A list of units and formations of the Spanish Army in 1990 is given below.[ 1]
From 1958–60 the Spanish Army reorganized along "Pentomic " five-component division lines. In 1965 a reorganization was undertaken that divided Spanish Army forces into Immediate Intervention (Field Army) and Operational Territorial Defence (Territorial Army) formations, adopting a structure of divisions broken down into brigades. However, from 1984 a modernization plan was underway aimed at improving the deployability of the army and updating its equipment. The Modernización del Ejército de Tierra (META) plan, as it was called, only achieved its objectives partially, yet the army was reorganized.
After the end of the Spanish Civil War , infantry regiments maintained a traditional and ceremonial identity, but were not an operational level of command. Operational command goes from brigades directly to infantry battalions, bypassing the regimental level. Spanish Army armoured units were designated "Armoured Infantry Battalions" and are considered part of the infantry.
Military Region I Central [ edit ] Military Region I Center organization (click to enlarge) Coat of Arms of the Military Region I Center The Military Region I Central (Región Militar I Centro) with its headquarters in Madrid encompassed the Community of Madrid (including the Province of Madrid ) and the provinces of Ávila , Ciudad Real , Cuenca , Guadalajara , Segovia , and Toledo , all of Castilla–La Mancha as well as the provinces of Badajoz and Cáceres in Extremadura .[ 3]
Division Headquarters, in El Pardo [ 1]
Mechanized Infantry Brigade XI , in Bótoa [ 1]
Armored Brigade XII , in El Goloso
Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Villaviciosa " No. 14, in Retamares
Field Artillery Regiment No. 11, in Fuencarral
Field Artillery Group I/11
Field Artillery Group II/11
Engineer Regiment No. 1, in Colmenar Viejo
Divisional Logistic Grouping No. 1, in Colmenar Viejo
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group I, in Vicálvaro Military Region II South [ edit ] Military Region II South organization (click to enlarge) Coat of Arms of the Military Region II South The Military Region II South (Región Militar II Sur) with its headquarters in Seville covered Andalusia (Provinces of Almería , Cádiz , Córdoba , Granada , Huelva , Jaén , Málaga , and Seville ), the exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla , and the Plazas de soberanía .[ 3] [ 1]
Headquarters, in Seville
Special Operations Group "Santa Fe" II, in Granada
Construction Battalion II, in Seville
Signal Company No. 2, in Seville Division Headquarters, in Granada [ 1] [ 5]
Mechanized Infantry Brigade XXI , in Cerro Muriano
Mechanized Infantry Regiment "La Reina" No. 2, in Cerro Muriano
Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Princesa" I/2
Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Lepanto " II/2
Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Córdoba " No. 10, in Cerro Muriano
Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Almansa " III/10
Armored Infantry Battalion "Málaga " IV/10
Field Artillery Group XXI, in Cerro Muriano
Engineer Battalion XXI, in Córdoba
Logistic Group XXI, in Cerro Muriano
Motorized Infantry Brigade XXII , in Jerez de la Frontera [ 1]
Motorized Infantry Brigade XXIII , in Almería [ 1]
Motorized Infantry Regiment "Aragón " No. 17, in Viator
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Nápoles " I/17
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Simancas " II/17
Mixed Infantry Regiment "Granada " No. 34, in Viator
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Extremadura " III/34
Armored Infantry Battalion "Almería " IV/34
Field Artillery Group XXIII, in Viator
Engineer Battalion XXIII, in Viator
Logistic Group XXIII, in Viator
Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Sagunto " No. 7, in Seville
Field Artillery Regiment No. 14, in Seville
Field Artillery Group I/14
Field Artillery Group II/14
Engineer Regiment No. 2, in Seville
Divisional Logistic Grouping No. 2, in Granada
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II, in Granada Melilla General Command [ edit ] The Melilla General Command was headed by a two-star general and tasked with the defense of the Spanish exclave of Melilla in Africa.
Ceuta General Command [ edit ] The Ceuta General Command was headed by a two-star general and tasked with the defense of the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in Africa.
