Description of SCW armour - for those who like early armour

[Hans]

Armour used by both sides in the Spanish Civil War

1. FT-17M & FT-17C: The French Renault FT-17 tank was one of the most widely exported tanks in the period between World Wars I & II and saw more use in that period than any other armoured vehicle. Both Spain and France made use of the FT-17 during the Rif War in Morocco in the 20’s. Spain’s surviving Renaults were posted to Madrid and Saragossa to respectively form Infantry Light Tank Regiments 1 & 2. At the time of Civil War, the Saragossa unit fell into Nationalist hands, but after limited use, did not see further action. Madrid’s FT-17’s, augmented by 16 more purchased from Poland, were used in the early defense of Madrid. For both sides of the war, the limited capabilities and reliability of the FT-17 caused them to be overshadowed by foreign tanks provided by the allies of both sides. Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Ligero de infantería Renault M 1917 FT. See also French Vehicle Note 1.

2. M-16 CA.1: The French Schneider CA.1 (char d’assaut) tank was another World War I leftover. Even more prone to breakdown than the Renault FT-17, the char d’assaut Schneider had fuel tanks located in the front portion of the vehicle, making the craft vulnerable to direct hits from that quarter, a serious design flaw. Even in its limited use against the garrison of the Alcazar in Toledo, early in the war, a number of Schneiders were knocked out en route in a Nationalist ambush where the Nationalists lacked both tanks and true anti-tank weapons. Nor was the Schneider able to fulfill its mission of exploiting breaches in the walls of the fortress. When the Nationalists captured Toledo a few months later, they found most of the remaining Spanish Schneiders abandoned in the streets. With more modern designs making their appearance, the obsolescence of this tank was apparent and the Schneider disappeared from the Spanish scene. About 400 CA.1’s were constructed in the years 1916-17, but only a few were to be found in the Spanish arsenal. Crew was usually six to seven men. Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Pesado de Artilleria M 16 CA1.

3. CV 3-35: The Italian Fiat-AnsaldoCarro Veloce 3-35 fast tank was the most common Italian AFV to be found in the Spanish Civil War. With the Nationalists petitioning for material support, Mussolini sent Italian tank “advisors” along with the CV 3-35’s in September, 1936 and the Italians soon entered battle dressed in the uniforms of the Spanish Foreign Legion. Later, Spanish Nationalist crews were trained to take over operation of the tankettes while more CV 3-35’s arrived as part of Italian units operating independently. Many of these tankettes were lost or captured during the battle of Guadalajara where the CV 3-35, armed only with a machine gun, showed itself unable to stand up to cannon bearing Russian T-25’s used by the Republican Forces. After design changes, this tankette was later designated as the L3/35. The CV 3-35 was maintained by two crewmen. The Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Ligero Rapido CV 3-35. See also Italian Vehicle Note 2.

4. CV 3-35 Lanciafiamme: A variant of the machine gun armed CV 3-35, this Italian flamethrower tankette featured prominent use by Italian troops fighting at Guadalajara where they inflicted considerable damage on defending Republican soldiers. However, constrained to the roads by bad weather, many of these tanks were destroyed or captured by the Republican counter offensive. Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Ligero Rapido CV 3-35 version Lanzallamas. See also Italian Vehicle Note 5.

5. T-26 B: With the Soviet Union coming forward as the principal supplier of the Spanish Republic, the arrival of Russian tanks in the Republican arsenal gave the Loyalists considerable armoured superiority as the cannon bearing T-26 B’s greatly outclassed the Italian and German light tanks being supplied to the Nationalists. However, poor tactics led the Republic to squander most of these tanks in costly armoured assaults, unsupported by infantry, or to diffuse their offensive capability by allotting them to static defense or infantry support roles. Though most T-26 B’s were found in Republican service, the Nationalist troops resorted to a number of measures to capture these tanks as the only means of achieving armoured parity with the Republicans. Therefore, some Nationalist tank units actually utilized captured Russian tanks, with appropriate Nationalist markings to protect them against mistaken air attacks. Republican T-26 B’s were shipped to Spain with radios and for game purposes have radio capability in the earlier scenarios when crewed by Russians. As Republican Spanish crews took over, they ripped out the radios, desiring more room and being more comfortable with signal flags. Thus, later scenarios having mixed Russo-Spanish or Spanish crews will be radioless. The T-26 B had a crew of 3. The Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Ligero de Infanteria T-26 B. See also Russian Vehicle Note 6.

