The Quick Guide
to the Spanish Civil War

Pre-War Spanish Military:
Army of Africa

by Greg Novak

As mentioned, the Army of Africa was based on the model of the French Colonial Army. Thus, all Spanish citizens serving with it were volunteers from the Peninsular Army. At the start of the war, it numbered some 24,000 officers and men. The Army of Africa was divided into two divisions. For field work, columns were formed as needed from the different formations of the division.

Each division had the following elements:

Eastern Division

(HQ Melilla), with:
Troop Quality: Veteran
Morale: 9

Divisional Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    1 staff telephone wagon

Divisional Services, with:

    Headquarters Company, with
      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      2 baggage wagons

    Repair Depot, with:

      1 mounted command stand
      2 support stands
      2 baggage wagons

    Divisional Supply Troops, each with:

      Supply Column, with:
        1 mounted command stand
        2 support stands
        3 general supply wagons

      2 Supply Columns, each with:

        1 mounted command stand
        2 mounted support stands
        6 pack mule stands

1st Foreign Legion Tercio, with:
Troop Quality: Elite
Morale: 10

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone wagon

    1st Bandera, with:

      Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 recon infantry stand
        1 baggage wagon
        1 general supply wagon
        1 field kitchen wagon
        1 support stand

      3 Infantry Companies, each with:

        1 command infantry stand
        2 infantry stands

      1 Machine Gun Company, with:

        3 MMG stands

    2nd Bandera, with: as 1st Bandera
    3rd Bandera, with: as 1st Bandera

2nd Moroccan Infantry Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 command stand
      4 pack mule stands
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    1st Melilla Tabor, with:

      Headquarters, with:
        1 command infantry stand
        1 MMG stand 2

      Infantry Companies, each with:

        1 command infantry stand
        1 recon infantry stand
        1 infantry stand

    2nd Melilla Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    3rd Melilla Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor

5th Moroccan Infantry Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with: as 2nd Moroccan Infantry Group
    1st Alhucmas Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    2nd Alhucmas Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    3rd Alhucmas Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor

3rd African Light Infantry Battalion, with:

    Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 baggage wagon
      1 general supply wagon
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    4 Infantry Companies, each with:

      1 command infantry stand
      2 infantry stands

    Machine Gun Company, with: 4 MMG stands

7th African Light Infantry Battalion, with:

    as 3rd African Light Infantry Battalion

6 Regular Cavalry Squadrons, each with:

    1 command cavalry stand
    1 recon cavalry stand
    1 cavalry stand

Machine Gun Battalion (Fixed), with:

    Headquarters, with: 1 command stand
    4 Machine Gun Companies, each with: 4 MMG stands

Eastern Artillery Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff telephone wagon

    1st Mobile Artillery Battalion, with:

      Headquarters, with:
        1 mounted command stand
        1 support stand
        2 pack mule stands

      3 Firing Batteries, each with:

        1 gun crew stand (ds)
        1 mountain/field gun (see notes)
        2 pack mules or 1 limber
        1 support stand

    2nd Mobile Artillery Battalion, with: as 1st Artillery Battalion above
    3rd Artillery Battalion (Fixed) Manned the fixed defences of the Melilla area

Notes

1. Though patterned after the French Foreign Legion, the Spanish Foreign Legion was 90+ % Spanish. Enlistment in its ranks was seen by many Spaniards as an entry step into one of the government's paramilitary security forces.

2. Companies in the Legion were numbered throughout the Legion as a whole, so that the 1st Bandero had the 1st to 3rd Infantry Companies, and the 4th Machine Gun Company. The 3rd Bandero had the 9th to 11th Infantry Companies, and the 12th Machine Gun Company.

3. The artillery units of the Mobile Artillery were equipped as needed with either the 70L19 Mountain Gun, the 105L12 Mountain Howitzer or the 75L27 Field Gun.

