Portal:Spain/Selected article/17

There have been tanks in the Spanish Army since French FT-17s were delivered in 1919. These were used in the Rif War and participated in the first amphibious landing with tanks. In 1925, the Spanish Army began to produce its own tank, based on the FT-17, but it was never put into mass production. During the Spanish Civil War, the two opposing armies received many tanks from foreign powers. The war proved inconclusive in regards to the proof of mechanized warfare, despite attempts by foreign advisers and soldiers to use newly devised theories. Afterwards, Spain began to manufacture a light tank, known as the Verdeja, but the project was a failure. In 1953, the United States agreed to supply tanks including the M48 Patton (pictured) but after a dispute about the tanks' use Spain began to look elsewhere for further tanks, including the AMX-30E. Renewed plans for a Spanish tank (the Lince program) failed due to financial problems; instead Spain modernized the AMX-30Es and procured American M60 Patton tanks. In 1994, Spain began negotiating with Germany to purchase the Leopard 2, procuring 108 Leopard 2A4s and building 219 Leopard 2Es in Spain; these are still in use. Archives • Read more...