SOUTHAG Division #3: Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete"
Buenos días, commandantes!
We are back with another WARNO - SOUTHAG division preview. And once again, in today’s DevBlog, we’ll cast a shining light on a new WARNO nation: NATO’s Spain bringing their División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 or the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete".
Vamos!
[h2]Spanish Armed Forces History[/h2]
Spain emerged from Franco’s decades-long dictatorship in the late 1970s, eventually joining NATO in 1982. Far from the Iron Curtain and cornered on the southern flank of Europe, the Spanish armed forces in the 1980s were on a path of internal transformation and downsizing. While yes, any kind of potential World War III conflict with the Warsaw Pact was nominally on the table, it was not foreseen as a reality (that is, until WARNO’s “March to War” hits).
Democratic Spain’s role in the 1980s NATO needs to be seen through the lens of the military’s role in the preceding dictatorship. They supported Franco as the Caudillo, taking part in a repressive military police state and focused chiefly on internal security. Having won the Spanish Civil War in 1939 against the socialistic democratic forces (heavily backed by communists), Franco’s fascist regime evolved over time, at first courting Hitler, then remaining neutral during World War II.
Deep in poverty and heavily isolated, Francoist Spain gradually opened up from the 1950s onwards. Reforms saw admittance to the United Nations, while the United States saw an opportunity on Europe’s flank, with Spain acting as a helpful anti-communist force; the Americans not only provided financial help but also opened up several key military facilities and bases in the country.
After the ascension to democracy in 1978, for a short moment, Spain saw the specter of military dictatorship in 1981 loom again during an eventful coup d'état attempt (in which the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" played a part). This was just a blip, and for the rest of the 1980s, Spain proved to be a solid but relatively withdrawn NATO ally.
[h2]Spain in NATO[/h2]
As a new NATO member, Spain was expected to commit troops to the defense of Western Europe. The Spanish Fuerzas Armadas were to provide a parachute battalion to the ACE Mobile Force, as well as at least one corp (more on that below) in case of hostilities, either:
Our WARNO World War III scenario envisions the second option, with Brunete rushing through France to join SOUTHAG. This plan was considered by high command but never tested in real-life conditions or exercises. As we are considering that Canada will be able to airlift two brigades across the ocean, transporting a division by rail from Spain to France is not implausible.
[h2]The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" Detailed[/h2] División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 was originally created in 1943, its name referring to the important Spanish Civil War Battle of Brunete of 1937, which saw a Nationalist strategic victory after counter-attacking a Republican-started offensive near Madrid. It was also the largest tank battle during the war.
During its lifetime, the Brunete was considered one of the best-armed and most powerful divisions in Spain during its lifetime. Originally equipped with German (Panzer IV) and Soviet tanks (T-26), after the normalization of relations with the United States in the 1950s, the division was equipped with American-made equipment, later augmented by French weaponry.
During the coup d'état attempt in 1981, the division barracked in Madrid and received orders to assist the rebels. Several high-ranking divisional officers were part of the conspiracy, though other members of the military effectively counter-manded the division’s deployment during the coup.
By the late 1980s, the Brunete was a small division with only two brigades (thanks to the aforementioned downsizing in the early 1980s). This meant it was closer in scale to a French division than other NATO formations. Considering that the Brunete was to be one of the first elements of a mechanized corps, much like the in-game French 5e Blindée, we have attached some additional independent support units. This brings up Brunete to divisional strength.
That’s not where the similarities with the French end. Spain was the main user of the AMX-30 tanks outside of France itself. All things considered, the Spanish Army of the late Cold War was a mix of French and American equipment, including a few domestic designs.
[h2]The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" in WARNO - SOUTHAG[/h2]
How will the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" look like in WARNO - SOUTHAG? Well, a whole bunch of new units (marked in both italic and bold). As always, units and categories are subject to change.
LOG Brunete’s logistical base was mediocre. The division was intended to be strategically projected into West Germany with only a “paper plan” to guide it. The corps it intended to form was also non-existent within the Spanish Army at the time. All of this is represented in the in-game category.
INF
Pretty decent for a smaller armored NATO division, but its infantry is a scarce commodity. It’s a good thing Brunete’s recon troops provide some additional feet on the ground and firepower.
We are back with another WARNO - SOUTHAG division preview. And once again, in today’s DevBlog, we’ll cast a shining light on a new WARNO nation: NATO’s Spain bringing their División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 or the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete".
Vamos!
