Regimiento Acorazado 'Alcázar de Toledo' 61

First modern tank present in Spain: RENAULT FT-17:

The first battle tank acquired by Spain was the RENAULT FT-17, which arrived in Madrid on June 23, 1919. This vehicle underwent a series of tests in the Central School of shooting of Carabanchel (Madrid), some of them witnessed by King Alfonso XIII. The original machine gun was replaced by a 7mm machine gun, standard-issue of the Spanish Army.

Baptism of fire:

After the "Disaster of Annual", in July 1921, the need to provide the Army with modern and effective materiel emerged. On December 17, 1921, the ASSAULT TANK COMPANY, with 11 FT-17 tanks, was created. On March 5, 1922 it left for Melilla, where it received its "baptism of fire" on March 18. This firing action is commemorated in the Regiment as "Unit Day".

First laureate carrista (tank crew member): Infantry Staff Sergeant Mariano García Esteban:

Staff Sergeant García Esteban was part of the Assault Tank Company which, on June 5, 1923 was carrying out an operation to escort a convoy bound for Tizzi Azza. During the course of this operation, he was faced with an intense barrage of enemy rifle fire. The Staff Sergeant was blinded after being hit by a bullet that penetrated through the sight of the turret of his tank. In spite of the excruciating pain, he held his position and managed to use up every last round of his machine gun, causing numerous casualties. Only at the moment when the enemy left his redoubt did he consent to fall back to be attended to.

Combat Tank Group:

At the end of the Spanish Civil War, the Tank Units formed the Combat Tank Group. This unit was later disbanded on October 1, 1939, and five Tank Regiments remained. The 1^st Tank Regiment was created with the 1^st Battalion of the Group, and its first commander was Colonel Manuel Tuero y Castro. The 1^st Regiment was garrisoned in Canillejas (Madrid) and was the immediate predecessor of the "Alcázar de Toledo".

Creation of the Armored Division:

August 20, 1943. The Central General Staff drafts the Reserved General Instruction No. 2, which sets forth the creation of the 1^st Armored Division (DAC). The 1^st Combat Tank Regiment is included in this new Division.

61^ST TANK REGIMENT “ALCAZAR DE TOLEDO”:

By Decree of December 21, 1943, published in the Official Gazette No. 1 of the Army Ministry on January 1, 1944, the names and compositions of the Regiments were changed. From that date, the 1^st Tank Regiment received the name 61^st Tank Regiment "Alcázar de Toledo”, being the first chief in this new period the Illustrious Colonel José Muñoz Valcárcel.

Panzer IV Ausf. H:

In 1944, 20 Panzer IV tanks with 75 mm guns were received in Spain, 10 of which were delivered to the 61^st Regiment.

Reception of the first M-47:

In February 1954, 78 units of M-47s and 5 recovery vehicles were incorporated into the Regiment. Shortly after, 8 more units of a lighter tank, the M-41 type, were also incorporated.

1^st Armored Division Brunete, M-48:

In 1965 the Army was reorganized again, and the 1^st Armored Division Brunete was constituted, composed of two Brigades: the 11^th Mechanized Brigade and the 12^th Armored Brigade, which included the 61^st Regiment "Alcázar de Toledo". That same year, M-48 tanks began to be received.

61^st Armored Infantry Regiment "Alcazar de Toledo":

As a result of the above mentioned reorganization of the Army, the Regiment is renamed 61^st Armored Infantry Regiment “Alcázar de Toledo”, a name that it still holds today.

Transfer to "Coronel Moscardó Ituarte" barracks (Madrid). M-48 A-1:

In February 1970, the Regiment moved to the "Coronel Moscardó Ituarte" barracks, currently known as "El Goloso” Military Base, where it remains today.

In 1972 the M-47 tanks were replaced by the M-48 model, version A1.

The Sahara Campaign:

On October 10, 1974, the 2^nd Tank Battalion was sent to the Sahara under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Mateo López de Vicuña. There, they carried out tactical reconnaissance and were integrated in the defensive operation organized to face the so-called Moroccan Green March. On November 20 began the repatriation of the unit whose last expedition arrived home at the beginning of 1976. On March 25, 1996, the pennant of the 3^rd Infantry Tank Battalion "LEON" of the 61^st Regiment was awarded the commemorative cravat of the "Sahara Campaign".

AMX-30:

In 1977 the M-48s were decommissioned and replaced by 104 units of the French AMX-30E model Tank.

AMX-30 EM2:

On May 15, 1990, the improved AMX-30 EM2 tanks were received and two battalions were constituted in 1992.

M-60 A3 TTS:

After the signing of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), the United States sent up to 300 units of the M-60 Main Battle Tank (MBT) to RIAC 61. In September 1993, the first M-60 A3 TTS were received.

Infantry Combat Vehicles “Pizarro”:

Traducción realizada por el Gabinete de Traductores e Intérpretes del ET y registrada con el núm. 22-0506Esta traducción no tiene carácter oficial a los efectos contemplados en la Ley 2/20144/4On April 23, 2004, a set of "Pizarro" Infantry Combat Vehicles are received in the Regiment; these now belong to its standard-issue weaponry.

Leopard 2E:

On January 19, 2006, the first Leopard 2E Main Battle Tank Battalion is completed. The last Leopard MBT and the armored recovery vehicles (ARV) are delivered to the Regiment in July 2008.