6. PzKpfw I uasf. B: Along with Condor Legion advisors, a good number of these German tanks were supplied to the Nationalist army where they formed some of the first Nationalist armoured battalions. Lightly armoured compared to the Russian T-26 B, the Pz. IB was still utilized on a number of fronts in Spain. However, the inability of Nationalist light tanks to stand up to Russian armour in the field led Nationalist officers to develop tactics based on artillery rather than tank striking force. The French doctrine of tanks as infantry support maintained its hold on Spanish tactics. Some later versions of this tank were actually supplied with a 20mm canon instead of the twin Dreyse 7.92 mm. machine guns. Though initially manned by German Condor Legion personnel, these vehicles were very quickly turned over to Spanish Nationalist troops. The Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Ligero Pz Kpfw I uasf. B. This tank had a crew of two. See German Vehicle Notes 1 & 2.

7. Basque Light Tank: This small tank represents one of the few domestic ventures into armoured production, mostly out of necessity since the Basque front, isolated by the Nationalists from the rest of Spain, received little of the material support coming out of the Soviet Union. This small tank had a mass of 4.5 metric tons and mounted armour varying in thickness from 6-10 mm. With a crew of four, armament varied, probably being small automatic weapons which could be fired out of the four radiating ports on the turret which gave it 360 degrees of coverage. The engine was air cooled with armoured vents at the rear of the vehicle and was prone to mechanical breakdown.

The debut of this tank in a military parade was not auspicious. As soon as they saw it, the people called it “the toy tank” (tanque de juguete) and just as these tanks rolled past the Basque President, a number of them stalled and quit and had to be pushed in review with the help of soldiers and civilians lest they block the parade’s progress. Only a few of these tanks saw limited combat action in the defense of the Basque provinces and Asturias but they seem to have had an unremarkable combat record. The exact number of these tanks constructed is unknown, but when Nationalist troops captured Bilbao where the tank was manufactured, they found a large quantity of these vehicles that had just been constructed or repaired and which had not yet been sent to the fighting. In spite of its small size, this vehicle had a crew of four. The Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Ligero Euzkadi.

8. BT-5: The Russian BT-5 tank was a welcome addition to the Republican arsenal, though the first tanks to arrive were often allotted to exclusively Russian or mixed Russo-Spanish crews while the T-25 B’s were given over to the Spaniards. Its roomy interior, quick speed, and dual tracked/wheeled propulsion system were welcomed by its crews and made it more popular than the T-25 B. However, like its predecessor, the BT-5 was often utilized in poorly planned attacks, resulting in a high attrition. Almost all the first BT-5’s were lost at Fuentes del Ebro and later replacements were later squandered just as recklessly at Teruel. Like the T-25, the BT-5’s supplied to the Spanish were probably equipped with radios though the Spanish crews seemed to have removed these, preferring signal flags. A few BT-5’s were captured by the Nationalists and were used by them in formations with captured T-25 B’s. The BT-5 had 3 crewmen. The Spanish designation for this tank was Carro Medio Rapido BT-5. See also Russian Vehicle Note 8.