Command Headquarters, in Ceuta [ 1]
Armored Cavalry Regiment "Montesa " No. 3, in Ceuta
Tercio "Duque de Alba" No. 2 of the Legion , in Ceuta
Motorized Infantry Regiment "Regulares de Ceuta" No. 54, in Ceuta
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Tetuan " I/54
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Larache " II/54
Mixed Artillery Regiment No. 30, in Ceuta
Field Artillery Group I/30
Coastal Artillery Group II/30
Engineer Regiment No. 7, in Ceuta
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group VI, in Ceuta Military Region III Levant [ edit ] Military Region III Levant organization (click to enlarge) The Military Region III Levant with its headquarters in Valencia encompassed the province of Albacete of Castilla-La Mancha, and the Valencian Community (composed of the provinces of Alicante , Castellón , and Valencia ), as well as the Region of Murcia and the Balearic Islands .[ 3] [ 1]
Headquarters, in Valencia
Special Operations Group "Valencia" III, in Rabasa
Construction Battalion III, in Valencia
Signal Company No. 3, in Valencia Mechanized Infantry Division "Maestrazgo" No. 3[ edit ] Division Headquarters, in Valencia [ 1] [ 7]
Mechanized Infantry Brigade XXXI , in Castellón de la Plana [ 1]
Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Tetuán " No. 14, in Castellón de la Plana
Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Vizcaya " No. 21, in Bétera
Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Barbastro " III/21
Armored Infantry Battalion "Otumba " IV/21
Field Artillery Group XXXI, in Paterna
Engineer Battalion XXXI, in Bétera
Logistic Group XXXI, in Bétera
Mechanized Infantry Brigade XXXII , in Cartagena [ 1] [ 8]
Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Mallorca " No. 13, in Lorca
Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Murcia " I/13
Mechanized Infantry Battalion "San Fernando " II/13
Mechanized Infantry Regiment "España " No. 18, in Cartagena
Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Sevilla " III/18
Armored Infantry Battalion "Bailén " IV/18
Field Artillery Group XXXII, in Murcia
Engineer Battalion XXXII, in Cartagena
Logistic Group XXXII, in Cartagena
Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Lusitania " No. 8, in Marines
Field Artillery Regiment No. 17, in Paterna
Field Artillery Group I/17
Field Artillery Group II/17
Engineer Regiment No. 3, in Marines
Divisional Logistic Grouping No. 3, in Marines
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group III, in Paterna Balearic Military Zone [ edit ] The Balearic Military Zone was headed by a two-star general and encompassed the Balearic Islands . Its three troop commands were headed by one-star generals.[ 1]
Headquarters, in Palma de Mallorca [ 1]
Palma Troops Command , in Palma de Mallorca
Motorized Infantry Regiment "Palma" No. 47 , in Palma de Mallorca
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Filipinas " I/47
Mixed Artillery Regiment No. 91, in Palma de Mallorca
Field Artillery Group I/91
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II/91
Coastal Artillery Group III/91
Engineer Battalion XIV, in Palma de Mallorca
Mahón Troops Command , in Mahón
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Mahón", in Mahón
Field Artillery Group V, in Es Mercadal
Ibiza Troops Command , in Ibiza
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Teruel ", in Ibiza
Coastal Artillery Group VI, in San Carlos
Field Artillery Group VII, in Ibiza Military Region IV Eastern Pyrenees [ edit ] Military Region IV Eastern Pyrenees organization (click to enlarge) Coat of Arms of the Military Region IV Eastern Pyrenees The Military Region IV Eastern Pyrenees (Región Militar IV Pirenaica Oriental) with its headquarters in Barcelona covered Aragon (Provinces of Huesca , Teruel , and Zaragoza ) and Catalonia (Provinces of Barcelona , Girona , Lleida , and Tarragona ).[ 3] [ 1]
