US MARINES TO ARMOUR SPANISH ONES.

MARINE CORPS GETS FINAL APPROVAL ON SPANISH TRANSFER

Gen James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, said yesterday that the Government of Spain had formally agreed to purchase 21 M1A2 Abrams tanks from the Marine Corps, putting the final stamp to negotiations initially placed in February.

The contract is worth at least $120 million. General Dynamics, based in St. Louis, said it cannot release the actual price because the contract is between the Governments of Spain and the United States. The tanks will be upgraded and refurbished by General Dynamics' Land Systems unit.

Spanish Marine Corps, known as the Tercio de la Armada, presently fields a single company of largely outdated M-60 Patton tanks, in a single light brigade. This acquisition will update and increase the armoured strength of the Tercio to match the elite level of the brigade.

Despite important disagreements between American and Spanish administrations, a more than cold relationship after Spanish withdrawal from Iraq, American military sales to Spain have kept a sounding level, including the recent acquisition by the Armada, the Spanish Navy, of Tomahawk missiles and two new AEGIS systems for the Alvaro-Bazan class frigates, a local version of the Arleigh Burke class, downsized to meet Spanish requirements.

Ranking among the best combat units in the Spanish Military Force, the Tercio de la Armada claims to be the oldest ‘Marine Corps’ in the world, dating back to the ages of the galleys and the famous ‘Armada Invencible’ that failed to invade Great Britain in 1588. In recent years, the Tercio has been deployed in a number of peacekeeping missions, just recently finishing the latest mission in Lebanon.

‘There has been a long relationship between the Spanish Marines and the Marine Corps, for a number of years, including join exercises and training of Spanish officers in the United States” Gen James T. Conway said.

The M1A2 tanks will be transferred from Marine Cops stocks after being selected and approved by a commission of Spanish officers, a process to start in spring 2008, according to Gen James T. Conway.

The M1 series tank is equipped with a 1500 horsepower Lycoming Textron gas turbine engine coupled to an Allison hydrokenetic transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. It's tactical crusing range is approximately 275 miles. Despite it's weight, the M1 can attain a top speed of nearly 45 miles per hour. The main armament is a 120mm smooth bore cannon. It has day/night fire on the move capability which is provided by a laser range finder, thermal imaging night sight, optical day sight, and a digital ballistic computer.

Over 8,800 M1 and M1A1 tanks have been produced for the US Army and Marine Corps, and the armies of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and now Spain.

The US Marines will continue to field M1A2s to fight units into the next decade.