· Headquarters, Sevilla.
· Logistic Support Group, Colmenar Viejo (Madrid).
· Logistic Support Group, Sevilla.
· Logistic Support Group, San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Santa Cruz de Tenerife).
· Support and Services Group, Granada.

Logistic Land Force 2:
· Headquarters, Zaragoza.
· Logistic Support Group, Paterna (Valencia).
· Logistic Support Group, Zaragoza.
· Logistic Support Group, Valladolid.

Medical Brigade, Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid):
· Headquarters.
· Sanitary Group.
· Sanitary Group, Mislata (Valencia).
· Sanitary Group, Zaragoza.
· Sanitary Support Logistic Group.
· Campaign Hospital.

Operation Logistic Support Command, Valencia


* Tercio: Regimental level unit of the Spanish Legion.
** Flag: From the Spanish "Bandera". Battalion level unit, used by the Parachutist Brigade and the Spanish Legion.
*** Group of Regulares: Regimental level unit.

Summarizing, some of the changes that I see in the new scheme of the Spanish Army are:

a) The suppresión of the last Division (Mech Div. Brunete Nº1) of the Army and the relocation of its resources in the Brigades.

b) The Armored Cavalry Regiment "Farnesio Nº12" and the Light Cavalry Regiment "Savoya Nº8" will be converted both on Light Armored Cavalry Regiments and asigned to the Cavalry Brigade "Castillejos II" in exchange for two of its present regiments (the Armored Cavalry Regiment "Pavía Nº4" and the Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Numáncia Nº9/España Nº11") that will be dissolved.

c) The dissolution of the 5th Coastal Artillery Regiment.

d) The reduction of the second mechanized Regiment in the three heavy Brigades to a mere battalion each.

e) The interesting conversion of the first mech Battalion of the Brigade "Guzman El Bueno X" to an Armored Infantry Regiment.

f) Creation of the Mountain Troops Command, with the fussion of the Brigades Aragón I (High Mountain Brigade) and Urgel IV (Light Infantry Brigade).

g) Supression (or fussion with another unit), of the Maneuver Helicopters Batallion II (BHELMA II).

h) Segregation of the BHELMA VI of the Aeromobile Forces of the Army (FAMET) to assign it to the organic estructure of the Canary Islands Infantry Brigade.

i) Reduction of the all Artillery Regiments of the Heavy Brigades to one reinforced Group each.

Well, this is an interesting and extensive reorganization like the past plans META and NORTE... But we won't be cutting too much????
 
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Sea Toby

New Member
Considering that the present government of Spain pulled so quickly out of Iraq in the war against terror, and the small numbers offered to the UN for Lebanon, its not surprising this government would choose to cut their defence forces significantly. If there is no threat to the country, and without the desire to participate with large numbers for peacekeeping missions, a government will come to the conclusion their forces are too large. Its called a peace dividend.

Furthermore, with the costs of new equipment ever increasing, its becoming difficult for every nation to replace its equipment one for one, something has to go. And since a third to a half of the military's expenditures is payroll, the quickest route to further equipment savings is to reduce the size of its millitary in personnel.

As for land forces, the quickest path for savings is to cut armored and mechanized units.
 

Gladius

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3
Yes, Zapatero pulled out our troops from Irak (1300), less than the number initialy contempled to send for UNIFIL to Lebanon (1400 as said some spanish newspappers as La Razón), now reduced to about 800.

Sea Toby said:
If there is no threat to the country, and without the desire to participate with large numbers for peacekeeping missions, a government will come to the conclusion their forces are too large. Its called a peace dividend.
Oh, well... At this moment we have troops deployed in the Balkans (~1200 in Bosnia & Kosovo), Afghanistan (~500), Congo (~150), Kirguistan (~100), Lithuania (~100), until last March Haití (200) and until January in Pakistan (370). If that it's not a desire to participate in international missions or peacekeeping, I don't know what is.

Now we will go to Lebanon, if you add the permanent and inevitably presence to protect our land claimed for another country, three reinforced brigades on Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands forced by our eternal problems with Morocco. When only five years ago we were very near to begin a conflict with our neighbour by its territorial ambitions... Remember Leila/Peregil.

In the recent past the Army had problems to mantain the rotations for our international deployments, with many cases of soldiers and officers with several rotations on their backs, and in spite of it we continue cutting troops...
 

contedicavour

New Member
I would only say that if the government is reducing its land forces, it is however investing massively in its navy (5th Bazan AEGIS FFG, new class of OPVs, completion of big LPH, not to mention full speed ahead on the Scorpene programme) and the air force is spending a lot on the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. Besides, the Spanish army is getting well armed, starting with the most visible : latest generation Leo2s, Centauros...
So a reduction in troop numbers doesn't mean at all a reduction in defence spending.