Headquarters, in Barcelona[ 1]
Special Operations Group "Almogávares " IV, in Barcelona
Construction Battalion IV, in Barcelona
Signal Company No. 4, in Barcelona Mountain Infantry Division "Urgel " No. 4[ edit ] Division Headquarters, in Lleida [ 1]
Mountain Hunters Brigade XLI , in Lleida[ 1]
Mountain Hunters Regiment "Arapiles " No. 62, in La Seu d'Urgell
Mountain Hunters Regiment "Barcelona " No. 63, in Lleida
Mountain Hunters Battalion "Chiclana " III/63
Mountain Hunters Battalion "Badajoz " IV/63
Mountain Field Artillery Group XLI, in San Clemente
Engineer Battalion XLI, in San Clemente
Logistic Group XLI, in San Clemente
Skiers Company No. 41, in Vielha
High Mountain Hunters Brigade XLII , in Jaca [ 1] [ 9]
High Mountain Hunters Regiment "Galicia " No. 64, in Jaca
High Mountain Hunters Battalion "Pirineos " I/64
High Mountain Hunters Battalion "Gravelinas " II/64
High Mountain Hunters Regiment "Valladolid " No. 65, in Huesca
High Mountain Hunters Battalion "Gerona " III/65
Field Artillery Group XLII, in Huesca
Engineer Battalion XLII, in Huesca
Logistic Group XLII, in Huesca
Field Artillery Regiment No. 21, in Lleida
Field Artillery Group I/21
Field Artillery Group II/21
Engineer Regiment No. 4, in Lleida
Divisional Logistic Grouping No. 4, in Lleida Brigade Headquarters, in Zaragoza [ 1]
Armored Cavalry Regiment "Pavía " No. 4, in Aranjuez
Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Numancia " No. 9, in Zaragoza
Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "España " No. 11, in Zaragoza
Field Artillery Regiment No. 20, in Zaragoza
Engineer Battalion II, in Zaragoza
Logistic Group II, in Zaragoza Military Region V Western Pyrenees [ edit ] Military Region V Western Pyrenees organization (click to enlarge) Coat of Arms of the Military Region V Western Pyrenees The Military Region V Western Pyrenees (Región Militar V Pirenaica Occidental) with its headquarters in Burgos encompassed the provinces of the Basque Country (Álava , Biscay , Burgos and Gipuzkoa ), the province of Soria in Castile and León and the regions of Cantabria , La Rioja and Navarre .[ 3] [ 1]
Headquarters, in Burgos[ 1]
Special Operations Group "San Marcial " V, in Castrillo del Val
Construction Battalion V, in Castrillo del Val
Signal Company No. 5, in Castrillo del Val Division Headquarters, in Pamplona [ 1]
Mountain Hunters Brigade LI , in San Sebastián [ 1]
Mountain Hunters Regiment "América " No. 66, in Pamplona
Mountain Hunters Battalion "Montejurra " I/66
Mountain Hunters Battalion "Estella " II/66
Mountain Hunters Regiment "Tercio Viejo de Sicilia" No. 67, in San Sebastián
Mountain Hunters Battalion "Legazpi " III/67
Field Artillery Group LI, in Logroño
Engineer Battalion LI, in San Sebastián
Logistic Group LI, in Agoncillo
Skiers Company No. 51, in Estella
Motorized Infantry Brigade LII , in Vitoria [ 1]
Mixed Infantry Regiment "Flandes " No. 30, in Vitoria
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Cuenca " I/30
Armored Infantry Battalion "Burgos " II/30
Motorized Infantry Regiment "Garellano " No. 45, in Bilbao
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Guipúzcoa " III/45
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Milan " IV/45
Field Artillery Group LII, in Vitoria
Engineer Battalion LII, in Vitoria
Logistic Group LII, in Araca
Field Artillery Regiment No. 46, in Castrillo del Val
Field Artillery Group I/46
Field Artillery Group II/46
Engineer Regiment No. 5, in Castrillo del Val
