The Spanish Leopards 2 arrive in Melilla (North Africa).

[Gladius]

The first batch of three Leopards 2A4 MBTs arrived finally in Melilla.

EFE. Melilla.
June 3rd, 2007.

The Spanish Army has begun the planned replacement of the old M-60A3TTS in service in the Armored Cavalry Regiment Alcántara 10, with the long awaited arrive of the first batch of Leopard 2A4 from the Peninsula.

The first three tanks with the numerals: 121, 130 and 131, arrived at the Autonomous City of Melilla the past day twelve of May. And now, they are being presented to the public during the acts celebrated for Spanish Armed Forces Day 2007 (DIFAS 2007).

The parade carried out by the forces of the General Command of Melilla yesterday, included the three MBTs as part of the contingent of the Armored Cavalry Regiment Alcántara 10.

It's predicted that another twelve Leopards 2A4 will be delivered to the Regiment during this year. The Armored Cavalry Regiment garrisoned at Ceuta would receive a similar number before the end of this year.

Images of the Leopards taken during the Public Exposition (June, 1st) by F.J.C.G and Military Parade by C.G.S. (June, 2nd) all published by Infomelilla.com:

http://www.infomelilla.com/fotos/watermark/ampliadas/fn-0401062007193752.jpg
http://www.infomelilla.com/fotos/watermark/ampliadas/fn-0202062007205848.jpg
http://www.infomelilla.com/fotos/watermark/ampliadas/fn-0102062007205843.jpg

 

[Pedro Monteiro]

One question: where they train? Does the spanish region have enough space for they exercise their tactics? Once I read that the defence doutrine would consist in the invasion of the marroqui terretory in case of threat in order to have more space to manobrate the units.

All the best,
Pedro Monteiro

 

[Gladius]

One question: where they train?

The garrison of Melilla, have available the training field & live fire range of Rostro Gordo (Melilla). Besides the units of the garrison are send regularly to the peninsula for bigger exercises or any programmed training that require the participation of other military units based on the peninsula (both cities have peninsular units assigned as fast response reinforce in case of conflict or crisis situations with Morroco).
Depending on the participants, the size of the exercises and the tactical theme that were the object of the exercise. These can be carried out in multiple fields of maneuvers (San Gregorio, Teleno, etc...). Nevertheless the most habitual one for the units of Ceuta and Melilla is the training field and live fire range "Alvarez de Sotomayor" in Viator (Almería).

The transfers of the units are carried out by sea mostly, this is done regularly by the ships of the Army Naval Train (RO-RO A-05 El Camino Español & RO-RO A-04 Martín Posadillo) with aid of the LSTs of the Spanish Navy if were necessary or sometimes by RO-ROs contracted directly by the Ministries of Defensa & Fomento.

The last peninsular training exercises of the units of Ceuta & Melilla were carried out the past months of April and May (Exercises "Baluarte 2007") in the training field and live fire range Alvarez of Sotomayor (Almería).

Once I read that the defence doutrine would consist in the invasion of the marroqui terretory in case of threat in order to have more space to manobrate the units.

Yea, that is one of the "many" alternative plans developed by the Spanish Armed Forces for an eventual conflict case with Morocco. But this variant (outdated and aired by the spanish newspapers years ago) had an imperative to be implemented by the Army: A long and slow process of warming in the crisis Spain-Morocco.
In that case the old doctrine called for an advanced deploy (prior to the open hostilities) of heavy units from the Armored Division "Brunete Nº1" to expand a security belt from both cities, as soon as the war was declared, to allow firstly: an adequate space to maneuver for heavy forces; secondly: secure the cities for offensive air ops of the FAMET helicopters and receive naval and air resupply out of the moroccan artillery range and lastly: to protect of colateral-damage the thousands civilians of both cities.