9. “Sadurni de Noya” The Catalonian “Sadurni de Noya” was one of the few attempts at domestic AFV production during the Spanish civil strife. Lacking in Russian AFV’s due to Madrid’s suspicious jealously of Catalan autonomy, Catalonians resorted to using some of their industrial potential in the production of an armoured car that was produced in two versions: one as an unarmed personnel carrier; and the other as an assault vehicle mounting a light machine gun. Well crafted with a number of design innovations, the Sadurni de Noya was mechanically reliable but was too insignificantly armed to make any impact on the battlefield. A number of these vehicles were then relegated to use as transport or as artillery tractors. The Spanish designation for this vehicle was Carro “Sadurni de Noya.”

10. 1ZII: This was an Italian armoured car of World War I manufacture. This vehicle performed well against poorly trained and armed troops in the fairly open countryside and hills of Andalucia in the drive for Málaga, but again was outclassed by the heavier modern Soviet tanks making their debut in the Republican arsenal. The IZII was maintained by up to six crewmen. Spanish designation for this vehicle was Autoametralladora Lancia Ansaldo IZII. See Italian Vehicle Note 19.

11. FA-1: This Russian light scout car saw initial use in the Málaga campaign where a number of destroyed FA-1's were observed by the Italians and Nationalists. Speedy yet lightly armed, this vehicle was intended for recon use and could offer little infantry support. The FA-1 had a crew of 2. Spanish designation for this car was Autoametralladora Ligera FA-1. See Soviet Vehicle Note 40.

12. BA-6: The first use of this Russian armoured car was in the Northern Campaigns where Navarese Requetés fighting their way into Bilbao, encountered defending Basques using this vehicle and other Soviet equipment which had been sent to try and save the city. After the fighting, the Nationalist took the BA-6 into its own arsenal. This vehicle utilized a crew of 4. Spanish designation was Autoblindado BA-6. See Soviet Vehicle Note 39.

13. M28 Police Armoured Car: Mounting a Hotchkiss machine gun, these 8 ton vehicles were designed for crowd control and intimidation by the paramilitary police before the war. They were utilized in the early fighting for the cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona and found no prominent use thereafter, either being returned to security duty or lost as a prize amongst various militias. They could travel up to 45km/hr or 40 km/hr in reverse, carried either four machine guns or one 37mm gun and one machine gun and had armour of up to 12mm thickness. Spanish designation for this car is Auto Blindado de la Policia.

14. Armoured Truck type A: This truck is representative of various vehicles that were utilized by Republican militia early in the war. Varying between 1.5 to 2.6 plus metric tons, these trucks were modified to carry a fabricated armoured superstructure designed to protect the driver and occupants. Typical armour thickness varied between 4 to 12 mm and consisted of metal plates bolted or welded in place. Armament consisted of a typical crew of 8-13 riflemen firing out of ports or slits in the side of truck bed, protected by an armoured housing. Typical engines were 4-6 cylinders and with the added weight of men and armour, these trucks were not capable of any great speed. Of dubious worth, a number of these vehicles made their appearance in the war, mostly in Andalucia and in the isolated northern provinces of Republican Spain. Their intended purpose was to add offensive weight in street fighting, but due to the several weak point in the armour, they tended to fill a more defensive roll. The type A counter is a composite based on a 1.5 ton 1935 Ford or Chevrolet truck with a crew of 12, a driver, a commander and 10 riflemen, five firing to either side. (In game terms, crew consists of one militia squad and a militia leader, both of whom make separate crew survival rolls.) Because of the numerous viewports and the general haphazard construction of these vehicles, a natural to hit roll of 2 or 3 is considered a critical hit. Spanish designation for an armoured truck was Camión blindado.

15. Armoured Truck type B: This type of armoured truck varied from the type A by adding machine gun armament in the form of two light machine guns mounted to fire to either side. Though only one such vehicle was constructed for use in Seville, this type of truck was similar to a number of Catalonian models.

