Spanish Marine Infantry: the units that make it up and their material resources

@DefAviation ES 2·27·2023 · 19:23 0

On February 27, 1537, on this day, the Spanish Marine Infantry was created, which today is the oldest naval infantry corps in the world.

The Spanish Marine Infantry shows the impressive Conger demining device in action
The training of the Spanish Marine Infantry in four high-quality videos

As in its beginnings, the Spanish Marine Infantry continues to fulfill an essential mission: that of being the amphibious force of the Spanish Navy. In addition, it adds two other main missions to this: carrying out special operations at sea and on the coast, and protecting Navy ships and facilities. The structure of the Marine Infantry adjusts to these missions, dividing into three main components and a Rifle Company attached to the Royal Guard:

• Marine Infantry Brigade (BRIMAR), Tercio de Armada (TEAR).
• Navy Protection Force (FUPRO).
• Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE).
• Company Mar Océano of the Royal Guard.

We are going to see below what the mission is and what means each of these four units has.

Marine Infantry Brigade (BRIMAR), Tercio de Armada (TEAR)

It is the expeditionary force of the Marine Infantry, that is, it is in charge of carrying out landing operations with the fleet. He is based in San Fernando (Cádiz). It is made up of seven units:

• Headquarters Battalion (BCG). It is made up of a Headquarters Company, a Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Company (TAR), an Intelligence and Surveillance Company (IS) and a Communications and Information Systems Company (CIS). It has Humvee and VAMTAC ST-5 vehicles, Mercedes Unimog trucks, and Nissan Terrano and Pathfinder SUVs, among others.
• First Landing Battalion (BD-I). It is made up of a Staff and Services Company, three Rifle Companies and a Weapons Company. It has Humvee and VAMTAC ST-5 vehicles, among others.
• Second Landing Battalion (BD-II). It is made up of a Staff and Services Company, three Rifle Companies and a Weapons Company. It has Humvee and VAMTAC ST-5 vehicles, among others.
• Third Mechanized Landing Battalion (BDMZ-III). It is made up of a Staff and Services Company, two Mechanized Rifle Companies (with Piranha IIIC armored vehicles) and an Anti-Tank Weapons Company (with Humvees in anti-tank version with TOW and Spike missiles). In addition, he had a Tanks Company that is deactivated at the moment.
• Amphibious Mobility Group (GRUMA). It is made up of a Staff and Services Company, a Sapper Company (equipped with excavators, backhoes, bulldozers and other engineering material), an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Company (equipped with AAV-7 armored vehicles), a Ship Company (with SCAT semi-rigid boats) and an Anti-Tank Company.
• Combat Services Support Group (GASC). It is in charge of transportation, health, maintenance and supplies for the rest of the units. It is made up of a Staff and Services Company, a Beach Movement Company, a Sanitation Company, a Transport Company, a Supply Company and a Maintenance Company. It has Humvee and VAMTAC ST-5 vehicles, Kynos Aljaba tractor heads, Iveco-Pegaso 205.37W trucks, as well as ambulances, tank trucks and cisterns, VEMPAR trucks and others.
• Landing Artillery Group (GAD). It is in charge of combat support with artillery. It has M-109 A2 and A5 self-propelled howitzers, M-992 ammunition vehicles, OTO Melara Model 56 towed 105 mm howitzers, Iveco-Pegaso 205 trucks and others.

Navy Protection Force (FUPRO)

It is in charge of protecting Navy ships, bases and facilities. Its headquarters are at the Graña Naval Station, in Ferrol (La Coruña). Its Security Companies are divided into Security Sections that are in charge of protecting facilities and escorting convoys) and Operational Teams (with special training for special escorts). FUPRO units mainly have light vehicles (Nissan Patrol MC-4, Nissan Pathfinder and Land Rover Defender) and Iveco-Pegaso trucks for cargo, as well as specific vehicles in the case of the Naval Police (Seat León cars and Ford Transit vans). FUPRO is divided into the following units:

• Tercio del Norte (TERNOR). It is based in Ferrol (La Coruña). It is made up of the Staff and Command, a Staff and Services Company, a Security Company, a Section of Inflatable Boats, a Naval Police Company and a Music Unit..
• Tercio del Sur (TERSUR). It is based in San Fernando (Cádiz). It is made up of the Staff and Command, a Staff and Services Company, a Security Company, a Section of Inflatable Boats, a Naval Police Company, a Music Unit and the Security Unit of the Rota Naval Base.
• Tercio de Levante (TERLEV). It is based in Cartagena (Murcia). It is made up of the Staff and Command, a Staff and Services Company, a Security Company, a Naval Police Company and a Music Unit.
• Group of Marine Infantry of Madrid (AGRUMAD). It is based in the city of Madrid. It is made up of the Staff and Command, a Staff and Services Company, a Security Company, a Naval Police Company and a Music Unit.
• Canary Islands Security Unit (USCAN). It is based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It is made up of the Staff and Command, a Staff and Services Company, a Security Company and a Naval Police Company. Of the five units that make up FUPRO, USCAN is the only one that does not have a Music Unit.

Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE)

It is the special operations unit of the Spanish Navy. It was created in 2009 and forms part of the Joint Command of Special Operations (MCOE) together with the Special Operations Command (MOE) of the Spanish Army and the Parachute Sapper Squadron (EZAPAC) of the Spanish Air Force, and like these units, its distinctive garment is the green beret . It is based at the Algameca Naval Station, in Cartagena (Murcia). It is made up of a Command Group (COMNAVES), six Estoles (combat units), a Vessel Unit and a Support Unit. The FGNE has a very high level of training, being the Spanish equivalent of the famous US Navy SEALs.

Company Mar Océano of the Royal Guard

It is the Company that contributes the Spanish Navy to the Royal Guard, the corps that is in charge of protecting H.M. the King and his family. It is a rifle company and is based in El Pardo (Madrid). It is part of the Honor Group of the Royal Guard, together with the Company Monteros de Espinosa of the Spanish Army and the Squadron Plus Ultra of the Spanish Air Force. Its members wear the uniform of the Marine Infantry and the blue beret of the Royal Guard.

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THE VEHICLES OF THE SPANISH MARINE INFANTRY

You can see below some of the vehicles of the Spanish Marine Infantry.

A MOWAG Piranha IIIC armored vehicle of the Third Mechanized Landing Battalion (BDMZ-III) of the Tercio de Armada. Its turret is equipped with a Lag 40 automatic grenade launcher and a Browning M-2 machine gun.

M-109 self-propelled howitzers of the Landing Artillery Group (GAD) of the Tercio de Armada.

A VAMTAC ST-5 of the Tercio de Armada aboard the amphibious aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61. The vehicle in the image is armed with a 12.7mm Browning M-2 machine gun.

An AAV-7 amphibious armored vehicle of the Amphibious Mobility Group (GRUMA) of the Tercio de Armada disembarking in Latvia in 2019.

An Iveco M 250.40 W VEMPAR truck from the Combat Services Support Group (GASC) of the Tercio de Armada and a VAMTAC ST-5 in cargo version.

A VAMTAC ST-5 ambulance version of the Combat Services Support Group (GASC) of the Tercio de Armada.

An Oto Melara 105/14 mm M-56 howitzer of the Tercio de Armada Landing Artillery Group.

A reconnaissance MOWAG Piranha IIIC from the Third Mechanized Battalion (BDMZ-III) of the Tercio de Armada.

A Seat León from the Tercio de Levante Naval Police Company.

A Ford Transit van of the Tercio de Levante Naval Police Company.

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Photos: Armada Española / Latvijas Armija / Contando Estrelas / infanteria.demarina.92.