To make a parallel with Italy, at least Spain has taken the brave move of cutting numbers to improve equipment. We haven't and end up spending way too much on personnel as a % of total defence spending.

Just a question : how many personnel does a brigade have in Spain ? In Italy you would expect 6 regiments for approx 4,000 troops each.

cheers
 

swerve

Super Moderator
contedicavour said:
To make a parallel with Italy, at least Spain has taken the brave move of cutting numbers to improve equipment. We haven't and end up spending way too much on personnel as a % of total defence spending.
Yeah, & you can use Carabinieri for some jobs where we have to use soldiers, so can afford to cut army manpower more. Your air force also seems to have a lot of manpower in proportion to aircraft numbers.
 

contedicavour

New Member
swerve said:
Yeah, & you can use Carabinieri for some jobs where we have to use soldiers, so can afford to cut army manpower more. Your air force also seems to have a lot of manpower in proportion to aircraft numbers.
Yes you are right. 44,000 personnel for (currently) 20 Typhoons, 34 F16ADF, 80 Tornado IDS, 15 Tornado ECR, approx 80 AMX (plus several more mothballed), 60+ MB339s, 4 tankers, 18 C130Js, 12 C27s, approx 20 CSAR HH3F and AB212. This makes 128 people per plane or helo... although to be fair there is also an elite commando force for CSAR purposes (up to regimental size) and several thousands working on radar installations and Spada (Aspide-2000) SAM air defence sites.

cheers
 

Gladius

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7
contedicavour said:
I would only say that if the government is reducing its land forces, it is however investing massively in its navy (5th Bazan AEGIS FFG, new class of OPVs, completion of big LPH, not to mention full speed ahead on the Scorpene programme) and the air force is spending a lot on the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. Besides, the Spanish army is getting well armed, starting with the most visible : latest generation Leo2s, Centauros...
So a reduction in troop numbers doesn't mean at all a reduction in defence spending.
Not only those conte, much more...

Inversions for the Army: MBTs Leopards 2E, Leo 2A4 (previously leased from Germany, now purchased), IFVs Pizarro, VRC Centauros, BMR-600 M1 and VEC M1 (Modernization of entire fleet), Light Vehicles URO VAMTAC and Santana Anibal, Missiles NASAMS, Patriot, and Spike-ER, Helicopters Tiger HAD, NH-90TTH and EC-135...

Inversions for the Air Force: Eurofighter, EF-18A+/B+ (Mid Life Update), Dassault F-1M (Modernization for the F-1Cs), P-3M Orion (Modernization for the P-3Bs), Airbus A-310, Airbus A-400M, EADS CASA C-295, Missiles METEOR, KEPD-350 Taurus, IRIS-T, Bombs BPG-2000, Pods Rafael Litening, Helicopters NH-90TTH, Radars Indra Lanza 3-D (Replacement with 3D Radars of all EAW Radars and building of some new emplacements)...

Inversions for the Navy: The fifth F-100, 4 BAMs (of 14 planned), 1 AOR (BAC Cantabria), 1 Strategic Projection Ship (27000Tn LHD), 4 Navatia's S-80 submarines (the spanish navy not want scorpene subs), Landing crafts LCM-1E, Torpedoes DM2A4, Missiles ESSM, Tomahawk, Helicopters NH-90s (Transport, ASW and AEW Versions), IFVs Piranha IIIC for the Marine Infantry, ...

Not cheap at all...

contedicavour said:
Just a question : how many personnel does a brigade have in Spain ? In Italy you would expect 6 regiments for approx 4,000 troops each.
Now we have about ~4500 for Heavy Brigades and ~3500 for Light Brigades, but with some exceptions, as Ceuta and Melilla whose Brigades are reinforced with a Cavalry Regiment and heavy howitzers (two groups of 155mm instead the only one of L-118A1) on its Art. Rgt. and the Canary Islands Brigade with now three Infantry Rgts. instead the usual two and with a SAM Battery (NASAMS missiles).

