The Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Castilla" No. 16 is currently a versatile unit of the Spanish Army, traditionally integrated into the infantry. Since 2015, with the introduction of multi-role organic brigades, it was designated as the Armored Regiment "Castilla" No. 16. It has been known as "Mechanized Infantry" since 1966, when the first tanks arrived at its Sancha Brava barracks. Until that time, the unit was designated as the 16th Infantry Regiment "Castilla". Years later, in 1975, the limitations of the barracks and, in particular, the training and firing range became evident, necessitating restrictions on the direction and range of projectiles. This led to considerations for relocating the unit to a larger facility that could also accommodate other units, transforming it into a base housing multiple regiments and logistical and support units. This plan was realized with the construction of the General Menacho Base near the village of Bótoa, approximately 20 km from Badajoz, where the regiment has been stationed since 1999.

During its time at the Sancha Brava Barracks, the regiment experienced significant historical moments, some challenging and others rewarding. Among the challenges was the difficult situation surrounding the coup attempt on February 23, 1981. Days earlier, most of the regiment's tanks were on maneuvers in Cerro Muriano, Córdoba, and were ordered to return to their Badajoz barracks before the maneuvers concluded. Upon arrival at Sancha Brava, all personnel were placed on alert, and tanks and other vehicles were refueled and armed. The regiment remained loyal to the Constitution and continued its operations with complete normalcy.

The first tanks assigned to the regiment were the American M47 Patton, M41 Walker Bulldog, and APCs (armoured personnel carriers) in their M577 command variants and M113 for troop transport and other functions. In 1983, the AMX-30E (the Spanish version of the French AMX-30) arrived, followed by the M60 Patton, the German Leopard 2A4 in the mid-1990s, and finally the Spanish Leopard 2E. Regarding its activities, the regiment has participated in various humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in El Salvador, six deployments in Bosnia-Herzegovina, one in Yugoslavia, two in Kosovo, one in Iraq, one in Indonesia, and three in Lebanon.

Coat of arms and decorations The coat of arms of the Armored Regiment "Castilla" No. 16 features a gold castle, embattled, with three towers and adorned with sable on a gules field, with the Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand hanging from the lower point, accompanied by armorial pieces; the castle symbolizes the region of its namesake. The regiment bears the nickname "The Hero", earned for its heroism against the French during the second siege of Zaragoza, particularly in the bayonet assault at Torrero hill and the defense of the Convent of Jesus on December 21, 1808. According to Infantry Captain Antonio Gil Álvaro in 1893, "this nickname is due to the regiment's actions during the second siege of Zaragoza." The Supreme Junta, then based in Cádiz, decreed that these forces be called "Meritorious of the Homeland" for their "heroic and eminent service."

Seven decorations for distinguished heroic actions hang from the lower part of the coat of arms. From left to right, they are as follows:

Cross of the First Army or of Catalonia. It consists of four triangular arms enameled in turquoise blue. In the center is a circular shield with a royal crown on a red field, and below, the stripes of Catalonia on gold. The inscription reads "Defender of my King and the Principality." On the reverse, the number "1" appears. The ribbon is white with red edges. This is in accordance with the Royal Order of March 31, 1815. Cross of the Third Army. It features a mountain with an inscription around it that reads "Victor from the Strait to the Pyrenees." On the reverse, the number "3" refers to the ordinal number of the army, on a green field. It has a crimson crown linking it to a ribbon of white and green diamonds. The Royal Order of concession is, like the previous one, dated March 31, 1815. Cross of Zaragoza in its First and Second Sieges. Created on the same date as the previous ones for the troops that endured both sieges, with the intent that they wear only one distinction cross. It is similar to the other two but with notable differences resulting from combining them into a single piece. The arms are red and white by halves; the central oval, featuring the Virgin of the Pillar, is blue with lilies between the arms, a mural crown on the upper arm, and a laurel crown on the lower one. It bears a royal crown and hangs from a ribbon with a central blue stripe and two yellow and two red fillets on each side. On the reverse, over blue, it reads: "The King to the defenders of Zaragoza in its 1st and 2nd Sieges." The Royal Order granting it has different dates according to specialized authors: March 25, 1817, according to Calvó Pascual, and May 13, 1817, according to Gravalos-Calvo Pérez. Cross of the First Siege of Bilbao. This decoration was awarded to the regiment by Queen Regent Isabella II on July 6, 1835, to honor the defenders of the city during its "first siege." The officers' decoration is gold, while the troops' is silver. It consists of four equal arms enameled in white, with a gold center and ends finished in gold globes. In the center, an oval shape displays the bust of Queen Isabella II on a red background, with the inscription on a blue enamel circle: "Isabella II, Homeland and Liberty." Between the arms are two lions and two gold castles, and above the upper vertical arm is a laurel crown linked to a red ribbon with two blue stripes. On the reverse are the arms of Bilbao and, around it, on blue, the inscription: "Siege of Bilbao, June 1835." Cross of Mendigorría. This cross was awarded to the regiment by Royal Order of September 23, 1835, issued by Queen Regent Isabella II of Spain. It consists of five white enameled blades linked by a laurel border. Over this is another laurel crown linked to a red ribbon. In the center, the inscription "Y2" appears on red, and around it, on blue, the motto "Reward for Valor." On the reverse, in another circle, the inscription reads: "The Queen to her defenders" in horizontal lines, and on a blue crown surrounding it: "Mendigorría July 16, 1835." Cross of the Third Siege of Bilbao. Similar to the previous one, but the colors of the arms and the ribbon are alternated, and the shape of the arms is slightly different. Between the arms are two cannons, while three bombs cross the interstices. In the center, "Saved Bilbao" and a gold castle on a red background. On the reverse, the inscription reads: "In its Third Siege," and in the center, a broken bridge over the river. The laurel crown linking it to the ribbon contains no pieces inside. The decree granting this decoration is the same as the previous one. Cross of Merit for the Homeland. This decoration never received official recognition. However, it is included due to the numerous examples found in museums and private collections and the mystery surrounding it. The brief history of this questionable decoration is as follows: In 1809, the Cádiz Cortes declared some regiments, including the "Bourbon Infantry Regiment," as "Meritorious of the Homeland." This honor continued during the reigns of Ferdinand VII, Isabella II, the Provisional Government of 1868–1871, Amadeo I, the First Spanish Republic, and Alfonso XII, before falling into disuse, possibly due to overuse. The decoration resembles the previous two: five blue enameled arms over a circle resembling a wall, with a smaller central circle bearing an inscription. The ribbon is blue with two red stripes. Typically, it reads "Meritorious to the Homeland" or "… of the Homeland" on the obverse and reverse, though some examples feature the effigy of Isabella II or have a ribbon reading "Homeland and Loyalty," while others lack enamel and are stamped in poor-quality metal. Evidence that this decoration was merely a fantasy of those who used it is found in the Official Bulletin of the Captaincy General of Cuba, year IX, number 51, which publishes a resolution dated September 13, 1870, stating: "Manuel González González, a volunteer from the Havana Battalion, requested authorization to use the Cross of Merit for the Homeland, claiming that in that city, Army Chiefs and Officers use it. The Captain General has resolved to dismiss this request, as such a Cross does not officially exist, and its use is prohibited by various royal provisions, the most recent being August 26, 1867, so Your Excellency will ensure that such abuse ceases immediately…". The origin of its use is unknown, but due to its similarity to the previous models, it is placed here.

History Background

The unit's origins date back to 1793, when the XIII Duke of the Infantado, Pedro de Alcántara Álvarez de Toledo y Salm-Salm, who would become its first colonel, submitted a request to create the regiment to King Charles IV on April 3, 1793. The king approved the request on April 15 of the same year. Its initial designation was the "Castilla Volunteers Regiment," as notified by the Minister of War on April 25, 1793, expressing the king's wish for this name. At its founding, the regiment consisted of three battalions, each with four fusilier companies. Years later, in 1883, while the Castilla No. 16 was stationed in Leganés, a Royal Order of December 10, 1883, assigned the regiment to Badajoz. The Castilla No. 16 departed on December 16 and took six days to organize the transfer by railway. Upon arriving in Badajoz, it occupied the San Francisco el Grande Barracks, which was vacant after the dissolution of the Covadonga Regiment No. 41, which had previously occupied it.

From December 17, 1883, the Castilla Infantry Regiment No. 16 became tied to the city of Badajoz for over a century, during which many generations of Extremadurans, particularly from Badajoz, were trained in its ranks (at that time, recruits were assigned to the nearest regiments). This marked the origin of the 16th Infantry Regiment "Castilla", which, in 1966, with the arrival of tanks, was renamed the "Mechanized Infantry Regiment Castilla No. 16" and had as its first commander, from February 17, 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Rovira Recio.

Sancha Brava Barracks

The first barracks of the "Mechanized Infantry Regiment Castilla No. 16" was Sancha Brava, located about 4 km from the city of Badajoz. Until the change in designation due to the incorporation of tanks, it was occupied by its predecessor, the 16th Infantry Regiment "Castilla", from which all mechanical and logistical assets, as well as officers, non-commissioned officers, and troops, were drawn.

Its first commander from February 17, 1966, was Lieutenant Colonel Adolfo Rovira Recio. On November 17, Colonel Fidel Cátera Román took command of the regiment, appointed by Circular Order of October 28, published in Official Gazette No. 245. He received command from Lieutenant Colonel Adolfo Rovira Recio, who was relinquishing command due to his promotion to colonel.

In 1967, the regiment received its first 16 M47 Patton tanks from the Sagunto Cavalry Regiment, distributed among the battalion’s various companies. The American M-47 tank, manufactured since 1951, was first operated in the Spanish Army by the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete". The M-47 had the following characteristics: an engine with 810 cv equivalent to approximately 800 HP, a maximum speed of 48 km/h, a range of 128 km, and armament consisting of a 90 mm cannon, a 12.70 mm machine gun, and two 7.62 mm machine guns.