16. Armoured Truck type C: This type of armoured truck followed the pattern for the type B but added a Hotchkiss 8mm machine gun to fire in a forward arc, supplementing the fire of the 5-8 rifles that fired from either side. Typically crewed by 18-20 men (for game purposes, one militia squad, 1 crew, and one militia leader), Type C trucks had armour varying between 6-12mm, the thicker armour being placed around the truck bed. The top of the Type C trucks were, as was typical of Spanish armoured trucks, more thinly armoured, with plates of 2-3mm in thickness. An unknown quantity of this type of vehicle were constructed and some were known to have been used in the defense of Madrid.

17. Armoured Truck type D: This Nationalist armoured vehicle was used as a primitive armoured assault car and carried up to 12 men who held onto handholds in the back and jumped off as the truck crashed into an objective or they were simply carried as close as possible to the fighting whereupon the disembarking passengers would attack while the truck provided mobile support with its machine guns and 81mm mortar. Utilizing 3 hatches in its box like top, to fire the mortar, the crew of 14 plus men would have to expose themselves, while machine gun fire could be provided through forward slits.

18. Armoured Truck type E: This armoured truck is a composite that represents vehicles used by the Catalonians in their Huesca offensive and those of the Basques and other Northeners in the defense of their lands. Their common feature was the use of an 8mm Hotchkiss machine gun mounted in a revolving turret on the top of the truck along with the secondary armament provided by up to 6-16 rifles with viewports mostly to the sides. Usually mounting 12mm armour, this type of truck was a common feature of early battles in Catalonia and the North. Crew varied between 11-20 men.

19. Armoured Truck type F: This type of armoured truck mounted two Hotchkiss machine guns to either side, sometimes supplemented by riflemen. Better constructed than other armoured trucks, this type was actually used off road in irregular terrain and was capable of speeds up to 62 km/hr. Trucks of this type were used in the North in Asturias and in the Battle for Teruel. Armour varied between 8-12 mm while crew size varied based on type, from 6-13 men.

More info at

http://www.santacruzchronicles.com//scwveh.html

[Paco QNS]

Must be added the Trubia tank:

A very short number (4) were built in Spain in 1928-36, inspired by the FT 17. It weighed 8.9 tons, was armed with 3 MG´s -one in the hull and two in a segmented turret (which allowed independent 360º to either one). It also had a stroboscopic sight in a cupula and new tracks. Was used by both sides in the Oviedo battle.

Lots of photos here -though the text is in spanish-:

http://www.terra.es/personal3/carros1/home.htm

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An excellent article by Zaloga:

http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/soviet_tank_operations_in_the_sp.htm

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Saludos.

[Hans]

Ah a Spainard

Good to have you here, if you have the time I'd value your opinion of the SCW scenarios I have at the scenario Depot.

Easiest way to find them is search under 'SCW'

Thanks for the tank info.

[lcm1947]

Hey interesting reading Hans. Thanks for taking the time. Nice to know a little about some of the tanks I use in my early war battles.

[Silvio Manuel]

For those who haven't read it, I found this article by Zaloga re: SCW to be tasty:

Soviet Tank Operations In The Spanish Civil War:

http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/soviet_tank_operations_in_the_sp.htm

[Hans]

Yes it is good, however I've never been able to make a Sessena scenario that would work properly.

sigh

[Quinxi]

Good reading on the AFV's in Spain. I shall have to try out some of the SCW scenarios.

[lcm1947]

Thanks Silvio for the site. Excellent reading. Makes me want to read up on the Spanish Civil War.

[Hans]

Additional info on SCW scenarios at the depot

There are ten battles and 1 operation

The battles:

Albandero

Batallion Thaelmann

Cerro de los Angeles

La Corunna Road 1936

Raid on Madrid (reflects a situation from the materials recommended in the thread above)

Alcazar (another designer)

Jarama valley (another designer)

Small battles, Merida

Viva Cristo Rey!

Forgot to name the Operation

Quinto de Ebro

[ August 19, 2003, 07:40 AM: Message edited by: Hans ]