The Spanish Civil War, fought between 1936 and 1939, provided an opportunity for many European countries to evaluate new technologies and tactics, including armored warfare.Hofmann (1998), p. 103 At the beginning of the war, the Nationalist and Popular Fronts each possessed only five World War I-era-design Renault FT light tanks,García (2004), pp. 6–7 although these were soon reinforced with imported materiel. Italy began supplying Nationalist Spain with L3/35 tankettes in August 1936.Manrique & Molina (2006), pp. 311–312 The Soviet Union soon followed suit by supplying the Popular Front with T-26 light tanks in October 1936.Hofmann (1998), pp. 103–104 Germany sent its first shipments of Panzer I light tanks to the Nationalist Front in September 1936.Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 308 During the war, France and Poland provided the Popular Front with a number of additional FT light tanks.García (2003), p. 8 & 12 A considerable number of tanks delivered to the Popular Front were subsequently captured;Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 327 many of these were put into service against their former owners.Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 328

The Nationalist and Popular armies also designed and manufactured a number of their own tanks.Manrique & Molina (2006), pp. 296–297 The Nationalists, for example, began the war with three Trubia A4 prototypes, manufactured before the beginning of the conflict.Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 297 They also completed the first prototype of the Verdeja light tank.Manrique & Molina (2006), pp. 297–298 This was designed to overcome the shortcomings of tanks provided by the Germans and the Italians, as well as Soviet tanks captured from the Popular Front.de Mazararrasa, pp. 11–14 Popular Front production of armored vehicles was segmented throughout different areas of Spain. In the north, between 15 and 20 Carro Trubia-Naval tanks were manufactured at the factory in Sestao, conversely the Trubia factory had built only a single model Landesa tank.Manrique & Molina (2006), pp. 299–300 In Catalonia, two tanks were produced by the Maquinaría Moderna factory in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia.Manrique & Molina (2006), pp. 301–303 Though the Popular Front designed and manufactured many more armored fighting vehicles than the Nationalists, this ultimately worked in the Nationalists favor as the factories and their production lines were captured intact during the war.Manrique & Molina (2006), pp. 306–307

Tanks in service at the beginning Tank Location Units in service Schneider CA1.Zaloga (1910), p. 8, 14 Madrid 4 Renault FTGarcía (2004), p. 6, 11 & 12 Madrid and Zaragoza 10Five unist in Madrid at the First Regiment of Tanks, and five unist in Zaragoza at the Second Regiment of Tanks; García (2008), pp. 6,11 & 12 Fiat 3000García (2004), pp. 4–5 Carabanchel 1 Trubia A4García (2008), p. 63 Oviedo 3The first, second and third prototype, respectively; García (2008), pp. 62–63 Landesa Trubia 2

Manufactured in Spain

Produced and deployed by the Nationalists Tank Location of construction Number produced Year Mercier Zaragoza 1 1936 C.C.I. tipo 1937 Sestao 1 1937 VerdejaManrique & Molina (2006), p. 298 Zaragoza 1 1938

Produced and deployed by the Popular Front Tank Location of construction Number produced Year Sadurni de NoyaManrique & Molina (2006), p. 303 Sant Sadurní d'Anoia 6 1937 Barbastro Barbastro 4 1937 Trubia A4 Trubia 2 1936 Trubia-NavalManrique & Molina (2006), p. 300 Sestao 12–20 1936–37

Tanks supplied by foreign powers Tank Nation of origin Number supplied Side supplied to BT-5Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 324 Soviet Union 50 Popular Front Renault FT France and Poland 64Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 324; Manrique & Molina claim that Republican Spain received two shipments of 16 FT tanks each, while García tracks only a single shipment of 16 tanks to Republican Spain from Poland. Popular Front L3/33 / L3/35Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 314 Italy 155 Nationalists Panzer IManrique & Molina (2006), p. 311 Germany 122 Nationalists T-26Manrique & Molina (2006), p. 321 Soviet Union 281 Popular Front Vickers Six-TonManrique & Molina (2006), p. 324; Manrique & Molina mention a possible sale of a single Vickers Six-Ton by Paraguay. The tank had been captured to Bolivia during the Chaco War. United Kingdom 1 Popular Front

Tanks captured by the Nationalists Tank Nation of origin Number captured Number put back into service Landesa Spain 1 1 Trubia NavalZaloga (2011), p. 32 Spain 10–20 Unknown, used mostly for training BT-5García (2004), pp. 4–5 Soviet Union Unknown At least 1Molina & Manrique (2007), p. 46; Molina & Manrique (2007) mention that at least one BT-5 was pressed into service in southern Spain by the Nationalist Front. Renault FTMolina & Manrique (2007), p. 37 France Unknown 24 T-26Molina & Manrique (2007), p. 36 Soviet Union 178 Approx. 50Molina & Manrique (2007), p. 36; Molina and Manrique (2007) mention that the Nationalist Front, out of a total of 80 which had been deployed into front line Nationalist tank units, had put into front line service 49 captured T-26s, while another 11 required minor reconstruction, another 10 required return rollers (wheels used keep the top of the track running straight) and 10 more were scrapped.

Notes

References