Spanish Marine Infantry

Spanish marines fighting in the Battle of Lepanto, 1571

The Infantería de Armada (Navy Infantry) was created by Charles V in 1537, when he permanently assigned 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 the famous Tercios (literally "One Third", due to its organisation: one third of musketeers, one third of swordsmen and the final third of pikemen):[1][2]

• Tercio Nuevo de la Mar de Nápoles.
• Tercio de la Armada del Mar Océano.
• Tercio de Galeras de Sicilia.
• Tercio Viejo del Mar Océano y de Infantería Napolitana.

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.[1]

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 the Army, and the main body remained in the Navy becoming the Cuerpo de Batallones de Marina (Navy Battalions Corps).[1]

The battles that the marines served in during this very busy period included:

• Algiers expedition (1541).
• Battle of Lepanto (1571).
• Tunisia expedition (1573).
• The conquest of Terceira Island (Azores) (1582).
• Great Britain expedition (1599).
• San Salvador (Brazil) expedition (1625).

In 1717 the Cuerpo de Batallones de Marina was definitively settled and organized, reaching its full strength of twelve battalions. The first ones were named: Armada, Bajeles, Marina, Oceano, Mediterráneo and Barlovento. Their mission 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.[1] [3] 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 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 seven regiments, mainly fighting on land as part of army divisions.[1]

In a 1793, a woman, Ana Maria de Soto, disguised as 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. She was the first female marine in the world.

The major actions they took part in during this period were:

• Sardinia, 1717
• Naples and Sicily, 1732
• Battle of Cartagena de Indias, 1741
• Defence of Havana, 1762
• Algiers expedition, 1775
• Battle of Pensacola (1781)
• Siege of Toulon, 1793
• Defense of Ferrol, Spain, 1800
• Recapture of Buenos Aires, 1806

Color of the 3rd Marine Regiment of Cartagena, today Tercio de Levante

The increasing efficiency of the naval artillery made boarding obsolete after the Napoleonic Wars, the marine infantry and marine artillery 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. In 1839 the corps was renamed Cuerpo de Artillería and Infanteriá de Marina.[1] In 1841 the infantry was transferred to the army.[4] 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, of three battalions. 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.[1]

During the Third Carlist War 1872–1876 the marines fought as field infantry. In 1879, 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 the Philippine Revolution and the Spanish–American War the marines fought as part of army divisions.[1]

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:

• Santo Domingo (1804)
• Cochinchina (Vietnam) (1858)
• Mexico (1862)
• Cuba and Philippines (1898)
• Morocco (1911)

Insignia during the Republican period (1931–1939)

Insignia during the Francoist period (1939–1975)

These actions were carried out by the Batallones Expedicionarios (Expeditionary Battalions), some of them campaigning abroad for up to ten years.

At 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 the assault.[1]

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.[1]

Before it 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 the sea.[1] Photographer Robert Capa took pictures of the Spanish Spanish Marine Infantry in the Battle of the Segre.[5] 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.[6]

After the civil war, during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, the strength of the Infantería Marina 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 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 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.[7]

Since the 2009, the special operations units from the Spanish Navy (the Special Combat Divers Unit (UEBC), the Special Explosive Defusers Unit (UEDE) from the Navy Diving Center, and the Special Operations Unit (UOE) from the Marine Infantry) are merged into the Special Naval Warfare Force, that is organized inside the Marines. This unit has also taken part in several operations including Atalanta in Somalia, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Hispaniola in Haiti and the hijack of the fishing vessel Alakrana in Somali waters.[8]

• 1º mandamiento : Mi primer deber como infante de marina es estar permanentemente dispuesto a defender España y entregar si fuera preciso mi propia vida
• 2º mandamiento : Seré siempre respetuoso con mis mandos, leal con mis compañeros, generoso y sacrificado en mi trabajo
• 3º mandamiento : Estaré preparado para afrontar con valor abnegación y espíritu de servicio cualquier misión asiganada a la Infantería de Marina
• 4º mandamiento : Seré siempre respetuoso con las tradiciones del cuerpo, estaré orgulloso de su historia y nunca haré nada que pueda desprestigiar su nombre
• 5º mandamiento : Ajustaré mi conducta al respeto de las personas, su dignidad y derechos serán valores que guardaré y exigiré
• 6º mandamiento : Como Infante de marina la disciplina constituirá mi norma de actuación, la practicaré y exigiré en todos los cometidos que se me asignen
• 7º mandamiento : Como Infante de marina mi misión será sagrada, en su cumplimiento venceré o moriré
• 8º mandamiento : Aumentar la preparación física y mental será mi objetivo permanente
• 9º mandamiento : Seré duro en la fatiga, bravo en el combate, nunca el desaliento en mi pecho anidará, nobleza y valentía serán mis emblemas
• 10º mandamiento : ¡Mi lema! ... ¡Valiente por tierra y por mar!

• 1: As a Marine my first duty is to be constantly ready to defend Spain and give my life if necessary.
• 2: I shall be always loyal with my brothers, respectful with my superiors, generous and devoted to my task.
• 3: I shall be always ready to face with courage, dedication and spirit of service any mission assigned to the Spanish Marine Corps.
• 4: I shall be always respectful about the traditions of the Corps, be proud of its history and will never do anything that may adversely reflect on its name.
• 5: I shall guide my conduct with respect for people, their dignity and rights I shall guard.
• 6: As a Marine, discipline will be my standard of acting in all tasks assigned to me.
• 7: As a Marine, my mission is sacred; in its fulfillment, I shall either win or die.
• 8: Improving my body and training my mind shall be my permanent goals.
• 9: I shall be strong on fatigue, brave in battle, discouragement shall never nest in my heart, for honor and courage are my banners.
• 10: My motto!: Bravery in land and in the sea!

• Llama M82 (are being replaced)
• FN FNP-9 (are going to replace Llama M82)
• HK USP (are going to replace Llama M82)
• SIG Sauer P230 (used by UOE)

• Heckler & Koch G36 (E and KV versions)
• Heckler & Koch HK416 (Only in the Special Naval Warfare Force)[11]

• AG36
• LAG 40
• Mk 19

• Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
• Barrett M95

• Heckler & Koch MP5

• FN Minimi (5,56 Nato, 7,62 Nato)
• CETME Ameli (replaced by FN minimi)
• Rheinmetall MG-3
• M2HB
• M60 machine gun

• C-100
• C-90C

• ECIA 81 mm mortar
• M-109A2. Six vehicles[12]
• 12 M-56

• TOW 2A (anti-tank)
• Spike missile (anti-tank)
• 12 Mistral (anti-aircraft)

• 17 M-60A3 TTS
• 39 Piranha IIIC 8x8 (Electronic Warfare, Turret LANCE, Medical etc..)
• 19 AAV-7A (amphibious armoured personnel carrier)
• 124 Humvee (will be replaced for URO VAMTAC BN3)

The Marcha Heroica de la Infanteria de Marina (Heroic March of 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:[13]

Its official motto is "Per Terra et Mare" ("By Land and Sea"), which is also used as the motto of the Royal Marines and is also similar to other marine units.

The band on Spanish National Day.

The Music Band of the Marines 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.[14] It marches in both military ceremonies and parades, as well as in civil events. The Madrid Marine Corps Association (AGRUMAD) Music Band is the veterans band of the Marine Infantry. Since 1990, which was the year of its establishment, 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 he obtained 1st prize. It also has taken part in foreign activities in neighboring countries such as Belgium.[15]