Divisional Logistic Grouping No. 5, in Castrillo del Val Military Region VI Northwest [ edit ] Military Region VI Northwest organization (click to enlarge) Coat of Arms of the Military Region VI Northwest The Military Region VI Northwest (Región Militar VI Noroeste) with its headquarters in A Coruña covered Asturias , Galicia (Provinces of A Coruña , Lugo , Ourense , and Pontevedra ), and the provinces of León , Palencia , Salamanca , Valladolid , and Zamora in Castile and León.[ 3] [ 1]
Headquarters, in A Coruña[ 1]
Special Operations Group "La Victoria" VI, in A Coruña
Construction Battalion VI, in A Coruña
Signal Company No. 6, in A Coruña Brigade Headquarters, in Salamanca [ 1]
Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Santiago " No. 1, in Salamanca
Light Armored Cavalry Regiment "Almansa " No. 5, in León
Armored Cavalry Regiment "Farnesio " No. 12, in Valladolid
Field Artillery Regiment No. 41, in Segovia
Engineer Battalion I, in Salamanca
Logistic Group I, in Salamanca Canary Military Zone [ edit ] Canary Military Zone organization (click to enlarge) The Canary Military Zone with its headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife covered the Canary Islands (Provinces of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas ). The Military Zone was headed by a three-star general and its two troop commands were headed by two-star generals.[ 3] [ 1]
Headquarters, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife [ 1]
Canary Signal Battalion, in Santa Cruz
Tenerife Troops Command , in Santa Cruz[ 1]
Motorized Infantry Regiment "Tenerife" No. 49, in Santa Cruz
Motorized Infantry Battalion I/49
Motorized Infantry Battalion II/49
Motorized Infantry Battalion "La Palma", on La Palma
Mixed Artillery Regiment No. 93, in Santa Cruz
Coastal Artillery Group I/93
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II/93
Field Artillery Group III/93
Engineer Battalion XV, in Santa Cruz
Las Palmas Troops Command , in Las Palmas Note 1 [ 1]
Motorized Infantry Regiment "Canarias" No. 50, in Las Palmas
Motorized Infantry Battalion I/50
Motorized Infantry Battalion II/50
Motorized Infantry Battalion "Lanzarote", on Lanzarote
Mixed Artillery Regiment No. 94, in Las Palmas
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group I/94
Field Artillery Group II/94
Engineer Battalion XVI, in Las Palmas Note 1: The Tercio "Juan de Austria " No. 3 of the Legion was based on Fuerteventura and changed command from the Las Palmas Troops Command to the Legion Command in 1988.
General Reserve organization (click to enlarge) The General Reserve based in Málaga was headed by a two-star general and consisted of the Paratroopers Infantry Brigade, Airmobile Light Infantry Brigade, Legion Command, Army Airmobile Forces and five commands; all headed by a 1-star general.
Brigade Headquarters, in Alcalá de Henares [ 1]
Paratroopers Infantry Bandera "Roger de Flor " I, in Alcalá de Henares
Paratroopers Infantry Bandera "Roger de Lauria " II, in Alcalá de Henares
Paratroopers Infantry Bandera "Ortiz de Zárate " III, in Alcalá de Henares
Paratroopers Field Artillery Group, in Alcalá de Henares
Paratroopers Engineer Battalion, in Alcalá de Henares
Paratroopers Logistic Group, in Alcalá de Henares Airmobile Light Infantry Brigade [ edit ] Brigade Headquarters, in Figueirido [ 1]
Airmobile Light Infantry Regiment "Príncipe" No. 3, in Siero
Airmobile Light Infantry Battalion "Toledo " I/3
Airmobile Light Infantry Battalion "San Quintin " II/3
Airmobile Light Infantry Regiment "Isabel La Católica " No. 29, in Figueirido
Airmobile Light Infantry Battalion "Zamora " III/29
Airmobile Light Infantry Battalion "Zaragoza " IV/29
Airmobile Field Artillery Group, in Figueirido
Airmobile Engineer Battalion, in A Coruña
Airmobile Logistic Group, in Figueirido The Legion Command was created during the META reform to oversee recruiting and training of the units of the Spanish Legion . For historic reasons the regiments of the Legion are called "Tercios" and the battalions "Banderas".