Western Division

(HQ Ceuta), with:
Troop Quality: Veteran
Morale: 9

Divisional Headquarters, with: as Eastern Division
Divisional Services, with:

    Headquarters Company, with: as Eastern Division
    2nd Foreign Legion Tercio with:
    Troop Quality: Elite
    Morale: 10
      Headquarters Company, with: as 1st Tercio
      4th Bandera, with: as 1st Bandera
      5th Bandera, with: as 1st Bandera
      6th Bandera, with: as 1st Bandera

1st Moroccan Infantry Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with: as 2nd Moroccan Infantry Group
    1st Tetuan Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    2nd Tetuan Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    3rd Tetuan Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor

3rd Moroccan Infantry Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with: as 2nd Moroccan Infantry Group
    1st Ceuta Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    2nd Ceuta Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    3rd Ceuta Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor

4th Moroccan Infantry Group, with:

    Headquarters Company, with: as 2nd Moroccan Infantry Group
    1st Larache Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    2nd Larache Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor
    3rd Larache Tabor, with: as 1st Melilla Tabor

1st African Light Infantry Battalion, with: as 3rd African Light Infantry Battalion
2nd African Light Infantry Battalion, with: as 3rd African Light Infantry Battalion
6th African Light Infantry Battalion, with: as 3rd African Light Infantry Battalion
8th African Light Infantry Battalion, with: as 3rd African Light Infantry Battalion
6 Regular Cavalry Squadrons, each with:
    1 command cavalry stand
    1 recon cavalry stand
    1 cavalry stand

Western Artillery Group, with:
    Headquarters Company, with: as Eastern Artillery Group
    1st Artillery Battalion, with: as Eastern Artillery Group
    2nd Artillery Battalion, with: as Eastern Artillery Group
    3rd Artillery Battalion (Coastal), with: Manned the coastal defences of the Ceuta area

Moroccan Sapper Battalion, with:
    Headquarters Company, with:
      1 mounted command stand
      2 pack mule stands
      1 field kitchen wagon
      1 support stand

    4 Sapper Companies, each with:
      1 command engineer stand
      3 engineer stands
      2 pack mules

Notes

1. The artillery units of the Mobile Artillery were equipped as needed with either the 70L 19 Mountain Gun, the 105L12 Mountain Howitzer or the 75L27 Field Gun.

The Para Military Forces

The Spanish government controlled three different paramilitary police organizations in 1936. These were the Carabineers (customs officers), Civil Guard (rural constabulary) and the Assault Guards (urban police). The majority of the men found in all three groups was from the same source--that is, they had been either NCOs in the Spanish Army or had served in the Army of Africa. Officers assigned to these units were officially still carried on the roles of the Spanish Army, even though they were not serving in the Spanish Army.

Civil Guard

In terms of numbers in 1936, the Civil Guard had 34,320, the Carabineers 15,790, and the Assault Guards 17,500, for a total paramilitary force of 67,610.

The Civil Guard was organized into 5 zones and 24 Tercios, with a total of 213 companies. While some mounted and even motorized units existed, the basic unit was the infantry company. For game purposes, represent it as follows:

Troop Quality: Experienced
Morale: 9

Civil Guard Company, with:

    1 command infantry stand
    2 recon infantry stands

Carabineers

The Carabineers were organized into 10 zones and 20 Commands, with a total of 110 companies. For game purposes, represent them as follows:
Troop Quality: Regular
Morale: 8

Carabineers Company, with:

    1 command infantry stand
    2 infantry stands

Assault Guard

The Assault Guards were the newest force, having not been formed until 1931. Each urban area had at least one company, if not more, depending on size. Madrid had no less than 12 companies assigned. In addition, there were 17 motorized Riot Corps scattered about the major cities, with Madrid and Barcelona each having no less than three such units assigned. In all, the Assault Guards had 117 companies in 1936. For game purposes, represent them as follows:
Troop Quality: Experienced
Morale: 9

Assault Guard Company, with:

    1 command infantry stand
    2 recon infantry stands

Troop Quality: Veteran
Morale: 9

Riot Corps Company, with:

    1 command infantry stand
    2 recon infantry stands
    1 armored car
    3 light trucks

Quick Guide to the Spanish Civil War

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© Copyright 1994 by Greg Novak.
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