Our previous scheme was:
(-) Mech Div. Force: 1 Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Rgt. + Support.
(-) FAR Div. Force: 1 Light. Cav. Rgt. + Support.
(1) Armrd Brigade: 1 Armrd. Rgt. + 1 Mech. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(2) Mech Brigade: 2 Mech. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(1) Cav. Brigade: 1 Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Light Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(1) Para Brigade: 3 Bons. + 1 Art. Group + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(4) Light Infantry Brigade: 2 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Art. Group + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support. (with 1 aditional MBT Bon. for the Urgel IV and San Marcial V Brigades)
(1) High Mountain Brigade: 2 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Mountain Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(-) Balearic Islands Brigade: 1 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Mixed Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(-) Canary Islands Brigade: 2 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Inf. Bon. + 1 Mixed Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Rgt. + Support.
(-) Ceuta Brigade: 2 Inf. Rgt. + Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 Coastal Art. Group + 1 Sappers Rgt. + Support.
(-) Melilla Brigade: 2 Inf. Rgt. + Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Rgt. + Support.


Now with the Royal Decree 416/2006:

(2) Mech Brigade: 1 Armrd. Rgt. + 1 Mech. Bon. + 1 Art. Group + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(1) Mech Brigade: 1 Mech. Rgt. + 1 Mech. Bon. + 1 Art. Group + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(1) Cav. Brigade: 3 Light Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(1) Para Brigade: 3 Bons. + 1 Art. Group + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(3) Light Infantry Brigade: 1 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Inf. Bon + 1 Art. Group + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support. (with 1 aditional MBT Bon. for the San Marcial V Brigade)
(1) High Mountain Command: 2 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Mountain Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(-) Balearic Islands Brigade: 1 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Mixed Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(-) Canary Islands Brigade: 3 Inf. Rgt. + 1 Art. Rgt. + 1 AAA Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(-) Ceuta Brigade: 2 Inf. Rgt. + Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Mixed Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
(-) Melilla Brigade: 2 Inf. Rgt. + Armrd. Cav. Rgt. + 1 Mixed Art. Rgt. + 1 Sappers Bon. + Support.
 

contedicavour

New Member
Honestly I would change the title of the thread : instead of "draconian reduction" I would say "Spanish Army reduces numbers to continue improving its equipment and efficiency" ;)

cheers
 

.pt

New Member
It seems its a draconian reduction in personnel numbers, but at least you are modernising your equipment. Those are significant improvements you pointed to us, and indeed they are not cheap!
Btw, speaking as a neighbour, when are you going to disband that mech. brigade in badajoz?:p:
.pt
 

Gladius

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10
The key detail is that those "improvements" were planned previously to the conception of the National Defense Law (Organic Law 5/2005) and the Royal Decree 416/2006, they aren't a consequence of those. Moreover, their application will have heavy influence in a lot of these programs, gutting them significantly. As already has occurred with the program Pizarro, the program of modernization of the M-113 finally canceled, the present discussion on the reduction of the MBTs fleet to 275 from the previously planed ~375, etc...

And .pt, I'm so sorry but we will maintain the brigade Extremadura XI in Botoa (Badajoz), in the near future. The Zapatero's Goverment doesn't have plans to dissolve her... yet. :D
 
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.pt

New Member
No offence intended Gladius!
But..i´ll just have to advise our HQ to change their plans to eat paella, and go dine elsewhere:smokie
Thanks for the clarification. I didn´t realise that some of those programs were now compromised, at least some of them, with the new reorganisation of forces.
Aniway, i hope that the most important ones are still carried out, and that your armed forces will continue to modernise and obtain capabilities in the future.
As for the rest, don´t worry, it´s hapening all around you, in Europe, everibody is complaining. And they still want to commit more people in Lebanon, i wonder with what money??
Regards.
.pt
 

contedicavour

New Member
Gladius said:
The key detail is that those "improvements" were planned previously to the conception of the National Defense Law (Organic Law 5/2005) and the Royal Decree 416/2006, they aren't a consequence of those. Moreover, their application will have heavy influence in a lot of these programs, gutting them significantly. As already has occurred with the program Pizarro, the program of modernization of the M-113 finally canceled, the present discussion on the reduction of the MBTs fleet to 275 from the previously planed ~375, etc...

And .pt, I'm so sorry but we will maintain the brigade Extremadura XI in Botoa (Badajoz), in the near future. The Zapatero's Goverment doesn't have plans to dissolve her... yet. :D
My oh my don't complain too loud ;) we're down to 350 MBTs :(
Besides, you can embark a lot more Centauros than Leo2s on your big LPDs and future BPS, so for overseas missions it makes sense to cut MBT numbers a bit if it helps buy for the rest of the needed material.

cheers
 
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