Army Airmobile Forces [ edit ] Headquarters, in Colmenar Viejo [ 1]
Attack Helicopter Battalion I, in Almagro
Maneuver Helicopter Battalion II, in Bétera
Maneuver Helicopter Battalion III, in Agoncillo
Maneuver Helicopter Battalion IV, in Dos Hermanas
Transport Helicopter Battalion V, in Colmenar Viejo
Maneuver Helicopter Battalion VI, in Los Rodeos
Army Airmobile Forces Signal Battalion, in Colmenar Viejo
Army Airmobile Forces Training Center, in Colmenar Viejo
Army Airmobile Forces Logistic Unit, in Colmenar Viejo
Helicopter Maintenance Depot and Center, in Colmenar Viejo Coastal Artillery Command [ edit ] Command Headquarters, in Tarifa [ 1]
Coastal Artillery Regiment No. 4, in San Fernando
Coastal Artillery Group I/4
Coastal Artillery Group II/4
Coastal Artillery Regiment No. 5, in Algeciras Field Artillery Command [ edit ] Command Headquarters, in San Andrés del Rabanedo [ 10] [ 1]
Target Acquisition Artillery Regiment No. 61, in San Andrés del Rabanedo
Rocket Launcher Artillery Regiment No. 62, in Astorga
Field Artillery Regiment No. 63, in San Andrés del Rabanedo Anti-aircraft Artillery Command [ edit ] Command Headquarters, in Madrid[ 1]
Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment No. 71, in Campamento
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group I/71
Anti-aircraft Missile Group II/71 (Roland II )
Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment No. 72, in Barcelona
Anti-aircraft Missile Group I/72 (Hawk )
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II/72
Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment No. 73, in Cartagena
Anti-aircraft Missile Group I/73 (Aspide )
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II/73
Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment No. 74, in Jerez de la Frontera
Anti-aircraft Missile Group I/74 (Hawk)
Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II/74
Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment No. 75, in Valladolid
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group I/75
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II/75
Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment No. 76, in Ferrol
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group I/76
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group II/76 Command Headquarters, in Fuencarral [ 1]
Special Engineer Regiment No. 11, in Salamanca
Road Building Battalion I/11
Construction Battalion II/11
Bridge and Special Engineer Regiment No. 12, in Zaragoza
Railway Engineer Regiment No. 13, in Cuatro Vientos
Railway Mobilization and Operations Regiment No. 14, in Fuencarral Command Headquarters, in El Pardo [ 1]
Tactical Signal Regiment No. 21, in El Pardo
Special Signal Regiment No. 22, in Madrid Army Logistic Support Command [ edit ] Army Logistic Support Command organization (click to enlarge) The three interregional logistic support commands were created in 1987 and subordinates to the Army Logistic Support Command. Each logistic support grouping managed all the vehicle parks, workshops, ammunition magazines and other logistic services in their assigned area.[ 1]
Command Headquarters, in Madrid[ 1]
Interregional Logistic Support Command Center , in Madrid
Logistic Support Grouping No. 11, in Campamento (supporting the I Military Region)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 31, in Paterna (supporting the III Military Region)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 61, in Valladolid (supporting the VI Military Region)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 71, in Palma de Mallorca (supporting the Balearic Military Zone)
Interregional Logistic Support Command South , in Seville
Logistic Support Grouping No. 21, in Seville (supporting the II Military Region)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 22, in Granada (supporting the II Military Region)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 23, in Ceuta (supporting the Ceuta General Command)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 24, in Melilla (supporting the Melilla General Command)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 81, in La Laguna and Las Palmas (supporting the Canary Military Zone)
Interregional Logistic Support Command North , in Zaragoza
Logistic Support Grouping No. 41, in Zaragoza (supporting the IV Military Region)
Logistic Support Grouping No. 51, in Castrillo del Val (supporting the V Military Region) The logistic support groupings No. 71 and No. 81 operationally assigned to the Balearic Military Zone respectively the Canary Military Zone.[ 11]
Graphic overview of the Spanish Army in 1990 [ edit ] Structure of the Spanish Army in 1990 (click to enlarge) Geographic distribution of the Spanish Army in 1990 [ edit ] Spanish Army higher command locations in 1990 # 1: Armored Brigade XII, Anti-aircraft Artillery Command, Engineer Command, Signal Command Off map: Canary Military Zone
Mogaburo López, Fernando (2017). Historia Orgánica De Las Grandes Unidades (1475-2018) (PDF) . Madrid: Ministerio de Defensa - Mando de Adiestramiento y Doctrina. pp. 75–81. Retrieved 18 September 2020 .
Diego A. Ruiz Palmer, "Spain's Security Policy and Army in the 1990s," Parameters , 1990.
Xavier I. Taibo, "The Spanish Army Approaches its Future," Jane's Military Review, (1986) (London, Jane's, 1986) pp53–68