Note for Rapid Fire 1 tank = 3 tanks in reality. Rompan el Fuego means 'Open Fire'

The Germans efforts in Spain were coordinated under the name of Operation Magic fire. The role of the armour was not by any means war winning, but nevertheless it played a major role.

The armour was not a part of Panzer Abteilung 88 as this was the operating name for all the Luftwaffe vehicles (soft skins, half tracks, Forward observers and AA weapons).

Panzer IA's starting arriving in Spain from August 1936. In September the first two companies (from the German unit I/II battalion PzRegt 6) landed in Spain carried by the Spanish ships 'Passage' and 'Girgenti' .By October there were enough to form a coherent unit. This unit was known as the 'Panzergruppe Drohne' and was placed under the command of Wilhelm Ritter Von Thoma.

HQ UNIT - 1 PANZER 1A COMMAND TANK & 1 TRUCK
1ST COMPANY - 5 PANZER 1A OR 1B
2ND COMPANY- 5 PANZER 1A/1B
ANTI TANK COMPANY - 3 PAK 37MM 35/36 & 3 TRUCKS

The tanks were initially used in a training role, but were soon pressed into action at the Madrid front. On 15th December 1936 a third company was added due to further supplies of tanks. The first breakthrough at Madrid had been spearheaded by Pz 1's on January 5th.

3RD COMPANY - 5 PANZER 1A/1B

More tanks were received during February / March 1937, enough to form a fourth company, however losses around Madrid had been heavy. This company was never formed and the vehicles were used as replacements. However, four of the respected T 26's had been captured and in March 1937 a 4th company was added.

4TH COMPANY - 1 T 26. (5 AUGUST 1937)

By August 1937 a fifth company was added again of PZ1's and as more T26 were captured the 4th company grew.

5TH COMPANY - 5 PZ1A/B'S.

By the 1st of march 1938 60 T26b's had been captured (some went to the CTV). However, politics was overtaking the development of the tank force and the control of the unit was moving sideways into the hands of the Foreign Legion. The entire force was now known as the BANDERA DE CARROS DE COMBATE DE LA LEGION and was split into two groups.

1ST GROUP
HQ 1 PZ1 COMMAND TANK & 1 TRUCK
1 TANK COMPANY - 5 PZ1A/B'S*
2 TANK COMPANY - 5 PZ1A/B'S
3 TANK COMPANY - 5 T26B'S

2ND GROUP

HQ- 1 PZ1 COMMAND TANK & 1 TRUCK
4 TANK COMPANY - 5 PZ1A/B'S*
5 TANK COMPANY - 5 PZ1A/B'S
6 TANK COMPANY - 5 T26B'S
7 TANK COMPANY - 5 RENAULT FT17 ( RESERVE)
ANTI TANK COMPANY - 3 PAK 35/36 37MM & 3 TRUCKS

* MAKE AT LEAST ONE TANK AN UPARMED PZ 1 WITH 20MM CANNON.

By August 1938 this was not working and the companies were mixed between there PZ1's and T26's. In October 1938 the armoured force was renamed again 'AGRUPACION DE CARROS DE COMBATE' and its official links with the Legion were separated.

By March 1939 the group 1 had been part of the army of the north and group 2 part of the army of the south. By this time, their numbers were supplemented with many UNL's, BA6's, BT5's and others.

ROMPAN EL FUEGO AMENDMENT

Due to the problem with petrol engines in the T26 I recommend that you amend the damage rolls at point blank and normal ranges once a hit is achieved on a T26. Instead of a 4 = heavy damage amend to destroyed, change a 2 from light damage to heavy damage.