[h2]Spanish Armed Forces History[/h2]
Spain emerged from Franco’s decades-long dictatorship in the late 1970s, eventually joining NATO in 1982. Far from the Iron Curtain and cornered on the southern flank of Europe, the Spanish armed forces in the 1980s were on a path of internal transformation and downsizing. While yes, any kind of potential World War III conflict with the Warsaw Pact was nominally on the table, it was not foreseen as a reality (that is, until WARNO’s “March to War” hits).
Democratic Spain’s role in the 1980s NATO needs to be seen through the lens of the military’s role in the preceding dictatorship. They supported Franco as the Caudillo, taking part in a repressive military police state and focused chiefly on internal security. Having won the Spanish Civil War in 1939 against the socialistic democratic forces (heavily backed by communists), Franco’s fascist regime evolved over time, at first courting Hitler, then remaining neutral during World War II.
Deep in poverty and heavily isolated, Francoist Spain gradually opened up from the 1950s onwards. Reforms saw admittance to the United Nations, while the United States saw an opportunity on Europe’s flank, with Spain acting as a helpful anti-communist force; the Americans not only provided financial help but also opened up several key military facilities and bases in the country.
After the ascension to democracy in 1978, for a short moment, Spain saw the specter of military dictatorship in 1981 loom again during an eventful coup d'état attempt (in which the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" played a part). This was just a blip, and for the rest of the 1980s, Spain proved to be a solid but relatively withdrawn NATO ally.
[h2]Spain in NATO[/h2]
As a new NATO member, Spain was expected to commit troops to the defense of Western Europe. The Spanish Fuerzas Armadas were to provide a parachute battalion to the ACE Mobile Force, as well as at least one corp (more on that below) in case of hostilities, either:
- A “Mountain Corps” for service in the Mediterranean theater (Italy, Greece, or Turkey).
- The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" to be sent to southern West Germany. This formation could be expanded by follow-up forces to a full mechanized corps.
Our WARNO World War III scenario envisions the second option, with Brunete rushing through France to join SOUTHAG. This plan was considered by high command but never tested in real-life conditions or exercises. As we are considering that Canada will be able to airlift two brigades across the ocean, transporting a division by rail from Spain to France is not implausible.
[h2]The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" Detailed[/h2] División Mecanizada «Brunete» n.º 1 was originally created in 1943, its name referring to the important Spanish Civil War Battle of Brunete of 1937, which saw a Nationalist strategic victory after counter-attacking a Republican-started offensive near Madrid. It was also the largest tank battle during the war.
During its lifetime, the Brunete was considered one of the best-armed and most powerful divisions in Spain during its lifetime. Originally equipped with German (Panzer IV) and Soviet tanks (T-26), after the normalization of relations with the United States in the 1950s, the division was equipped with American-made equipment, later augmented by French weaponry.
During the coup d'état attempt in 1981, the division barracked in Madrid and received orders to assist the rebels. Several high-ranking divisional officers were part of the conspiracy, though other members of the military effectively counter-manded the division’s deployment during the coup.
By the late 1980s, the Brunete was a small division with only two brigades (thanks to the aforementioned downsizing in the early 1980s). This meant it was closer in scale to a French division than other NATO formations. Considering that the Brunete was to be one of the first elements of a mechanized corps, much like the in-game French 5e Blindée, we have attached some additional independent support units. This brings up Brunete to divisional strength.
That’s not where the similarities with the French end. Spain was the main user of the AMX-30 tanks outside of France itself. All things considered, the Spanish Army of the late Cold War was a mix of French and American equipment, including a few domestic designs.
[h2]The Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" in WARNO - SOUTHAG[/h2]
How will the Armoured Division No. 1 "Brunete" look like in WARNO - SOUTHAG? Well, a whole bunch of new units (marked in both italic and bold). As always, units and categories are subject to change.
LOG Brunete’s logistical base was mediocre. The division was intended to be strategically projected into West Germany with only a “paper plan” to guide it. The corps it intended to form was also non-existent within the Spanish Army at the time. All of this is represented in the in-game category.
- Supply units include FOB, the new PEGASO 3046 light truck, and the M548A2 armored supply vehicle.
- Command units include the M577 and the new BMR-PC. This latter unit is a command variant of the domestic 6x6 wheeled APC series.
INF
Pretty decent for a smaller armored NATO division, but its infantry is a scarce commodity. It’s a good thing Brunete’s recon troops provide some additional feet on the ground and firepower.